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Notable Florida races, 2016

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Notable Florida Races
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PrimaryAugust 30, 2016
GeneralNovember 8, 2016
2016 Notable Races
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Ballotpedia identified six notable Florida state legislative races in 2016.

HIGHLIGHTS
  • Republicans kept a state government trifecta.
  • Democratic candidates challenged Republican senators in three closely divided districts.
  • The Democratic senator in a newly drawn district faced a crowded primary field en route to a potentially competitive general election.

    • Overview

    Main articles: Florida House of Representatives elections, 2016 and Florida State Senate elections, 2016

    All 120 state House seats and all 40 state Senate seats were up for election in 2016.

    Partisan breakdown of the Florida Legislature
    Party Republicans Democrats
    Florida House 81 seats 39 seats
    Florida Senate 26 seats 14 seats

    Republicans had held a state government trifecta since 2011, meaning they controlled the governorship and both chambers of the state legislature. They kept total control of the state government following the November election. Gov. Rick Scott (R) was not up for election in 2016, and Democrats would have had to gain 22 seats to win a majority in the House and seven seats to win a majority in the Senate.

    Democratic candidates challenged Republican senators in three closely divided districts: Senate District 36, Senate District 37, and Senate District 39.[1][2] Redistricting created an open seat in closely divided Senate District 8; the open race attracted a competitive general election field.[1][2] The Democratic senator in newly drawn Senate District 40 faced two challengers in the primary, and a potentially competitive race in the general election.[1][2]

    What makes a race notable?

    Ballotpedia uses these criteria to identify notable races:

    • Incumbents facing more conservative or liberal challengers
    • Rematches between candidates
    • Races that receive considerable media attention
    • Races that could significantly affect the state's partisan balance
    • Competitive races involving party leaders
    • Open, competitive races with Republican and Democratic primaries
    • Races that capture money and attention from outside groups, including key endorsements

    Know of an interesting race we should include here? Email us!

    Notable primary elections

    Senate District 40 - Democratic primary

    The Democratic incumbent faced a crowded primary field en route to a potentially competitive general election.

    Three Democratic candidates—Andrew Korge, Missalys Perez, and former Rep. Ana Rivas Logan (D)—challenged Sen. Dwight Bullard (D) in Senate District 40.[1] Early polling put Rivas Logan ahead in the primary, and Korge had success with fundraising.[2][3]

    Bullard, Rep. Frank Artiles (R), and Mario Jimenez (no party affliation) faced off in the 2016 general election. Artiles was unopposed in the GOP primary.[1] Artiles had a large campaign war chest and endorsements from Associated Builders and Contractors and the Republican Liberty Caucus of Florida.[4][5]

    Frank Artiles defeated incumbent Dwight Bullard and Mario Jimenez in the Florida State Senate District 40 general election.[6][7]

    Florida State Senate, District 40 General Election, 2016
    Party Candidate Vote % Votes
         Republican Green check mark transparent.png Frank Artiles 50.62% 100,170
         Democratic Dwight Bullard Incumbent 40.70% 80,551
         No party affiliation Mario Jimenez 8.68% 17,170
    Total Votes 197,891
    Source: Florida Division of Elections


    Incumbent Dwight Bullard defeated Andrew Korge, Ana Rivas Logan and Missalys Perez in the Florida State Senate District 40 Democratic primary.[8][9]

    Florida State Senate, District 40 Democratic Primary, 2016
    Party Candidate Vote % Votes
         Democratic Green check mark transparent.png Dwight Bullard Incumbent 48.59% 9,909
         Democratic Andrew Korge 21.76% 4,437
         Democratic Ana Rivas Logan 24.53% 5,002
         Democratic Missalys Perez 5.12% 1,043
    Total Votes 20,391


    Frank Artiles ran unopposed in the Florida State Senate District 40 Republican primary.[8][9]

    Florida State Senate, District 40 Republican Primary, 2016
    Party Candidate
        Republican Green check mark transparent.png Frank Artiles  (unopposed)

    Mario Jimenez listed no party affiliation on the candidate list.

    Notable general elections

    Senate District 8 - General election

    An open race in a closely divided district attracted a competitive general election field.

    None of the incumbents who had represented parts of newly drawn Senate District 8 before 2016 ran for re-election in the district in 2016.[1][2] Instead, former Sen. Rod Smith (D) and Rep. Keith Perry (R) competed for the seat.[1][2] Smith briefly served as chair of the state Democratic Party and ran for governor in 2006 and lieutenant governor in 2010.[2] Perry was endorsed by the Florida Chamber of Commerce, the Florida Retail Federation, and the Republican Liberty Caucus of Florida.[2][5][10][11] Perry and Smith both ran unopposed in their respective primaries.[1]


    Senate District 36 - General election

    A Democratic candidate targeted the Republican incumbent in a closely divided district.

