Republicans and Democrats cast ballots in 10 state Senate districts across Florida Tuesday. While some incumbents faced primary challenges, all of them prevailed. And look for some different faces in the Senate -- even if they have familiar names.
SD 2: Rep. Greg Evers, R-Milton, crushed conservative businessman Mike Hill in the Republican primary to replace Sen. Durrell Peaden, R-Crestview, who represents all of Holmes and Washington counties, as well as parts of Bay, Escambia, Okaloosa and Walton counties.
Evers took more than 71 percent of the vote in the Panhandle district with more than 44,000 votes counted.
I am humbled and honored that the voters in Northwest Florida have selected me to be their Republican candidate for Senate District 2, said Evers. I ran for Senate District 2 because I am a proud, conservative, fifth-generation Northwest Floridian, farmer and small-business man; and I ran because I believe together we can make Northwest Florida great, we can work to bring back sanity to our national government, to reclaim a debt-free future for our children and grandchildren, and together we can bring back all that makes America great again. I thank all of my neighbors, friends and supporters in the Panhandle for helping me achieve victory tonight, and I look forward to continuing our fight.
My campaign during the general election will remain focused on conservative values and making certain that Northwest Florida does not take a backseat to the interests of South and Central Florida in the Legislature, added Evers. I believe that the true and tested conservative candidate in this race prevailed tonight, and I am certain that our campaign will prevail again in November.
With no Democrat in the race, Evers will face TEA Partier Christopher Crawford and write-in candidate Margaret Smith.
SD 6: Former Leon County Schools Superintendent Bill Montford defeated former Rep. Curtis Richardson in the Democratic primary in this seat currently held by Senate Minority Leader Al Lawson of Tallahassee, who ended his years of service in the Legislature to unsuccessfully challenge U.S. Rep. Allen Boyd. With more than 58,000 votes counted, Montford won 55 percent. He will be a favorite come November over Republican nominee John Shaw, a computer repair business owner. David Abrams is running without party affiliation, while Harrison Arencibian and Reamonn Soto are running as write-in candidates The district contains all of Calhoun, Franklin, Gadsden, Gulf, Jackson, Liberty and Wakulla counties and parts of Bay, Jefferson, Leon and Madison counties.
SD 8: Sen. John Thrasher of Jacksonville, the chairman of the Republican Party of Florida, held off a primary challenge from Dr. Charles Perniciaro in this district that stretches from parts of Nassau County through parts of Duval, St. Johns and Flagler counties before ending in Volusia County.
With almost 52,000 votes counted, Thrasher pulled 62 percent. In November he will face longtime Jacksonville news anchor Deborah Gianoulis, the Democrat in the race. Rebecca Ann Holcomb is running as a write-in candidate.
I am honored and humbled that the voters of Northeast Florida have, once again, chosen me to be the Republican candidate for Senate District 8, said Thrasher. I am particularly grateful to my volunteers, my friends and my family for their steadfast commitment to my campaign. I could not have achieved victory tonight without the hard work and dedication of these individuals, and for that I am truly thankful.
Tonight is just the first step to victory in November, said Thrasher. And, I am ready to debate the tough issues that face Northeast Florida during the general election. My campaign will maintain its same focus of keeping your taxes low, reducing wasteful government spending and growing our job base and local economy, as well as improving our childrens education and preserving the St. Johns River and our beautiful beaches.
The incoming leaders of the Legislature cheered the results as their close ally defeated Perniciaro who tapped into his own personal accounts for his campaign.
John Thrasher is clearly the right person to continue serving the people of State Senate District 8 at this critical time in our states history, said incoming Senate President Mike Haridopolos, R-Merritt Island. Hell continue working to keep taxes low, grow our job base and to improve our childrens education.
Senator Thrashers legacy of conservative leadership in the Florida House has continued during his service in the Florida Senate and through this commitment to lead our party through this trying time, said incoming House Speaker Dean Cannon, R-Winter Park. I am honored to congratulate him on tonights victory and look forward to celebrating his re-election in November.
SD 12: With almost 33,000 votes counted, Hillsborough County Commissioner Jim Norman claimed 56 percent of the vote to defeat Rep. Kevin Ambler, R-Tampa, in the Republican primary for the Senate seat held by Sen. Victor Crist, R-Tampa, which represents parts of Hillsborough and Pasco counties.
I am humbled and truly honored by the support from my community and neighbors. From the very beginning, I focused my campaign on my platform, my stance on public policy, and my record as a reformer who has delivered for his constituents, said Norman. My wife and I have dedicated our lives to public service and giving back to our community and we look forward to another victory in November and being able to continue to impact public policy and be stewards for positive change for our hometown.
Throughout this campaign, I have been overwhelmed by the outpouring of support and encouragement that I have received from fellow Republicans, business leaders and community leaders," added Norman. "I also want to thank former Gov. Jeb Bush, incoming Senate President Mike Haridopolos and Sen. Don Gaetz for their support throughout this campaign. Our campaign was won by shaking every hand, knocking on thousands of doors and meeting face-to-face with the voters of District 12.They spoke and I listened, which is exactly how I will conduct myself as a state senator with an open mind and an open door. I thank you all for your vote and celebrate this victory with you tonight.
