Florida 2012 legislative election results

The tabs below contain analysis of election results in the 2012 legislative elections for Florida.

• Senate
• House
• National Partisan Trends

2012 Legislative Election Results
State-by-State Analysis
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Other 2012 Election information
State legislative elections • State legislative election results • Statewide elections, 2012 • State Senate elections • State House elections

Florida State Senate Election Results

This page contains macro-level election results and analysis for the Florida State Senate 2012 elections. For results in individual contests see our Florida State Senate elections, 2012 page. The following is a breakdown of the state senate before and after the election:

Florida State Senate
Party		As of November 5, 2012	After the 2012 Election
	Democratic Party	12	14
	Republican Party	28	26
Total		40	40

What You'll See on This Page

This page will display the following lists of candidates

• Incumbents running on November 6
• Defeated incumbents
• Challengers who defeated an incumbent
• Newly elected senators
• List of all winners
• Unopposed candidates
• Third party candidates

State Senate Overview:

• A total of 40 of the state's Senate seats were up for election in 2012.

Incumbents

Incumbents running in November 6

The following is a list of all of the incumbents running on the November 6 general election ballot:

1. Alan Hays
2. Andy Gardiner
3. Anitere Flores
4. Arthenia Joyner
5. Audrey Gibson
6. Bill Montford
7. Charles Dean
8. Christopher Smith (Florida)
9. David Simmons
10. Don Gaetz
11. Eleanor Sobel
12. Ellyn Bogdanoff
13. Garrett Richter
14. Greg Evers
15. Gwen Margolis
16. Jack Latvala
17. Jeremy Ring
18. Joe Negron
19. John Thrasher
20. Lizbeth Benacquisto
21. Maria Sachs
22. Miguel Diaz de la Portilla
23. Nancy Detert
24. Oscar Braynon
25. Rene Garcia
26. Thad Altman

Incumbents defeated

The followings is a list of incumbents defeated in 2012:

General election

Candidate	Party	District
Ellyn Bogdanoff	Republican	Florida State Senate District 25

Primary election

No candidates have this category yet.

Challengers who beat an incumbent

The following is a list of challengers who defeated an incumbent in 2012:

General election

Candidate	Party	District
Aaron Bean	Republican	Florida State Senate District 4
Bill Galvano	Republican	Florida State Senate District 26
Darren Soto	Democratic	Florida State Senate District 14
Denise Grimsley	Republican	Florida State Senate District 21
Dorothy Hukill	Republican	Florida State Senate District 8
Dwight Bullard	Democratic	Florida State Senate, District 39
Geraldine Thompson	Democratic	Florida State Senate District 12
Jeff Brandes	Republican	Florida State Senate District 22
Jeff Clemens	Democratic	Florida State Senate, District 27
John Legg	Republican	Florida State Senate District 17
Joseph Abruzzo	Democratic	Florida State Senate, District 25
Kelli Stargel		Florida State Senate District 15
Rob Bradley	Republican	Florida State Senate District 7
Tom Lee	Republican	Florida State Senate District 24
Wilton Simpson	Republican	Florida State Senate District 18

Primary election

Results will display after the election on November 6.

New State Senators and General Election Winners

Newly elected senators

The following list will display the newly-elected members of the Florida State Senate:

Democratic

1. Darren Soto
2. Dwight Bullard
3. Geraldine Thompson
4. Jeff Clemens
5. Joseph Abruzzo

Republican

1. Aaron Bean
2. Bill Galvano
3. Denise Grimsley
4. Dorothy Hukill
5. Jeff Brandes
6. John Legg
7. Kelli Stargel
8. Rob Bradley
9. Tom Lee
10. Wilton Simpson

Open Seat Winners

The following will display a list of candidates who won election in seats where no incumbent was running:

Democratic

Results will display after the election on November 6.

Republican

Results will display after the election on November 6.