    Democratic candidate Anabella Grohoski Peralta challenged sitting Sen. René Garcia (R) in Senate District 36.[1][12] District 36 tilted slightly Democratic in the 2012 presidential race, although moderate Garcia was in a strong position heading into the 2016 election.[2] Garcia and Peralta both ran unopposed in their respective primaries.[1]


    Senate District 37 - General election

    A Democratic candidate targeted the Republican incumbent in a closely divided district.

    Rep. Jose Javier Rodriguez (D) challenged sitting Sen. Miguel Diaz de la Portilla (R) in newly drawn Senate District 37.[1][12] Rodriguez defeated Diaz de la Portilla's brother, Alex Diaz de la Portilla, to claim his House District 112 seat in 2012.[2][13] Senate District 37 tilted Democratic in the 2012 presidential race, and the 2016 general election was expected to be competitive.[2] Diaz de la Portilla and Rodriguez both ran unopposed in their respective primaries.[1] Independent candidate Mercedes Christian also ran in the November general election.[1]

    This district was included in the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee's list of "2016 Essential Races." Read more »

    Senate District 39 - General election

    A Democratic candidate targeted the Republican incumbent in a closely divided district.

    Democratic candidate Debbie Mucarsel-Powell challenged sitting Sen. Anitere Flores (R), who previously represented Senate District 40, in Senate District 39.[1][2] District 39 tilted Democratic in the 2012 presidential race, although moderate Flores was in a strong position heading into the 2016 election.[2] Flores and Mucarsel-Powell both ran unopposed in their respective primaries.[1][1]


    House District 114 - General election

    An open race in a closely divided district attracted a competitive general election field.

    State Rep. Erik Fresen did not run for re-election. Daisy Baez (D) and John D. Couriel (R) faced off in the general election. Baez defeated Alberto L. Santana in the Democratic primary. Couriel was unopposed in the Republican primary.[1]

    This district was included in the Republican State Leadership Committee's list of "16 in '16: Races to Watch." Read more »

    Freshman legislators

    The following is a list of challengers who won election on November 8.

