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Florida's 2nd Congressional District election, 2016
From Ballotpedia
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← 2014
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November 8, 2016 |
August 30, 2016 |
Neal Dunn  |
Gwen Graham  |
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Cook Political Report: Likely R[1] Sabato's Crystal Ball: Safe R[2] Rothenberg & Gonzales: Safe R[3] |
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The 2nd Congressional District of Florida held an election for the U.S. House of Representatives on November 8, 2016.
Due to redistricting, this district flipped from safely Democratic to safely Republican. Incumbent Gwen Graham (D) did not seek re-election in 2016. Neal Dunn (R) defeated Walter Dartland (D), Rob Lapham (L), and Antoine Edward Roberts (Write-in) in the general election on November 8, 2016. Dunn defeated Mary Thomas and Ken Sukhia to win the Republican nomination, while Dartland defeated Steve Crapps in the Democratic primary. The primary elections took place on August 30, 2016.[4][5]
| Candidate Filing Deadline | Primary Election | General Election |
|---|---|---|
Primary: A primary election is an election in which registered voters select a candidate that they believe should be a political party's candidate for elected office to run in the general election. They are also used to choose convention delegates and party leaders. Primaries are state-level and local-level elections that take place prior to a general election. Florida utilizes a closed primary process, in which the selection of a party's candidates in an election is limited to registered party members.[6][7]
For information about which offices are nominated via primary election, see this article.
Incumbent: Heading into the election the incumbent was Gwen Graham (D), who was first elected in 2014. Graham did not seek re-election in 2016, as redistricting flipped the partisan nature of the district to safely Republican.[8]
Florida's 2nd Congressional District consists of the eastern part of the Florida Panhandle. It includes the counties of Washington, Jackson, Bay, Gulf, Franklin, Calhoun, Liberty, Wakulla, Taylor, Lafayette, Suwannee, Gilchrist, Dixie, and Levy and parts of Marion, Leon, Jefferson, Holmes, and Columbia counties.[9]
Election results
General election
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican |  Neal Dunn |
67.3% | 231,163 | |
| Democratic | Walter Dartland | 29.9% | 102,801 | |
| Libertarian | Rob Lapham | 2.7% | 9,395 | |
| N/A | Write-in | 0% | 3 | |
| Total Votes | 343,362 | |||
| Source: Florida Division of Elections | ||||
Primary election
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Neal Dunn |
41.4% | 33,886 | ||
| Mary Thomas | 39.3% | 32,178 | ||
| Ken Sukhia | 19.3% | 15,826 | ||
| Total Votes | 81,890 | |||
| Source: Florida Division of Elections |
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| Candidate | Vote % | Votes | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Walter Dartland |
50.1% | 30,115 | ||
| Steve Crapps | 49.9% | 29,982 | ||
| Total Votes | 60,097 | |||
| Source: Florida Division of Elections |
||||
Candidates
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General election candidates: Neal Dunn  Walter Dartland Rob Lapham Antoine Edward Roberts (Write-in) |
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Primary candidates:[10] |
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Democratic Walter Dartland[4] |
Republican Neal Dunn - Surgeon[12] Ken Sukhia - Former U.S. Attorney[13] |
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Third Party/Other Antoine Edward Roberts (Write-in)[4] |
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Not running: |
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Withdrew: Jeff Moran (R)[15][4] |
Race background
Incumbent Gwen Graham was one of the initial 14 members of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee's Frontline Program. The program was designed to help protect vulnerable Democratic incumbents heading into the 2016 election.[16]
Mary Thomas and Neal Dunn were members of the NRCC's Young Guns Program in 2016. The Young Guns program "supports and mentors challenger and open-seat candidates in races across the country."[17]
Endorsements
Neal Dunn
- Former state Senate President Don Gaetz - "He personifies the values and needs of our retired military and the communities that host our bases and missions. As a medical doctor caring for thousands of North Florida families, he knows firsthand the health care issues that affect our communities. In his successful business career, he faces the same struggles as the rest of us in meeting payroll, growing jobs and working through the maze of government regulation."[18]
- Former state House Speaker Allan Bense - "My four fundamental principles when I was a member of the House or Speaker of the House were four critical issues: less government, lower taxes, preserving our personal freedoms and liberties, and empowering the families of Florida. I can tell you Neal Dunn embraces all four of those principles."[19]
- Former state House Speaker Will Weatherford - "As exemplified by his service in the military, as well as the medical practice he built, Neal Dunn has shown Floridians that he is a dedicated leader and, above all else, a true public servant. Through his experiences, Neal understands the issues that are important to Floridians, including health care, the economy and the importance of the military to our national security."[20]
- Former District 2 Rep. Steve Southerland - "I have examined the field thoroughly and feel strongly that Neal Dunn is the best conservative Republican candidate and is the only candidate I have endorsed for this race. He and his wife, Leah, are conservative Christians with a long family history of military service and sacrifice."