Candidates who won election

The following will be a list of all candidates elected to the Florida State Senate:

Democratic

1. Arthenia Joyner
2. Audrey Gibson
3. Bill Montford
4. Christopher Smith (Florida)
5. Darren Soto
6. Dwight Bullard
7. Eleanor Sobel
8. Geraldine Thompson
9. Gwen Margolis
10. Jeff Clemens
11. Jeremy Ring
12. Joseph Abruzzo
13. Maria Sachs
14. Oscar Braynon

Republican

1. Aaron Bean
2. Alan Hays
3. Andy Gardiner
4. Anitere Flores
5. Bill Galvano
6. Charles Dean
7. David Simmons
8. Denise Grimsley
9. Don Gaetz
10. Dorothy Hukill
11. Garrett Richter
12. Greg Evers
13. Jack Latvala
14. Jeff Brandes
15. Joe Negron
16. John Legg
17. John Thrasher
18. Kelli Stargel
19. Lizbeth Benacquisto
20. Miguel Diaz de la Portilla
21. Nancy Detert
22. Rene Garcia
23. Rob Bradley
24. Thad Altman
25. Tom Lee
26. Wilton Simpson

Competitiveness

Unopposed candidates in general election

The following candidates will not face major party competition:

Democratic

1. Arthenia Joyner
2. Bill Montford
3. Christopher Smith (Florida)
4. Eleanor Sobel
5. Gwen Margolis
6. Jeff Clemens
7. Jeremy Ring
8. Oscar Braynon

Republican

1. Alan Hays
2. Anitere Flores
3. Charles Dean
4. David Simmons
5. Denise Grimsley
6. Don Gaetz
7. Garrett Richter
8. Greg Evers
9. Jack Latvala
10. Jeff Brandes
11. Joe Negron
12. John Legg
13. Miguel Diaz de la Portilla
14. Nancy Detert
15. Rene Garcia

Ballot Access

Third party candidates

The following is a list of third party and independent candidates who are running in 2012:

1. James Patrick Adamczyk
2. John Iler
3. Joshua Hartigan
4. Kyle Alexander Bedran
5. Patrick Dewayne Mency
6. Randolph Link
7. Raymond Alan Baker
8. Richard Harrison
9. Rita Gambardella
10. Travis Genard Harris

2012 Legislative Election Results
State-by-State Analysis
Alaska • Arizona • Arkansas • California • Colorado • Connecticut • Delaware • Florida • Georgia • Hawaii • Idaho • Illinois • Indiana • Iowa • Kansas • Kentucky • Maine Massachusetts • Michigan• Minnesota • Missouri • Montana • Nebraska • Nevada • New Hampshire • New Mexico • New York • North Carolina • North Dakota • Ohio • Oklahoma • Oregon • Pennsylvania • Rhode Island • South Carolina • South Dakota • Tennessee • Texas • Utah • Vermont • Washington • West Virginia • Wisconsin • Wyoming
Other 2012 Election information
State legislative elections • State legislative election results • Statewide elections, 2012 • State Senate elections • State House elections

Florida State House Election Results

This page contains macro-level election results and analysis for the Florida House of Representatives elections in 2012. For results in individual contests, see our Florida House of Representatives elections, 2012. The following is a breakdown of the state house before and after the election:

Florida House of Representatives
Party		As of November 5, 2012	After the 2012 Election
	Democratic Party	38	46
	Republican Party	81	'74
	Vacancy	1	0
Total		120	120

What You'll See on This Page

This page will display the following lists of candidates

• Incumbents running on November 6
• Defeated incumbents
• Challengers who defeated an incumbent
• Newly elected representatives
• List of all winners
• Unopposed candidates
• Third party candidates

State House Overview

• All 120 of the state's House seats were up for election in 2012.

Incumbency Analysis

Incumbents who ran on November 6

The following is a list of all of the incumbents who are running on the November 6 general election ballot:

