Become part of the movement for unbiased, accessible election information. Donate today.
Florida State Senate elections, 2010
 Ballot measures Governor Lt. Gov Attorney General State Senate State House of Representatives |
Elections for the Florida State Senate were held in Florida on November 2, 2010. State senate seats in the even numbered districts were on the ballot in 2010.
The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was April 30, 2010, and the primary election day was August 24, 2010.
In Florida, senators serve two or four-year terms depending on the year with a maximum of two consecutive four-year terms. The Senators representing the odd-numbered districts are elected in years evenly divisible by four. The senators from the even-numbered districts are elected in the intervening even-numbered years. All senators are up for election in years ending in the digit 2.
The incumbent senator ran for re-election for 10 of the 23 state senate seats that were up for election in 2010 (43.4%). In 7 of the remaining 13 seats the incumbent was ineligible to run because of term limits.
As a result of this election, Republicans increased their majority by two seats.
- See also: Florida State Senate and State legislative elections, 2010
November 2 General Election Results
The following candidates won election on November 2, 2010:
- Alan Hays
- Anitere Flores
- Arthenia Joyner
- Bill Montford
- David Simmons
- Don Gaetz
- Ellyn Bogdanoff
- Greg Evers
- Gwen Margolis
- Jack Latvala
- Jeremy Ring
- Jim Norman
- Joe Negron
- John Thrasher
- Lizbeth Benacquisto
- Maria Sachs
- Miguel Diaz de la Portilla
- Mike Haridopolos
- Nan Rich
- René Garcia
- Ronda Storms
- Steve Oelrich
- Thad Altman
Majority control
- See also: Partisan composition of state senates
Heading into the November 2 election, the Republican Party held the majority in the Florida State Senate:
| Florida State Senate | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Party | As of November 1, 2010 | After the 2010 Election | |
| Democratic Party | 13 | 12 | |
| Republican Party | 26 | 28 | |
| Vacancy | 1 | - | |
| Total | 40 | 40 | |
Term limits
- See also: State legislatures with term limits
The Florida State Senate has been a term-limited state senate since Florida voters approved Amendment 9 in 1992. Amendment 9 altered Article VI, section 4 of the Florida Constitution to establish a maximum of two 4-year terms on Florida State Senators.
There are 40 Florida State Senators. In 2010, 8 incumbents were ineligible to run for the Senate again in November. They were:
Democrats (1):
Republicans (6):
Campaign contributions
This chart shows how many candidates ran for state senate in Florida in past years and the cumulative amount of campaign contributions in state senate races, including contributions in both primary and general election contests. All figures come from Follow The Money.[1]
| Year | Number of candidates | Total contributions |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 60 | $14,617,863 |
| 2008 | 50 | $12,733,525 |
| 2006 | 47 | $16,502,417 |
| 2004 | 37 | $4,786,164 |
| 2002 | 81 | $13,012,199 |
In 2010, the total amount of campaign contributions raised in senate elections was $14,617,863. The top 10 contributors were:[2]
| Donor | Amount |
|---|---|
| Domino, Carl J | $592,600 |
| Florida Democratic Party | $588,915 |
| Florida Republican Party | $525,959 |
| Perniciaro, Charles | $385,980 |
| Dockery, Paula B | $281,500 |
| McGriff Jr, Perry C | $150,500 |
| Hospital Corporation of America | $67,500 |
| Burkert, Pete | $67,315 |
| Margolis, Gwen | $65,000 |
| Florida Chamber of Commerce | $62,000 |
Incumbency
Unopposed incumbents
5 incumbents (50%) faced no competition in the November 2 general election.
- 2 Democratic incumbents faced no November challenger.
- 3 GOP incumbents faced no November challenger.
Primary challenges
Two incumbents faced competition in the August 24 primary. The two incumbents, both Republicans, won their primaries:
- District 8: Incumbent Republican John Thrasher
- District 24: Incumbent Republican Thad Altman
Retiring incumbents
12 incumbent representatives did not run for re-election, while 10 incumbents (44%) ran for re-election. Of the 12 incumbents who did not seek re-election, 4 were Democrats and 8 were Republicans.
Incumbents who retired were:
- District 2: Incumbent Republican Durell Peaden.
- District 6: Incumbent Democrat Alfred Lawson.
- District 12: Incumbent Republican Victor Crist.
- District 16: Incumbent Democrat Charlie Justice.
- District 20: Incumbent Republican Carey Baker.
- District 22: Incumbent Republican Lee Constantine.
- District 25: Incumbent Republican Jeffrey Atwater.
- District 27: Incumbent Democrat Dave Aronberg.
- District 35: Incumbent Democrat Dan Gelber.
- District 36: Incumbent Republican Alex Diaz de la Portilla.
- District 38: Incumbent Republican Alex Villalobos.
- District 40: Incumbent Republican Rudy Garcia.
