Republicans have easily held and kept control of the Florida House, expanding their majority to build a supermajority in that chamber. With at least 82 seats under GOP control, the GOP has enough votes to override a gubernatorial veto -- which is not expected as Gov. Rick Scott held off the challenge of former Gov. Charlie Crist on Tuesday night.
House Democrats who came in on President Barack Obamas and U.S. Sen. Bill Nelsons, D-Fla., coattails in 2012 went down to defeat, especially in Central Florida.
Tonight, in Florida and across the country, voters have sent a clear message, said incoming Florida House Speaker Steve Crisfaulli, R-Merritt Island. I am grateful they have given us a supermajority of Republicans to the Florida House, continued a Republican majority in the Florida Senate, maintained a strong Republican Cabinet, and re-elected Gov. Scott. Over the past four years, Gov. Scotts willingness to make tough choices has reversed the losses we saw under Charlie Crist, leading to a recovering economy, job creation and a record number of visitors to our great state. I look forward to working with the governor to continue making Florida the best state in the nation.
Former Rep. Scott Plakon is headed back to Tallahassee, flipping a seat for Republicans as he beat freshman Rep. Mike Clelland, D-Longwood. Plakon took 57 percent of the vote while Clelland garnered 43 percent.
Another freshman Democrat from Central Florida -- Rep. Linda Stewart, D-Orlando -- also lost her seat on Tuesday as Republican Mike Miller added another vote for the GOP. Miller took 52 percent while Stewart mustered 48 percent.
Despite coming from one of the most prominent Democratic dynasties in the state, Rep. Karen Castor Dentel, D-Maitland, lost by the skin of her teeth, losing to Republican Bob Cortes. The Republican took 51 percent while Castor Dentel pulled 49 percent.
In another close race in Central Florida, Republican Ren"Coach P" Plasencia beat Rep. Joe Saunders, D-Orlando. Plasencia took 51 percent while Saunders garnered 49 percent.
Over in Tampa Bay, Republican former state Rep. Shawn Harrison is headed back to Tallahassee. Harrison took 53 percent while Rep. Mark Danish, D-Tampa, who beat the Republican in 2012, pulled in 47 percent.
Another Tampa Bay Democrat who went down to defeat was Rep. Carl Zimmerman, D-Dunedin. Republican Chris Sprowls took 52 percent while Zimmerman reeled in 48 percent.
There were two Tampa Bay House seats that stayed in their respective columns. Republican Chris Latvala, the son of Florida Sen. Jack Latvala, R-Clearwater, beat Democrat Steve Sarnoff 53 percent to 47 percent to keep that seat for the GOP. Rep. Dwight Dudley, D-St. Petersburg, held off Republican Bill Young II, the son of the late, longtime congressman, 53 percent to 47 percent.
Democrats targeted other Republicans across the state but the GOP incumbents kept their seats. Rep. Bill Hager, R-Boca Raton, took 53 percent while Democrat David Silvers pulled in 47 percent. Up in North Central Florida, Rep. Keith Perry, R-Gainesville, easily held off Democrat Jon Uman, taking 59 percent of the vote and beating him by 10,000 votes.
But not every targeted Democrat went down on Tuesday. With a margin of 600 votes, Rep. Jose Javier Rodriguez, D-Miami, fended off Republican Daniel Diaz Leyva.
Reach Kevin Derby at kderby@sunshinestatenews.com or follow him on Twitter: @KevinDerbySSN