1. Alan Williams
2. Barbara Watson
3. Ben Albritton
4. Betty Reed
5. Bill Hager
6. Bryan Nelson
7. Carlos Trujillo
8. Charles McBurney
9. Charles Van Zant
10. Chris Dorworth
11. Clay Ford
12. Clay Ingram
13. Cynthia Stafford
14. Dana Young
15. Daniel Davis
16. Daphne Campbell
17. Darryl Rouson
18. Debbie Mayfield
19. Dennis Baxley
20. Doug Broxson
21. Doug Holder
22. Dwayne Taylor
23. Ed Hooper
24. Eduardo Gonzalez
25. Elaine Schwartz
26. Elizabeth Porter
27. Erik Fresen
28. Frank Artiles
29. Gayle Harrell
30. George Moraitis
31. Greg Steube
32. Gwyndolen Clarke-Reed
33. H. Marlene O'Toole
34. Hazelle Rogers
35. Irving Slosberg
36. James Grant
37. James Waldman
38. Janet Adkins
39. Janet Cruz
40. Jason Brodeur
41. Jeanette Nuñez
42. Jim Boyd
43. Jimmie Todd Smith
44. Jimmy Patronis
45. John Tobia
46. John Wood
47. Jose Felix Diaz
48. Jose Oliva
49. Joseph Gibbons
50. Kathleen Passidomo
51. Keith Perry
52. Kenneth Roberson
53. Lake Ray
54. Larry Ahern
55. Larry Metz
56. Lori Berman
57. Mark Pafford
58. Marti Coley
59. Matt Caldwell
60. Matt Gaetz
61. Matt Hudson
62. Mia Jones
63. Michael Bileca
64. Michelle Rehwinkel Vasilinda
65. Pat Rooney
66. Perry Thurston
67. Peter Nehr
68. Ray Pilon
69. Reggie Fullwood
70. Richard Corcoran
71. Ritch Workman
72. Robert Schenck
73. Ronald Renuart
74. Scott Plakon
75. Seth McKeel
76. Shawn Harrison
77. Stephen Precourt
78. Steve Crisafulli
79. Tom Goodson
80. Will Weatherford

Incumbents defeated

The followings will display a a list of incumbents defeated in 2012:

General election

Candidate	Party	District
Chris Dorworth	Republican	Florida House Of Representatives District 34
Peter Nehr	Republican	Florida House Of Representatives District 48
Scott Plakon	Republican	Florida House Of Representatives District 37
Shawn Harrison	Republican	Florida House Of Representatives District 60

Primary election

Candidate	Party	District
Ana Rivas Logan	Republican	Florida House Of Representatives District 114
John Patrick Julien	Democratic	Florida House Of Representatives District 104
Steven Perman	Democratic	Florida House Of Representatives District 78

Challengers who beat an incumbent

The following will display a list of challengers who defeated an incumbent in 2012:

General election

Candidate	Party	District
Bobby Powell	Democratic	Florida House of Representatives District 88
Bruce Antone	Democratic	Florida House of Representatives District 46
Carl Zimmermann	Democratic	Florida House of Representatives District 65
Cary Pigman	Republican	Florida House of Representatives District 55
Charles David Hood, Jr.	Republican	Florida House of Representatives District 25
Charlie Stone	Republican	Florida House of Representatives District 22
Clovis Watson, Jr.	Democratic	Florida House of Representatives District 20
Dan Raulerson	Republican	Florida House of Representatives District 58
Dane Eagle	Republican	Florida House of Representatives District 77
Dave Kerner	Democratic	Florida House of Representatives District 87
David Richardson (Florida)	Democratic	Florida House of Representatives District 113
David Santiago	Republican	Florida House of Representatives District 27
Dwight Dudley	Democratic	Florida House of Representatives District 68
Halsey Beshears	Republican	Florida House of Representatives District 7
Heather Fitzenhagen	Republican	Florida House of Representatives District 78
Holly Merrill Raschein	Republican	Florida House of Representatives District 120
Jake Raburn	Republican	Florida House of Representatives District 57
Jared Moskowitz	Democratic	Florida House of Representatives District 97
Joe Saunders	Democratic	Florida House of Representatives District 49
Jose Javier Rodriguez	Republican	Florida House of Representatives District 112
Karen Castor Dentel	Democratic	Florida House of Representatives District 30
Kathleen Peters	Republican	Florida House of Representatives District 69
Katie Edwards	Democratic	Florida House of Representatives District 98
Kevin J.G. Rader	Democratic	Florida House of Representatives District 81
Kionne McGhee	Democratic	Florida House of Representatives District 117
Larry Lee, Jr.	Democratic	Florida House of Representatives District 84
Linda Stewart	Democratic	Florida House of Representatives, District 47
Manny Diaz, Jr.	Republican	Florida House of Representatives District 103
Mark Alan Danish	Democratic	Florida House of Representatives District 63
MaryLynn Magar	Republican	Florida House of Representatives District 82
Mike Clelland	Democratic	Florida House of Representatives District 29
Mike Fasano	Republican	Florida House of Representatives District 36
Mike LaRosa	Republican	Florida House of Representatives District 42
Neil Combee	Republican	Florida House of Representatives District 39
Randolph Bracy III	Democratic	Florida House of Representatives District 45
Ray Rodrigues	Republican	Florida House of Representatives District 76
Ricardo Rangel	Democratic	Florida House of Representatives District 43
Richard Stark	Democratic	Florida House of Representatives District 104
Ross Spano	Republican	Florida House of Representatives District 59
Sharon Pritchett	Democratic	Florida House of Representatives District 102
Shevrin Jones	Democratic	Florida House of Representatives District 101
Travis Cummings	Republican	Florida House of Representatives District 18
Travis Hutson	Republican	Florida House of Representatives District 24
Victor M. Torres, Jr.	Democratic	Florida House of Representatives District 48