Qualifications
To run for the Florida State Senate, candidates must be 21 years old, have lived in Florida for two years and live in the district they intend to serve.[3]
List of candidates
| Partisan dominance in state senates heading into the 2010 state legislative elections |
 |
| 2010 State senate elections
|
|---|
| AL • AK • AR • AR • CA • CO • CT • DE • FL • GA • HI • ID • IL • IN • IA • KY • ME • MD • MA • MI • MN • MO • MT • NE • NV • NH • NY • NC • ND • OH • OK • OR • PA • RI • SD • TN • TX • UT • VT • WA • WV • WI • WY |
| Parties with candidates |
| Impact of term limits |
| Successful challengers |
| Defeated incumbents |
| State house elections |
| State senate elections |
| State legislative elections |
District 2
August 24 Democratic primary:
- No Democratic candidates filed to run for this seat.
August 24 Republican primary:
- Greg Evers: 31,839
- Mike Hill: 12,815
- Dave Murzin - withdrew before the primary
- Greg Evers: 31,839
TEA Party candidate:
Independent candidate:
- Margaret Smith (write-in)
- The incumbent, Durell Peaden, did not run for re-election. No Democrats filed to run for this office by the signature filing deadline.
November 2 General election candidates:
- Greg Evers 100,073
- Christopher Crawford 26,148
- Margaret Smith 310
District 4
- August 24 Democratic primary:
- No Democratic candidates filed to run for this seat.
- August 24 Republican primary:
- Don Gaetz incumbent Gaetz was first elected in 2006.
- Jesse Walter Horn, Jr. - did not qualify for the election.
- Don Gaetz
November 2 General election candidates:
District 6
- August 24 Democratic primary:
- Bill Montford: 32,352
- Curtis Richardson: 26,198
- Bill Montford: 32,352
- August 24 Republican primary:
- Independent candidates:
- David H. Abrams
- Reamonn Soto (write-in)
- Harrison Arencibian (write-in)
- Note: Incumbent Alfred Lawson (D) was not up for re-election due to Florida term limits.
November 2 General election candidates:
- Bill Montford 99,825
- John Shaw 44,510
- David H. Abrams 4,686
- Harrison Arencibian 10
District 8
- August 24 Democratic primary:
- August 24 Republican primary:
- Charles Perniciaro: 20,150
- John Thrasher: 32,618 Incumbent Thrasher was first elected in 2009.
- Independent candidate:
- Rebecca Ann Holcomb (write-in)
November 2 General election candidates:
- Deborah Gianoulis 73,314
- John Thrasher 110,176
- Rebecca Ann Holcomb 110
District 10
- August 24 Democratic primary:
- No Democrats filed to run for this seat.
- August 24 Republican primary:
- Ronda Storms incumbent Storms was first elected in 2006.
- Paul M. Phillips, did not qualify for the election.
- Ronda Storms
- Independent candidate:
- Victoria Brake (write-in)
- Michael Brett Smith, failed to qualify for the election.
November 2 General election candidates:
- Ronda Storms 109,846
- Victoria Brake 661
District 12
- August 24 Democratic primary:
- No Democrats filed to run for this seat.
- August 24 Republican primary:
- Kevin Ambler: 14,530
- Jim Norman: 18,452
- Note: Norman was disqualified in mid-October due to an election lawsuit brought by Ambler, and put back on the ballot on October 27. [4][5]
- Independent candidates:
- Derek Crabb (write-in)
- Kimberly Renspie (write-in)
- Note: Incumbent Victor Crist (D) was not up for re-election due to Florida term limits.
November 2 General election candidates:
- Jim Norman 85,324
- Derek Crabb 364
- Kimberly Renspie 348
District 14
- August 24 Democratic primary:
- August 24 Republican primary:
- Steve Oelrich Incumbent Oelrich was first elected in 2006.
- Steve Oelrich
November 2 General election candidates:
- Perry McGriff 60,725
- Steve Oelrich 70,789
District 16
- August 24 Democratic primary:
- August 24 Republican primary:
- Note: Incumbent Charlie Justice (D) was not up for re-election due to Florida term limits.
November 2 General election candidates:
- Nina Hayden 46,942
- Jack Latvala 83,396
District 18
- August 24 Democratic primary:
- Arthenia Joyner Incumbent Joyner was first elected in 2006.
- Arthenia Joyner
- August 24 Republican primary:
- No Republicans filed to run for this seat.
November 2 General election candidates:
District 20
- August 24 Democratic primary:
- August 24 Republican primary:
- Michael J. Bakich, did not qualify by petition method.
- Alan Hays
- Note: Incumbent Carey Baker (R) did not run for re-election.
November 2 General election candidates:
- Eunice Garbutt 66,025
- Alan Hays 135,175
District 22
- August 24 Democratic primary:
- Matt Myre, did not qualify.
- August 24 Republican primary:
- Note: Incumbent Lee Constantine (R) was not up for re-election due to Florida term limits.
