With Republicans routing Democrats across the nation on Tuesday, the GOP won a veto-proof majority in the Florida House of Representatives as five incumbent Democrats went down to defeat. When the dust settled, Republicans controlled 81 of the 120 seats in the Florida House -- increasing their majority by five.
Tonights successes demonstrate the strength of our slate of Republican members and candidates and highlight the fact that Republican values of lower taxes, less spending and limited government continue to resonate with voters across the Sunshine State, said incoming Speaker Dean Cannon, R-Winter Haven.
I look forward to joining our returning members as well as our more than 30 new Republican members as we work to cultivate a fertile economic environment by shrinking the size and scope of government, empowering the individual, and promoting the family."
The Republicans defeated five incumbent Democrats in the House, including Democratic Policy Chair Keith Fitzgerald of Sarasota. They also knocked off Democrats Debbie Boyd of Newberry, Janet Long of Seminole, Bill Heller of St. Petersburg, and Adam Fetterman of Port St. Lucie. Republican Ray Pilon defeated Fitzgerald, 51.5 percent to 48.5 percent. In a rematch from 2008, Republican Elizabeth Porter routed Boyd, taking 54 percent while the Democrat had 40 percent. Republican Larry Ahern took 50 percent while Long had 44 percent of the vote. Heller lost by a smaller margin -- taking 49 percent while Republican Jeff Brandes won the race with 51 percent. Republican former Rep. Gayle Harrell, who was first elected to the House in 2000 and served four terms before making an unsuccessful bid for Congress, beat Fetterman, taking 56 percent while the Democrat trailed with 44 percent.
But the Republicans came up short in a few races. The GOP ran former Rep. Gustavo Barreiro, who served four terms in the House, against Democratic Rep. Luis Garcia of Miami. Garcia held on, taking 51 percent, with Barreiro at 49 percent. Incoming Democratic leader Ron Saunders of Key West did even better -- beating Republican candidate and former Key West Mayor Morgan McPherson by 16 percent.
Democrats looked to knock off Republican incumbents but were unsuccessful.
Democrats wanted badly to knock off Rep. Chris Dorworth, R-Heathrow, who is scheduled to be speaker in 2015. But they came up short. With more than 41,000 votes counted, Dorworth won 52 percent of the vote, enough to hold off Democrat Steve Barnes. Barnes took 41 percent and TEA Party candidate John DeVries had less than 7 percent.
Thank you to the voters of HD 34 for their faith and confidence, wrote Dorworth on Twitter after getting the results. Their trust is precious. God Bless America!
Democrats also had high hopes of taking the seat currently held by retiring Rep. Juan C. Zapata, R-Miami. They fielded a strong candidate in Katie Edwards, the executive director of the Dade County Farm Bureau. Attorney and business owner Frank Artilles, the Republican candidate, managed to prevail with 52 percent of the vote, keeping the seat for the GOP.
While several Republicans faced term limits, Democrats were not able to take advantage of having no incumbents to face. With Rep. Pat Patterson, R-DeLand, retiring due to term limits, Democrats had hopes for Tim Huth, who worked as a deputy superintendent in the Volusia County school system, to pick up the seat representing parts of Flagler and Volusia counties. But former Ormond Beach Mayor Fred Costello, the Republican in the race, won going away -- taking more than 60 percent of the vote.
Rep. Dwayne Taylor, D-Daytona Beach, who represents parts of Volusia County, won a second term but showed what the Democrats were up against. The Republicans did not field a candidate against Taylor but the incumbent pulled 58 percent, while Christopher Kennedy -- running with no party affiliation --took 42 percent.
Holding more than a two-thirds majority, Cannon should have the votes needed to push through the leaderships agenda as well as incoming Gov. Rick Scotts program.
Reach Kevin Derby at kderby@sunshinestatenews.com or at (850) 727-0859.