    1. Al Jacquet (Democratic), .Florida House of Representatives, District 88
    2. Alexandra Miller (Republican), .Florida House of Representatives, District 72
    3. Amber Mariano (Republican), .Florida House of Representatives, District 36
    4. Amy Mercado (Democratic), .Florida House of Representatives, District 48
    5. Barrington A. Russell (Democratic), .Florida House of Representatives, District 95
    6. Ben Diamond (Democratic), .Florida House of Representatives, District 68
    7. Bob Rommel (Republican), .Florida House of Representatives, District 106
    8. Bobby Payne (Florida) (Republican), .Florida House of Representatives, District 19
    9. Bobby Powell (Democratic), .Florida State Senate, District 30
    10. Byron Donalds (Republican), .Florida House of Representatives, District 80
    11. Carlos Guillermo Smith (Democratic), .Florida House of Representatives, District 49
    12. Chuck Clemons (Republican), .Florida House of Representatives, District 21
    13. Clay Yarborough (Republican), .Florida House of Representatives, District 12
    14. Cord Byrd (Republican), .Florida House of Representatives, District 11
    15. Daisy Baez (Democratic), .Florida House of Representatives, District 114
    16. Dana Young (Republican), .Florida State Senate, District 18
    17. Daphne Campbell (Democratic), .Florida State Senate, District 38
    18. Darryl Rouson (Democratic), .Florida State Senate, District 19
    19. David Silvers (Democratic), .Florida House of Representatives, District 87
    20. Debbie Mayfield (Republican), .Florida State Senate, District 17
    21. Dennis Baxley (Republican), .Florida State Senate, District 12
    22. Don Hahnfeldt (Republican), .Florida House of Representatives, District 33
    23. Doug Broxson (Republican), .Florida State Senate District 1
    24. Emily Slosberg (Democratic), .Florida House of Representatives, District 91
    25. Erin Grall (Republican), .Florida House of Representatives, District 54
    26. Frank Artiles (Republican), .Florida State Senate, District 40
    27. Frank White (Florida) (Republican), .Florida House of Representatives, District 2
    28. Gary Farmer (Florida Senate) (Democratic), .Florida State Senate, District 34
    29. George Gainer (Republican), .Florida State Senate, District 2
    30. Greg Steube (Republican), .Florida State Senate, District 23
    31. Jackie Toledo (Republican), .Florida House of Representatives, District 60
    32. Jason Fischer (Republican), .Florida House of Representatives, District 16
    33. Jayer Williamson (Republican), .Florida House of Representatives, District 3
    34. Joe Gruters (Republican), .Florida House of Representatives, District 73
    35. Jose Javier Rodriguez (Democratic), .Florida State Senate, District 37
    36. Joseph Abruzzo (Democratic), .Florida House of Representatives, District 81
    37. Kamia Brown (Democratic), .Florida House of Representatives, District 45
    38. Kathleen Passidomo (Republican), .Florida State Senate, District 28
    39. Keith Perry (Republican), .Florida State Senate, District 8
    40. Kevin J.G. Rader (Democratic), .Florida State Senate, District 29
    41. Kimberly Daniels (Democratic), .Florida House of Representatives, District 14
    42. Lauren Book (Democratic), .Florida State Senate, District 32
    43. Linda Stewart (Democratic), .Florida State Senate, District 13
    44. Loranne Ausley (Democratic), .Florida House of Representatives, District 9
    45. Matt Willhite (Democratic), .Florida House of Representatives, District 86
    46. Mel Ponder (Republican), .Florida House of Representatives, District 4
    47. Michael Grant (Republican), .Florida House of Representatives, District 75
    48. Nick Duran (Democratic), .Florida House of Representatives, District 112
    49. Patricia Hawkins-Williams (Democratic), .Florida House of Representatives, District 92
    50. Patrick Henry (Florida) (Democratic), .Florida House of Representatives, District 26
    51. Perry Thurston (Democratic), .Florida State Senate, District 33
    52. Ralph Massullo Jr. (Republican), .Florida House of Representatives, District 34
    53. Ramon Alexander (Democratic), .Florida House of Representatives, District 8
    54. Randolph Bracy III (Democratic), .Florida State Senate, District 11
    55. Randy Fine (Republican), .Florida House of Representatives, District 53
    56. Rick Roth (Republican), .Florida House of Representatives, District 85
    57. Robert Asencio (Democratic), .Florida House of Representatives, District 118
    58. Roy Hardemon (Democratic), .Florida House of Representatives, District 108
    59. Sam Killebrew (Republican), .Florida House of Representatives, District 41
    60. Sean Shaw (Democratic), .Florida House of Representatives, District 61
    61. Stan McClain (Republican), .Florida House of Representatives, District 23
    62. Thad Altman (Republican), .Florida House of Representatives, District 52
    63. Tom Leek (Republican), .Florida House of Representatives, District 25
    64. Tracie Davis (Democratic), .Florida House of Representatives, District 13
    65. Victor M. Torres, Jr. (Democratic), .Florida State Senate, District 15
    66. Wengay Newton (Democratic), .Florida House of Representatives, District 70

    Defeated incumbents

    The following is a list of incumbents who were defeated on November 8.

    1. Amanda Hickman Murphy (Democratic), .Florida House of Representatives, District 36
    2. Dwight Bullard (Democratic), .Florida State Senate, District 39
    3. Miguel Diaz de la Portilla (Republican), .Florida State Senate, District 40

    See also

    External links

    Footnotes

    1. ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 1.12 1.13 1.14 1.15 1.16 Florida Department of State, "Candidates and Races," accessed August 12, 2016
    2. ↑ 2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 2.10 2.11 2.12 Daily Kos, "An Early Look at Florida's State Senate Elections," June 27, 2016
    3. ↑ Florida Politics, "Poll: Dwight Bullard Could Face Tough Primary Opponent in Ana Rivas Logan," May 9, 2016
    4. ↑ Florida Politics, "Associated Builders and Contractors Unveils Miami-Dade Legislative Endorsements," June 27, 2016
    5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Space Coast Daily, "Republican Liberty Caucus of Florida Announces Endorsements in State Senate, House Races," June 28, 2016
    6. ↑ Florida Department of State, "Candidate listing for 2016 general election," accessed September 12, 2016
    7. ↑ Florida Division of Elections, "November 8, 2016 Official Election Results," accessed November 23, 2016
    8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 Florida Department of State, "Candidates and Races," accessed July 1, 2016
    9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 Florida Division of Elections, "August 30, 2016 Official Election Results," accessed September 22, 2016
    10. ↑ Keith Perry for State Senate, "Home," accessed August 12, 2016
    11. ↑ Florida Politics, "Endorsement Watch: Florida Retail Federation, Florida Chamber of Commerce, Florida Medical Association, and Others Issue Endorsements," June 24, 2016
    12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 Miami Herald, "State Senate Races a South Florida Free-For-All," June 24, 2016
    13. ↑ Florida Department of Elections, "November 6, 2012 General Election," accessed August 12, 2016
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