Ted Yoho Easily Tops Gainesville Tea Party Straw Ballot

The tea party bloc continues to line up behind large-animal doctor Ted Yoho in the crowded GOP primary for the new District 3 congressional seat.

Slightly more than three-of-four members of the Gainesville Tea Party opted for Yoho in a straw ballot held Saturday. U.S. Rep. Cliff Stearns, R-Ocala, garnered 10 percent of the vote, state Sen. Steve Oelrich, R-Gainesville, picked up 7 percent, and Clay County Clerk of the Court James Jett received 4 percent.

The remaining two percent were divided between Phillip Dodd, an independent candidate, and undecided.

Yoho, who has been endorsed by the OBrien Tea Party group, received 69 percent of the vote in a straw ballot held last week by the Gilchrist Tea Party.

As with the Gilchrist vote, the number of ballots cast in Gainesville was not released.

The district includes: Alachua, Gilchrist, Levy, Dixie, Lafayette, Suwannee, Columbia, Bradford, Union, Hamilton and Clay counties, along with the eastern portion of Madison County and the north-western portion of Marion County.