Primary election

No candidates have been added to this category yet.

New Representatives and General Election Winners

Newly elected representatives

The following will list the newly-elected members of the Florida House of Representatives:

Democratic

1. Bobby Powell
2. Bruce Antone
3. Carl Zimmermann
4. Clovis Watson, Jr.
5. Dave Kerner
6. David Richardson (Florida)
7. Dwight Dudley
8. Jared Moskowitz
9. Joe Saunders
10. Jose Javier Rodriguez
11. Karen Castor Dentel
12. Katie Edwards
13. Kevin J.G. Rader
14. Kionne McGhee
15. Larry Lee, Jr.
16. Linda Stewart
17. Mark Alan Danish
18. Mike Clelland
19. Randolph Bracy III
20. Ricardo Rangel
21. Richard Stark
22. Sharon Pritchett
23. Shevrin Jones
24. Victor M. Torres, Jr.

Republican

1. Cary Pigman
2. Charles David Hood, Jr.
3. Charlie Stone
4. Dan Raulerson
5. Dane Eagle
6. David Santiago
7. Halsey Beshears
8. Heather Fitzenhagen
9. Holly Merrill Raschein
10. Jake Raburn
11. Kathleen Peters
12. Manny Diaz, Jr.
13. MaryLynn Magar
14. Mike Fasano
15. Mike LaRosa
16. Neil Combee
17. Ray Rodrigues
18. Ross Spano
19. Travis Cummings
20. Travis Hutson

Open Seat Winners

The following will list candidates who won election in seats where no incumbent was running:

Democratic

Results will display after the election on November 6.

Republican

Results will display after the election on November 6.

Candidates who won election

The following will list all candidates elected to the Florida House of Representatives in 2012:

Democratic

1. Alan Williams
2. Barbara Watson
3. Betty Reed
4. Bobby Powell
5. Bruce Antone
6. Carl Zimmermann
7. Clovis Watson, Jr.
8. Cynthia Stafford
9. Daphne Campbell
10. Darryl Rouson
11. Dave Kerner
12. David Richardson (Florida)
13. Dwayne Taylor
14. Dwight Dudley
15. Elaine Schwartz
16. Gwyndolen Clarke-Reed
17. Hazelle Rogers
18. Irving Slosberg
19. James Waldman
20. Janet Cruz
21. Jared Moskowitz
22. Joe Saunders
23. Jose Javier Rodriguez
24. Joseph Gibbons
25. Karen Castor Dentel
26. Katie Edwards
27. Kevin J.G. Rader
28. Kionne McGhee
29. Larry Lee, Jr.
30. Linda Stewart
31. Lori Berman
32. Mark Alan Danish
33. Mark Pafford
34. Mia Jones
35. Michelle Rehwinkel Vasilinda
36. Mike Clelland
37. Perry Thurston
38. Randolph Bracy III
39. Reggie Fullwood
40. Ricardo Rangel
41. Richard Stark
42. Sharon Pritchett
43. Shevrin Jones
44. Victor M. Torres, Jr.

