Florida 2012 legislative election results

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

Senate

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 displays the following lists of candidates

• Incumbents who ran on November 6
• 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 who ran on November 6

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

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

New State Senators and General Election Winners

Newly elected senators

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

Democratic

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

Republican

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

Candidates who won election

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

Democratic

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

Republican

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

Competitiveness

Unopposed candidates in general election

The following candidates did not face major party competition:

Democratic

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

Republican

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

Ballot Access

Third party candidates

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

1. Scott Hopes
2. Patrick Dewayne Mency
3. Kyle Alexander Bedran
4. Joshua Hartigan
5. Richard Harrison
6. Rita Gambardella
7. Travis Genard Harris
8. Randolph Link
9. John Iler
10. James Patrick Adamczyk
11. Raymond Alan Baker
12. Katherine Rebecca Barnette
13. Terrence Exume
14. Patricia Williamson

House

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 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 displays the following lists of candidates

• Incumbents who ran on November 6
• 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 were on the November 6 general election ballot:

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

New Representatives and General Election Winners

Newly elected representatives

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

Democratic

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

Republican

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

Candidates who won election

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

Democratic

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

Republican

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

Competitiveness

Unopposed candidates in general election

The following candidates did not face major party competition:

Democratic

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

Republican

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

Ballot Access

Third party candidates

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

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

National Partisan Trends

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 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 incumbents defeated 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:	36	59	3	1	41	56	1	1