November 2 General election candidates:
District 24
- August 24 Democratic primary:
- No Democrats filed to run for this seat.
- August 24 Republican primary:
- Thad Altman: 30,739 Incumbent Altman was first elected in 2008.
- Robert William Carmichael: 14,682
- Thad Altman: 30,739
- Independent candidate:
November 2 General election candidates:
- Thad Altman 103,357
- W. Steven Edmonds, Jr. 50,478
District 25
- August 24 Democratic primary:
- August 24 Republican primary:
- Ellyn Bogdanoff: 16,433
- Carl Domino: 11,891
- Ellyn Bogdanoff: 16,433
- Independent candidate:
- Note: Incumbent Jeffrey Atwater (R) was not up for re-election due to Florida term limits.
November 2 General election candidates:
- Kelly Skidmore 53,958
- Ellyn Bogdanoff 82,583
- Miranda Rosenberg 6,694
District 26
- August 24 Democratic primary:
- No Democrats filed to run for this seat.
- August 24 Republican primary:
- Mike Haridopolos Incumbent Haridopolos was first elected in 2003.
- Mike Haridopolos
November 2 General election candidates:
District 27
- August 24 Democratic primary:
- Pete Burkert: 9,674
- Kevin Rader: 10,820
- August 24 Republican primary:
- Lizbeth Benacquisto: 12,217
- Mike Lameyer: 7,706
- Sharon J. Merchant: 11,307
- Lizbeth Benacquisto: 12,217
- Note: Incumbent Dave Aronberg (D) was not up for re-election due to Florida term limits.
November 2 General election candidates:
- Kevin Rader 67,621
- Lizbeth Benacquisto 79,750
District 28
- August 24 Democratic primary:
- No Democrats filed to run for this seat.
- August 24 Republican primary:
- Joe Negron Incumbent Negron was first elected in 2009.
- Joe Negron
November 2 General election candidates:
District 30
- August 24 Democratic primary:
- August 24 Republican primary:
- No Republicans filed to run for this seat.
November 2 General election candidates:
District 32
- August 24 Democratic primary:
- Jeremy Ring Incumbent Ring was first elected in 2006.
- Jeremy Ring
- August 24 Republican primary:
November 2 General election candidates:
- Jeremy Ring 62,049
- Patrick Laffey 35,813
District 34
- August 24 Democratic primary:
- Nan Rich Incumbent Rich was first elected in 2004.
- Nan Rich
- August 24 Republican primary:
- No Republicans filed to run for this seat.
November 2 General election candidates:
District 35
- August 24 Democratic primary:
- Kevin Burns: 6,257
- Gwen Margolis: 11,619
- August 24 Republican primary:
- No Republicans filed to run for this seat.
- Independent candidate:
- Note: Incumbent Dan Gelber (D) did not run for re-election.
November 2 General election candidates:
- Gwen Margolis 62,237
- Corey Poitier 17,780
District 36
- August 24 Democratic primary:
- No Democrats filed to run for this seat.
- August 24 Republican primary:
- Miguel Diaz de la Portilla: 12,167
- Julio Robaina: 10,254
- J. Nillo: 1,059
- Miguel Diaz de la Portilla: 12,167
- Independent candidates:
- Luisa Artiles (write-in)
- Alberto E. Fortes (write-in)
- Note: Incumbent Alex Diaz de la Portilla (R) was not up for re-election due to Florida term limits.
November 2 General election candidates:
- Miguel Diaz de la Portilla 58,138
- Luisa Artiles 31
- Alberto E. Fortes 6
District 38
- August 24 Democratic primary:
- August 24 Republican primary:
- Anitere Flores: 19,582
- David Nelson: 4,605
- Anitere Flores: 19,582
- Note: Incumbent Alex Villalobos (R) was not up for re-election due to Florida term limits.
November 2 General election candidates:
- Les Gerson 30,409
- Anitere Flores 65,133
District 40
- August 24 Democratic primary:
- No Democrats filed to run for this seat.
- August 24 Republican primary:
- Independent candidate:
- Alexis Dominguez (write-in)
- Note: Incumbent Rudy Garcia (R) was not up for re-election due to Florida term limits.
November 2 General election candidates:
- René Garcia 56,322
- Alexis Dominguez 20
See also
- Florida State Senate
- Florida State Legislature
- State legislative elections, 2010
- Primary election dates in 2010
External links
- Official Florida State Senate General Election Results
- 2010 election candidates
- August 24, 2010 primary election results
- Project Vote Smart list of candidates for Florida State Senate in the November 2, 2010 election
Footnotes
- ↑ Follow the Money, California
- ↑ Follow the Money: "Florida Senate 2010 Campaign Contributions"
- ↑ Qualifications for Senate (dead link)
- ↑ My Fox Tampa Bay, "Republican party picks new candidate," October 23, 2010
- ↑ Florida Independent, "State Senate candidate Norman wins appeal, is back on ballot," October 27, 2010