Republican

1. Ben Albritton
2. Bill Hager
3. Bryan Nelson
4. Carlos Trujillo
5. Cary Pigman
6. Charles David Hood, Jr.
7. Charles McBurney
8. Charles Van Zant
9. Charlie Stone
10. Clay Ford
11. Clay Ingram
12. Dan Raulerson
13. Dana Young
14. Dane Eagle
15. Daniel Davis
16. David Santiago
17. Debbie Mayfield
18. Dennis Baxley
19. Doug Broxson
20. Doug Holder
21. Ed Hooper
22. Eduardo Gonzalez
23. Elizabeth Porter
24. Erik Fresen
25. Frank Artiles
26. Gayle Harrell
27. George Moraitis
28. Greg Steube
29. H. Marlene O'Toole
30. Halsey Beshears
31. Heather Fitzenhagen
32. Holly Merrill Raschein
33. Jake Raburn
34. James Grant
35. Janet Adkins
36. Jason Brodeur
37. Jeanette Nuñez
38. Jim Boyd
39. Jimmie Todd Smith
40. Jimmy Patronis
41. John Tobia
42. John Wood
43. Jose Felix Diaz
44. Jose Oliva
45. Kathleen Passidomo
46. Kathleen Peters
47. Keith Perry
48. Kenneth Roberson
49. Lake Ray
50. Larry Ahern
51. Larry Metz
52. Manny Diaz, Jr.
53. Marti Coley
54. MaryLynn Magar
55. Matt Caldwell
56. Matt Gaetz
57. Matt Hudson
58. Michael Bileca
59. Mike Fasano
60. Mike LaRosa
61. Neil Combee
62. Pat Rooney
63. Ray Pilon
64. Ray Rodrigues
65. Richard Corcoran
66. Ritch Workman
67. Robert Schenck
68. Ronald Renuart
69. Ross Spano
70. Seth McKeel
71. Stephen Precourt
72. Steve Crisafulli
73. Tom Goodson
74. Travis Cummings
75. Travis Hutson
76. Will Weatherford

Competitiveness

Unopposed candidates in general election

The following candidates will not face major party competition:

Democratic

1. Alan Williams
2. Barbara Watson
3. Betty Reed
4. Bobby Powell
5. Bruce Antone
6. Clovis Watson, Jr.
7. Cynthia Stafford
8. Daphne Campbell
9. Darryl Rouson
10. Dave Kerner
11. David Richardson (Florida)
12. Dwayne Taylor
13. Gwyndolen Clarke-Reed
14. Hazelle Rogers
15. Irving Slosberg
16. James Waldman
17. Joseph Gibbons
18. Kionne McGhee
19. Mia Jones
20. Reggie Fullwood
21. Sharon Pritchett
22. Shevrin Jones
23. Victor M. Torres, Jr.

Republican

1. Ben Albritton
2. Bryan Nelson
3. Carlos Trujillo
4. Charles David Hood, Jr.
5. Charles McBurney
6. Charles Van Zant
7. Charlie Stone
8. Clay Ford
9. Clay Ingram
10. Dana Young
11. Daniel Davis
12. Debbie Mayfield
13. Dennis Baxley
14. Doug Broxson
15. Eduardo Gonzalez
16. Elizabeth Porter
17. Frank Artiles
18. Gayle Harrell
19. Greg Steube
20. H. Marlene O'Toole
21. Heather Fitzenhagen
22. James Grant
23. Jason Brodeur
24. Jeanette Nuñez
25. Jimmy Patronis
26. Jose Felix Diaz
27. Jose Oliva
28. Kathleen Passidomo
29. Kenneth Roberson
30. Lake Ray
31. Larry Metz
32. Manny Diaz, Jr.
33. Marti Coley
34. MaryLynn Magar
35. Matt Caldwell
36. Matt Gaetz
37. Matt Hudson
38. Neil Combee
39. Ray Rodrigues
40. Richard Corcoran
41. Ritch Workman
42. Ronald Renuart
43. Seth McKeel
44. Stephen Precourt
45. Steve Crisafulli
46. Travis Cummings
47. Will Weatherford