Said Haridopolos, I congratulate Jim Norman on his victory tonight, and look forward to another victory for Jim in the general election in November. Jim has run a good race based on his resume of accomplishments and proven reform, his record of being pro-business and anti-tax, and his vision for the future of Senate District 12. At the end of the day, it was hard work and good old-fashioned campaigning that helped Jim deliver this victory.
With no Democrat in the race, Norman will be a near-lock to win in November when he faces two write-in candidates, Derek Crabb and Kimberly Rensipe, in the general election.
SD 24: Despite sticking with independent candidate Charlie Crist over Republican nominee Marco Rubio in the U.S. Senate race, Sen. Thad Altman, R-Viera, defeated conservative businessman Bart Carmichael in the Republican primary Tuesday, taking 68 percent of the more than 45,000 votes counted. Altman won the seat, which represents parts of Brevard, Orange and Seminole counties, back in 2008. With no Democrat in the race, Altman will take on independent candidate Steve Edmonds in November and is a heavy favorite to head back to Tallahassee.
SD 25: Eyes across Florida were on the Republican contest to replace Senate President Jeff Atwater, R-North Palm Beach, representing Broward and Palm Beach counties. Rep. Ellyn Bogdanoff of Fort Lauderdale defeated Rep. Carl Domino from Juno Beach by an impressive margin -- taking 58 percent of the more than 28,000 votes counted.
Ellyn is one of the stars of the Republican Party, focusing on job creation and anti-tax policies that will grow jobs and lay the groundwork for a strong economic framework, said Haridopolos, who backed her over Domino. Voters came out to support Ellyn because they know she is dedicated to making sure her area will prosper and flourish, which will ultimately lead her to victory in November.
Bogdanoff will face Rep. Kelly Skidmore of Boca Raton, the Democratic nominee in the race. Harvard grad Miranda Rosenberg is running in the race as an independent.
SD 27: Rep. Kevin Rader of Boynton Beach won the Democratic nomination, and longtime Wellington Councilwoman and Vice Mayor Lizbeth Benacquisto earned the Republican nod in the race to replace Sen. Dave Aronberg, D-Greenacres, who made an unsuccessful bid for the Democratic nomination for attorney general. This district contains parts of Charlotte, Glades, Hendry, Lee and Palm Beach counties.
With more than 20,000 votes counted, Rader defeated attorney Pete Burkett, who ran for the House in 2006 with 53 percent.
With the backing of a number of prominent Republicans, including Atwater and Haridopolos, Benacquisto pulled 39 percent of the more than 31,000 votes counted. Former Rep. Sharon Merchant who had the backing of a number of prominent Republicans, including Sen. Paula Dockery and Sen. Alex Villalobos, took 36 percent. Pilot Mike Lameyer, a bowling coach and former Marine who is a backer of the James Madison Institute, placed third with 25 percent.
This will be an interesting race come November and should rank as one of the closest Senate battles in the state.
SD 35: Former Senate President Gwen Margolis crushed former North Miami Mayor Kevin Burns, who made a stab at the Democratic nomination in the U.S. Senate race, in the Democratic primary and is a heavy favorite to head back to Tallahassee in November. With Sen. Dan Gelber of Miami Beach vacating this seat to run for attorney general, Margolis took 65 percent of the almost 18,000 votes counted in this district representing parts of Broward and Miami-Dade counties. Margolis will face conservative Corey Poitier who is running as an independent in the general election.
SD 36: With Sen. Alex Diaz de la Portilla, R-Miami, leaving the Senate, Republicans in this Miami-Dade district chose his brother, Miguel Diaz de la Portilla, who has served on the Miami-Dade County Commission, to replace him. Miguel Diaz de la Portilla pulled 52 percent of the more than 23,000 votes counted, defeating Rep. Julio Robaina, R-Miami, who took 44 percent. Jenny Nillo, a former aide to Alex Diaz de la Portilla, trailed badly in third with 4 percent.
Miguel Diaz de la Portilla is a true conservative, pro-business voice whom I have been proud to endorse and support from day one, and I congratulate him on his victory in the Republican primary for Senate District 36, said Haridopolos. In times like these, we need a leader who knows how to prioritize spending and focus on future prosperity and economic wellness. Miguel has spent his public service career adhering to the principles of less government and more personal freedom, principles that I believe led him to victory last night.
Miguel Diaz de la Portilla will be a near-lock to win in November when he will take on two write-in candidates, Luisa Artilles and Alberto Flores, in November. There is no Democrat in the race.
SD 38: With Sen. Alex Villalobos, R-Miami, term-limiting out this year, Republicans chose Rep. Anitere Flores, R-Miami, to represent them in this part of Miami-Dade. Flores took 81 percent of the almost 24,000 votes counted over last-minute challenger David Nelson.
Anitere has a record of delivering for her community and standing up for what she believes in and what is best for her constituents, said Haridopolos who backed her. Anitere has worked hard the past few months, bringing her campaign to voters' doorsteps and listening to what they want out of their next state senator. I have always admired Aniteres drive, passion and energy, and I know that she will carry this momentum to victory in November.
Flores will take on Democratic candidate Dr. Les Gerson, a veterinarian, in the general election in November.
Reach Kevin Derby at derby@sunshinestatenews.com or at (850) 727-0859.