- Rep. Jeff Miller (FL-1) - "North Florida needs a conservative who is committed to serving our veterans, shrinking the size and scope of the federal government and safeguarding our Second Amendment rights. Neal Dunn shares the same conservative values as many of us in our community, and he has demonstrated a commitment to the ideals and principles of the Founding Fathers. I believe his background as a veteran and surgeon makes him uniquely qualified to represent the Second District of Florida in Congress."[21]
Mary Thomas
- The Senate Conservatives Fund - "These candidates are all principled conservative leaders who have strong grassroots support. We need them in the U.S. House to reinforce the efforts of our conservative allies. They will stand up to the big spenders in both parties and work to defend the principles of freedom that make our nation great."[22]
- The Club for Growth[23]
Jeff Moran
- Rep. Ted Yoho - "Jeff Moran knows what it is like to run a business and deal with government getting in your way. As a former police officer, he knows what it’s like to run into situations that most people are running out of. He is the guy that we need in Washington that will not only be the best representative for North Florida but will be a voice for common sense and conservatives across the country."[24]
Media
Neal Dunn
Support
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Opposition
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Mary Thomas
Support
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Opposition
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District history
2014
The 2nd Congressional District of Florida held an election for the U.S. House of Representatives on November 4, 2014. Gwen Graham (D) defeated incumbent Steve Southerland (R) in the general election.
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Gwen Graham |
50.5% | 126,096 | |
| Republican | Steve Southerland Incumbent | 49.3% | 123,262 | |
| Write-in | Luther Lee | 0.2% | 422 | |
| Total Votes | 249,780 | |||
| Source: Florida Division of Elections | ||||
2012
The 2nd Congressional District of Florida held an election for the U.S. House of Representatives on November 6, 2012. Incumbent Steve Southerland II won re-election in the district.[25] The primary took place on August 14.[26]
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Steve Southerland II Incumbent |
52.7% | 175,856 | |
| Democratic | Al Lawson | 47.2% | 157,634 | |
| Independent | Floyd Patrick Miller | 0.1% | 228 | |
| Total Votes | 333,718 | |||
| Source: Florida Secretary of State "Official Election Results, 2012 General Election" | ||||
Important dates and deadlines
- See also: Florida elections, 2016
The calendar below lists important dates for political candidates in Florida in 2016.
| Dates and requirements for candidates in 2016 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Deadline | Event type | Event description | |
| January 11, 2016 | Campaign finance | Campaign finance report due | |
| February 10, 2016 | Campaign finance | Campaign finance report due | |
| March 10, 2016 | Campaign finance | Campaign finance report due | |
| March 15, 2016 | Election date | Presidential primary election | |
| April 4, 2016 | Ballot access | Deadline for judicial, state attorney and public defender candidates qualifying by petition to submit completed petitions to supervisors of elections | |
| April 11, 2016 | Campaign finance | Campaign finance report due | |
| May 2, 2016 | Ballot access | Qualifying period for judicial, state attorney and public defender candidates begins | |
| May 6, 2016 | Ballot access | Qualifying period for judicial, state attorney and public defender candidates ends | |
| May 10, 2016 | Campaign finance | Campaign finance report due | |
| May 23, 2016 | Ballot access | Deadline for federal, state representative, state senate, county office and special district candidates qualifying by petition to submit completed petitions to supervisors of elections | |
| June 10, 2016 | Campaign finance | Campaign finance report due | |
| June 20, 2016 | Ballot access | Qualifying period for federal, state representative, state senate, county office and special district candidates begins | |
| June 24, 2016 | Ballot access | Qualifying period for federal, state representative, state senate, county office and special district candidates ends | |
| July 1, 2016 | Campaign finance | Campaign finance report due | |
| July 15, 2016 | Campaign finance | Campaign finance report due | |
| July 29, 2016 | Campaign finance | Campaign finance report due | |
| August 4, 2016 | Campaign finance | Termination report due, if applicable | |
| August 5, 2016 | Campaign finance | Campaign finance report due | |
| August 12, 2016 | Campaign finance | Campaign finance report due | |
