While there were some dramatic races in the Sunshine State, including some pivotal victories that helped Republicans take control of the U.S. House, most of the states congressional races were not particularly close.
At 10:25 p.m. Tuesday, with 160,000 votes still to be counted in Palm Beach County and Republican outsider Rick Scott ahead of Democrat Alex Sink by 110,000 votes, Sunshine State News called the gubernatorial race for Scott.
While its been a big day for Republicans, there have been some bright spots for Florida Democrats. Two Democratic incumbents won bids for another term.
With 47 percent of the vote in, U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, a rising star in Democratic circles, held on to defeat Republican challenger Karen Harrington, taking 60 percent of the vote.
U.S. Rep. Alcee Hastings blew out Republican candidate Bernard Sansaricq. Hastings took 79 percent of the vote with 48 percent of precincts reporting.
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Republican Pam Bondi will be Floridas first female attorney general.
What a difference four years make.
Sunshine State News calls the gubernatorial race for Republican candidate Rick Scott. With 77 percent of the vote in, Scott had 50 percent of the vote while Democratic candidate Alex Sink had 46 percent. Based on historical bellwether counties from the 2006 and 2008 elections, Sunshine State News calls the race for Scott -- who will become the 45th governor of the state of Florida.
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Incoming Speaker Dean Cannon, R-Winter Park, will wield the gavel. Cannon took 58 percent with more than 39,000 votes counted. Democrat Amy Mercado took 40 percent with a TEA Party candidate taking 2 percent.
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Democrats had high hopes of knocking off Sen. Steve Oelrich, R-Gainesville but came up short.
With more than 116,000 votes, Oelrich took 54 percent while former Rep. Perry McGriff, the Democratic candidate, took 46 percent.
I congratulate Senator Oelrich on his re-election to the Florida Senate, said incoming Senate President Mike Haridopolos, R-Merritt Island. North Central Florida has re-elected a senator that is focused on creating new jobs, ensuring the best education for our children, reducing the tax burden and lowering government spending.
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Two more years for U.S. Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen. With more than 122,000 votes counted, the veteran Republican legislator had almost 71 percent of the vote --easily besting Democratic candidateRolando A. Banciella. Ros-Lehtinen is the ranking Republican woman in the House -- and with Republicans winning control of the U.S. House, she takes over the Committee on Foreign Affairs.
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Outgoing Florida Senate President Jeff Atwater will remain in Tallahassee next year as the states chief financial officer.
