Republican voters went to the polls in special elections needed after former Sen. John Thrasher accepted the presidency of Florida State University, setting off scrambles for his Florida Senate seat and two Florida House seats vacated in the aftermath of his resignation.
Former Rep. Travis Hutson won the special Republican primary for the open Senate seat on Tuesday night, decisively beating former Rep. Doc Renuart by 17 percent. Hutson will face Democrat David Cox in the special election on April 7.
With all votes in from Flagler, Putnam, St. Johns and Volusia counties Hutson had 13,416 votes (52 percent) while Renuart trailed with 9,018 votes (35 percent). Dennis McDonald was in distant third with 3,253 votes (13 percent).
While the Senate contest did not prove close, the battle for Renuarts open House seat representing the northern parts of St. Johns County proved much closer.
St. Johns County Commissioner Cyndi Stevenson beat St. Augustine businessman Mike Davis, who challenged Renuart in the primary back in 2012, by 300 votes on Tuesday night. With all votes in, Stevenson had 5,173 votes (42 percent) while Davis took 4,870 votes (39 percent). Jack Capra stood in distant third with 2,379 votes (19 percent).
Stevenson will face Judy Stevens, who is running with no party affiliation, and write-in candidate Mary Anne Boczek in the April 7 special election.
There was not much of a battle for the seat Hutson vacated as Paul Renner is one step closer to heading to Tallahassee after a big primary win on Tuesday night.
Renner, an attorney and Navy veteran, lost by the skin of his teeth in a Republican primary to banker Jay Fant for an open Florida House seat in Duval County. But, on Tuesday, Renner bounced back easily, crushing former St. Johns County Commissioner Ron Sanchez and conservative activist Danielle Anderson in the special Republican primary for the House seat vacated by Hutson.
With 5,968 votes (70 percent), Renner was an easy winner with Sanchez a distant second with 1,561 votes (18 percent). Anderson took 978 votes (12 percent).
Renner will be a heavy favorite over Democrat Adam Morley in the special election in April to represent this solidly Republican district which represents all of Flagler County and parts ofSt. Johns and Volusia counties.
Reach Kevin Derby at kderby@sunshinestatenews.com or follow him on Twitter: @KevinDerbySSN
