(11/2/2010) FT. LAUDERDALE, FL – With most statewide races going to Republican candidates, largely Democratic Broward County yielded a few key positions to the GOP. Mayor Ken Keechl, Congressman Ron Klein, and six other races went to Republican candidates.
Statewide in Broward
Although the statewide races may have had different outcomes, Broward County bucked the trend in its voting. 64.62% of Broward voters supported Democrat Alex Sink for governor; statewide, however Rick Scott won 48.98% of the vote, with Sink receiving 47.61%. Depending on how the overall results change once all absentee ballots are counted, an automatic recount may be called if the difference is half a percentage point or less.
For U.S. Senate, Broward residents voted for independent Governor Charlie Crist, giving him 36.08% of the vote, leaving Democrat Kendrick Meek with 31.61% and Republican/Tea Party candidate Marco Rubio 31.60%. Meek edged out his GOP rival by only 51 votes. Statewide, however, Rubio handily won the seat, with 49% of the vote, leaving Crist with 29.67% and Meek with 20.13%.
According to the Florida Department of State, Division of Elections, all of the state’s other constitutional officers went to Republicans.
Pam Bondi will be Florida’s next Attorney General, with 54.90% of the vote, leaving Democratic State Senator Dan Gelber with 41.31%.
The State’s Chief Financial Officer position went to the GOP’s Jeff Atwater, who won 51.41%, compared to his Democratic challenger, Loranne Ausley, who received 38.85%.
Republican Adam Putnam beat Democrat Scott Maddox for the state’s Commissioner of Agriculture, with a 56.04% to 38.04% victory.
Broward Races
A few surprising congressional races also went to the GOP. Democratic incumbent Ron Klein lost to the GOP/Tea Party’s Allen West. West received 54.35% of the vote versus 45.65% for Klein. Klein had won the seat previously in a special election.
Florida’s 25th Congressional District, a seat vacated by Mario Diaz-Balart (who ran unopposed for his brother Lincoln’s 21st District seat), was won by Republican David Rivera (52.17%) over Democrat Joe Garcia (42.58%). Garcia has run for this seat in the past, including losing to Mario Diaz-Balart in 2008.
All other Broward county Congressional seats were held by their Democratic incumbents, including Alcee Hastings, Debbie Wasserman-Shultz, and Ted Deutch.
With the exception of Broward Mayor Ken Keechl, the remaining County Commission seats went to Democrats. Keechl (45.19%), lost to Republican Chip LaMarca (49.65%), in a three-way race including independent (former Democrat) Chris Chiari (5.16%).
For More Information
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Florida Department of State, Division of Elections
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