| August 19, 2016 | Campaign finance | Campaign finance report due | |
| August 26, 2016 | Campaign finance | Campaign finance report due | |
| August 30, 2016 | Election date | Primary election | |
| September 9, 2016 | Campaign finance | Campaign finance report due | |
| September 22, 2016 | Campaign finance | Termination report due, if applicable | |
| September 23, 2016 | Campaign finance | Campaign finance report due | |
| October 7, 2016 | Campaign finance | Campaign finance report due | |
| October 14, 2016 | Campaign finance | Campaign finance report due | |
| October 21, 2016 | Campaign finance | Campaign finance report due | |
| October 28, 2016 | Campaign finance | Campaign finance report due | |
| November 4, 2016 | Campaign finance | Campaign finance report due | |
| November 8, 2016 | Election date | General election | |
| November 28, 2016 | Campaign finance | Termination report due, if applicable | |
| February 6, 2017 | Campaign finance | Termination report due, if applicable | |
| Sources: Florida Division of Elections, "2015-2017 Election Dates Calendar," June 4, 2015 Florida Division of Elections, "Calendar of Reporting Dates for 2016 Candidates Registered with the Division of Elections," accessed January 11, 2016 | |||
See also
- United States House of Representatives elections in Florida, 2016
- United States House of Representatives elections, 2016
Footnotes
- ↑ Cook Political Report, "2016 House Race Ratings for July 11, 2016," accessed July 19, 2016
- ↑ Sabato's Crystal Ball, "2016 House," accessed July 18, 2016
- ↑ Rothenberg & Gonzales Political Report, "House Ratings," accessed July 19, 2016
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 Florida Department of State, "Candidate Listing for 2016 General Election," accessed June 25, 2016
- ↑ Politico, " Florida House Races Results," August 30, 2016
- ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "State Primary Election Types," accessed July 23, 2024
- ↑ Florida Division of Elections, "Closed Primary Election," accessed July 23, 2024
- ↑ Tallahassee Democrat, "Gwen Graham might run for governor," April 21, 2016
- ↑ United States Census Bureau, "Congressional Districts of the 116th Congress of the United States," accessed March 14, 2020
- ↑ Candidates are listed by party and alphabetically within each party.
- ↑ Florida Politics, "As Mary Thomas readies congressional bid, Steve Southerland prays on return," July 20, 2015
- ↑ WCTV, "Neal Dunn Announces Candidacy for Florida Congressional District 2," August 10, 2015
- ↑ WCTV, "Former US Attorney Ken Sukhia Announces Candidacy for Congress," March 22, 2016
- ↑ Tallahassee Democrat, "Gwen Graham might run for governor," April 21, 2016
- ↑ Sunshine State News, "Ted Yoho Endorses Jeff Moran to Challenge Gwen Graham," February 25, 2016
- ↑ Roll Call, "Exclusive: DCCC Announces 14 Incumbents in Frontline Program," February 12, 2015
- ↑ NRCC, "32 Congressional Candidates Announced “On the Radar” as Part of NRCC’s Young Guns Program," November 19, 2015
- ↑ Saint Peters Blog, "Don Gaetz endorses Neal Dunn in North Florida congressional bid," August 24, 2015
- ↑ Panama City News Herald, "Neal Dunn announces candidacy for Congress," August 7, 2015
- ↑ Saint Peters Blog, "Will Weatherford endorses Neal Dunn in CD 2," September 2, 2015
- ↑ Sunshine State News, "Jeff Miller Backs Neal Dunn to Take on Gwen Graham," March 23, 2016
- ↑ Roll Call, "Senate Conservatives Fund Makes First House Endorsements of 2016," January 12, 2016
- ↑ The Club for Growth, "Mary Thomas | FL-02," accessed February 1, 2016
- ↑ Sunshine State News, "Ted Yoho Endorses Jeff Moran to Challenge Gwen Graham," February 25, 2016
- ↑ Politico, "2012 Election Map, Florida," November 6, 2012
- ↑ Florida Secretary of State, "August 2012 Primary Election," accessed September 4, 2012
For information about public policy issues in the 2016 elections, see: Public policy in the 2016 elections!
Senators
Ashley Moody (R)
Rick Scott (R)
Representatives
District 1
Jimmy Patronis (R)
District 2
Neal Dunn (R)
District 3
Kat Cammack (R)
District 4
Aaron Bean (R)
District 5
John Rutherford (R)
District 6
Randy Fine (R)
District 7
Cory Mills (R)
District 8
Mike Haridopolos (R)
District 9
Darren Soto (D)
District 10
Maxwell Frost (D)
District 11
Daniel Webster (R)
District 12
Gus Bilirakis (R)
District 13
Anna Luna (R)
District 14
Kathy Castor (D)
District 15
Laurel Lee (R)
District 16
Vern Buchanan (R)
District 17
Greg Steube (R)
District 18
Scott Franklin (R)
District 19
Byron Donalds (R)
District 20
District 21
Brian Mast (R)
District 22
Lois Frankel (D)
District 23
Jared Moskowitz (D)
District 24
Frederica Wilson (D)
District 25
District 26
District 27
District 28
Carlos Gimenez (R)
Republican Party (22)
Democratic Party (8)
