Florida 2010 Primary Election Report: August 24

Above:  (Associated Press photo) Republican gubernatorial candidate Rick Scott celebrates his win Tuesday night. He will face Democrat Alex Sink on November 2. 

 

Tuesday, August 24, 2010 marked the final day of voting for the 2010 Florida Primary Elections.  Results held several surprises. 
 
Below is a brief synopsis of several high-profile Primary results. A full report on the election results as of August 24 is attached for review. 
 
Please note that these results have not yet been declared official by the Florida Division of Elections and some numbers may vary once finalized.

 

Florida Governor and Cabinet

• In Florida’s race for Governor, former Columbia HCA executive Rick Scott defeated Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum for the Republican nomination with 46 percent of the vote, while Attorney General McCollum received 43 percent of the vote.  This race was one of the costliest gubernatorial elections in Florida’s history, with Rick Scott reportedly spending over $40 million of his own money in the race.  Mr. Scott now will face Democrat Alex Sink (Florida’s current Chief Financial Officer and the only Democrat in the Florida Cabinet) in the General Election on November 2, 2010.  For the Democratic nomination, CFO Sink defeated opponent Brian Moore with 77 percent of the vote.  Additionally, several candidates who have qualified will appear on the ballot with “No Party Affiliation,” including Bud Chiles, the son of former Democratic Governor Lawton Chiles.   
• The Primary race for Florida’s Attorney General was crowded on both the Republican and Democratic ballot.  The Republican nomination was won by State Prosecutor Pam Bondi, who defeated former legislator and Agency for Health Care Administration Secretary Holly Benson and Lieutenant Governor Jeff Kottkamp.  The Democrat primary was won by Florida Senator Dan Gelber, who defeated Florida Senator Dave Aronberg.  Senator Aronberg received 41 percent of the vote and Senator Gelber received 59 percent.
• Candidates for Florida CFO and Commissioner of Agriculture and Consumer Services did not have contested primary elections.  In the General Election for CFO, Republican Senate President Jeff Atwater will face former Democratic legislator Loranne Ausley, while Republican former U.S. Congressman Adam Putnam will face Democrat Scott Maddox in the General Election for Agriculture Commissioner. 

 

U.S. Senate

• On the national level, former Speaker of the Florida House of Representatives Marco Rubio handily won the Republican nomination for the U.S. Senate seat currently held by George LeMieux by 85 percent of the vote.  Democratic U.S. Congressman Kendrick Meek won the Primary over businessman Jeff Greene by 55 percent of the vote, while Mr. Green received 33 percent.   Primarily self-funded, Mr. Greene also millions of dollars to win the nomination.  In the November General Election, Speaker Rubio and Congressman Meek now will face Florida Governor Charlie Crist, who is running as “No Party Affiliation.” 

 

Other Elections of Interest

U.S. Congress
 
State Senator Al Lawson lost to Congressman Allen Boyd for the Democrat party nomination for the 2nd Congressional District.  Senator Lawson received 45 percent of the vote, while Congressman Boyd received 55 percent and now faces a Republican challenger in the General Election.  It should be noted that this seat has been historically won by Democrats.
 
 
Florida Senate
 
District 2 Republican Primary:   Former State Representative Greg Evers wins by nearly 60 percent of the vote.
 
District 6 Democratic Primary:  Bill Montford 60 percent; former State Representative Curtis Richardson 40 percent
 
District 8 Republican Primary:  Charles Perniciaro 36 percent; John Thrasher 64 percent
 
District 12 Republican Primary:  Jim Norman 56 percent; former State Representative Kevin Ambler 44 percent
 
District 25 Republican Primary:  State Representative Ellyn Bogdanoff 55 percent; former State Representative Carl Domino 45 percent
 
District 27 Republican Primary:  Lizbeth Benequisto 41 percent; former State Representative Sharon Merchant 36 percent; Mike Lameyer 23 percent. Democratic Primary:   State Representative Kevin Rader 53 percent; Peter Burkert 47 percent
 
 
Florida House of Representatives
 
District 1 Republican Primary:  Greg Brown 29 percent; Doug Broxson 45 percent; Ricky G. Perritt 4 percent; Ferd Salomon 22 percent;
 
District 25 Republican Primary:  Rick Joyce 47 percent; Larry Metz 53 percent

 

Should you have any questions or comments, please contact Colodny Fass.

 

 

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