In what may well be one of the greatest congressional upsets in Florida history, large-animal veterinarian and political newcomer Ted Yoho scored a very narrow victory over 12-term congressman Cliff Stearns, R-Ocala, in one of Tuesdays most hotly contested primary races.
Stearns trailed Yoho 34 percent to 33 percent, losing by only 829 of the nearly 64,000 votes cast in the race.
In what might well be Florida's greatest congressional upset in years, tea party-backed Ted Yoho has narrowly beat out 24-year conservative incumbent Cliff Stearns in Tuesday's tight and very bitter four-way primary election.
Catch the full story at Sunshine State News.
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To no one's surprise, incumbent Bill Nelson has scored an overwhelming victory against token Democratic primary opponent Glenn Burkett in Florida's U.S. Senate race. Early returns show Nelson pulling in about 79 percent of the vote.
Sen. Nelson will now face off against Rep. Connie Mack IV, R-Fort Myers, in the Nov. 6 general election. Nelson, a two-term senator, succeeded Mack's father, Sen. Connie Mack III, in 2000.
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U.S. Rep. Tom Rooney, R-Punta Gorda, has, as expected, won his re-election to the new District 17 seat that was crafted mostly from the western end of his current district that is dominated by Palm Beach, Martin and St. Lucie counties.
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Trey Radel, a former radio talk-show host, is ahead in the contest to replace U.S. Rep. Connie Mack, R-Naples, in Congress.
Radel was just above 30 percent, with no other candidate in the early totals topping 20 percent.
Radel was contesting for the seat against state Reps. Gary Aubuchon, Paige Kreegel, Joe Davidow, Byron Donalds and Chauncey Goss, who was endorsed by former Gov. Jeb Bush.
Mack was an easy winner in his GOP primary to take on U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Orlando, in the fall.
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Early returns show 10-term Congressman John Mica, R-Winter Park, handily defeating freshman Congresswoman Sandy Adams, R-Orlando, in a volatile race that saw the rare spectacle of two incumbents facing off in a primary as a result of earlier congressional redistricting. Early returns show Mica carrying the race with about 61 percent of the votes.
Retread is the word in House contests.
Sen. Mike Fasano, R-New Port Richey, is showing no signs of difficulty in dispatching two GOP primary opponents.
In South Florida, former legislator Alex Diaz de la Portilla was winning his effort to return to Tallahassee.
Former Rep. Carl Domino of Jupiter was doing well in Palm Beach County, but Martin County voters were heavily sided with MaryLynn Magar in a five-way primary contest to replace Rep. William Snyder.
Snyder remained in a close race for Martin County sheriff.
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Former Rep. Aaron Bean from Fernandina Beach, Rep. Kelli Stargel, R-Lakeland and Rep. Jeff Brandes, R-St. Petersburg, who could all play a big role in Sen. Joe Negrons effort to become Senate president in 2016, are strong early showings as the first vote totals were released.
The state Division of Elections posted its first results just after 8 p.m., after polls closed on the Panhandle.
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Incumbent Congressman Allen West has handily won his partys nomination in the Republican primary in Floridas U.S. Congressional District 18.
By 9 p.m. on the coast, well-funded West had 74 percent of the vote to Martin County Sheriff Bob Crowder's 26 percent.
Crowder was widely considered a long shot for the nomination, after he alienated himself from much of his partys conservative base in 2010 when he endorsed Democrat Alex Sink in the 2010 Florida gubernatorial race.
Mitt Romney made a smart executive decision selecting Paul Ryan as his vice presidential running mate.