Ballot Access

Third party candidates

The following is a list of third party and independent candidates running in 2012:

1. Alejandro Manuel Walters
2. Alex Diaz de la Portilla
3. Angel Morera
4. Beatrice Oria
5. Beverly Joy Hires
6. Bob McCann
7. Carol Castagnero
8. Christina Spencer-Kephart
9. Dana Kaye Conaway
10. Daniel Walsh
11. Eddy Holman
12. Franklin Perez
13. Grettel Limia
14. Heinie Heinzelman
15. Janice Denise Rhymes
16. Javier Daire
17. Jonathan William Loesche
18. Josue Vazquez
19. Karen Lea Morian
20. Kerry Babb
21. Lillian Lima
22. Lizette Rodriguez
23. Maria Elisa Mena
24. Matthew Weidner
25. Michael Cornish
26. Nancy Argenziano
27. Pam Brown, Florida
28. Peter Daniel Richter
29. Ramon Julio Garganta
30. Raul Rene Robayna
31. Rebecca "Sue" Sharp
32. Robert Brinkman
33. Travis Pitts
34. Vickie Renee Williams
35. Xzavia Vaz

2012 Legislative Election Results
State-by-State Analysis
Alaska • Arizona • Arkansas • California • Colorado • Connecticut • Delaware • Florida • Georgia • Hawaii • Idaho • Illinois • Indiana • Iowa • Kansas • Kentucky • Maine Massachusetts • Michigan• Minnesota • Missouri • Montana • Nebraska • Nevada • New Hampshire • New Mexico • New York • North Carolina • North Dakota • Ohio • Oklahoma • Oregon • Pennsylvania • Rhode Island • South Carolina • South Dakota • Tennessee • Texas • Utah • Vermont • Washington • West Virginia • Wisconsin • Wyoming
Other 2012 Election information
State legislative elections • State legislative election results • Statewide elections, 2012 • State Senate elections • State House elections

National Partisan Trends

The following tables will detail the partisan breakdown of national election results.

Incumbents who were defeated in the general election

In the 44 states with elections, there were 4,534 incumbents who ran in the general election. The following is a breakdown of incumbent defeats in the 2012 general election:

Incumbents defeated in 2012 legislative general election
Party	Senate	House	Total
Democratic	21	49	70
Republican	37	182	219
Third Party	2	3	5
TOTALS	60	234	294

Total new legislators elected

In total, 1,707 (28.4%) new legislators were elected in 2012. Of these 1,707, 849 (50.0%) were Republicans and 854 (50.0%) were Democrats.

The following is the breakdown of new legislators.

New Legislators after the 2012 legislative elections
Party	Senate	House	Total
Democratic	165	684	849
Republican	202	652	854
Independent	0	4	4
TOTALS	367	1,340	1,707

Winners of Open Seats

Open seats contests made up 705 (11.7%) of the 6,015 seats in 2012. Of these 705 open seats, Republicans won 401 (56.9%) while Democrats won 304 (43.1%). Going into the election, the number of open seats formerly held by each party was quite similar. Estimates prior to the election suggested that approximately 52% of the open seats were previously held by Republicans and 48% were held by Democrats.

The following is the breakdown of open seat winners.

Open Seat Winners in 2012 legislative elections
Party	Senate	House	Total
Democratic	82	220	302
Republican	105	296	401
Third Party	0	0	0
TOTALS	187	516	703

Impact on legislative majorities

See also: Partisan balance of state legislatures

Partisan Balance of Chambers with 2012 Elections
	Pre-election				Post-election
Legislative chamber
State senates	17	24	1	1	18	24	0	1
State houses	15	27	1	0	19	24	0	0
Totals:	32	51	2	1	37	48	0	1

Partisan Balance of All 99 Chambers Before and After 2012 Elections
	Pre-election				Post-election
Legislative chamber
State senates	19	28	2	1	20	28	1	1
State houses	17	31	1	0	21	28	0	0
Totals:	35	60	3	1	41	56	1	1