United States House of Representatives elections in Florida, 2008
Encyclopedia
The 2008 congressional elections in Florida were held on November 4, 2008 to determine who will represent the state
of Florida
in the United States House of Representatives
. Representatives are elected for two-year terms; those elected will serve in the 111th Congress
from January 4, 2009 until January 3, 2011. The election coincides with the 2008 U.S. presidential election
.
Florida has twenty-five seats in the House, apportioned according to the 2000 United States Census. Its delegation to the 110th Congress
of 2007-2009 consisted of sixteen Republicans
and nine Democrats
. In 2008, Districts 8
and 24
changed party from Republican to Democratic, and District 16
changed party from Democratic to Republican. Florida's delegation to the 111th Congress therefore consists of fifteen Republicans and ten Democrats, a net increase of one Democrat. CQ Politics had forecasted districts 8, 13
, 15
, 16, 18
, 21
, 22
, 24 and 25
to be at some risk for the incumbent party.
The Primary election was held August 26, 2008, with a registration deadline of July 28, 2008. The General election was held November 4, 2008, with a registration deadline of October 6, 2008. Early voting begins 15 days before an election and ends on the second day before an election. In 2008, early voting ran from October 20 through November 2.
All of the vote totals were copied from the Secretary of State of Florida's Website
Republican incumbent Jeff Miller
has held this seat since winning a special election in 2001. He was challenged by Democrat Jim Bryan (campaign website), a Vietnam War
veteran. CQ Politics forecasted the race as 'Safe Republican'.
Democratic incumbent Allen Boyd
has held this seat since 1997. Other contestants in this race included Republican challenger Mark Mulligan and write-in candidate
Robert Ortiz. CQ Politics forecasted the race as 'Safe Democrat'.
Democratic incumbent Corrine Brown
has held this seat since 1993 and ran unopposed in this election.
Republican incumbent Ander Crenshaw
has held this seat since 2001. He was challenged by Democrat Jay McGovern, an Iraq War veteran. CQ Politics forecasts the race as 'Safe Republican'.
Republican incumbent Ginny Brown-Waite
(campaign website), who has held this seat since 2003, was again challenged by Democrat John Russell (campaign website), who received 40% against Brown-Waite in the 2006 election. CQ Politics forecasted the race as 'Safe Republican'. (CPVI=R+5)
Brown-Waite attracted a serious primary challenger in this sprawling Nature Coast
district. As of November, Jim King had already begun a media campaign attacking Brown-Waite from the right and appealing to the conservative Christians who exert a serious influence in the local Republican Party. While King was a longshot to unseat Brown-Waite, a lengthy and divisive primary campaign of this sort risks draining the incumbent's campaign resources, splintering her support, and causing her to take up more conservative stances that would appeal less to moderate voters in the general election.
Russell is a businessman, acute care nurse practitioner
and local activist. He hoped to capitalize on Brown-Waite's difficult primary, her modest fundraising, and the recent demographic changes in this high-growth area.
Republican incumbent Cliff Stearns
has held this seat since 1989. He faced Democratic challenger Tim Cunha (campaign website). CQ Politics forecasts the race as 'Safe Republican'.
Republican incumbent John Mica
, representing the district since 1993, faced Democratic challenger, Faye Armitage
(campaign website). CQ Politics forecasted the race as 'Safe Republican'.
Democratic nominee Alan Grayson
(campaign website) challenged Republican incumbent Ric Keller
, who had held the seat since 2001. (campaign website). On October 21, 2008, CQ Politics switched its outlook on the race from "No Clear Favorite" to "Leans Democratic," citing the fact that there are now more registered Democrats that Republicans in Keller's district. George W. Bush won the district in 2004 with 55% of the vote (CPVI=R+3).
In 2006, Keller, author of the "Cheeseburger Bill", was reelected by less than expected to Orlando
businessman Charlie Stuart
, who polled 46%. After the November 2006 election, Keller announced that he would break his 2000 pledge to serve only four terms. Todd Long (campaign website), an Orlando attorney and radio talkshow host, then announced he would challenge Keller in the Republican primary, promising to make an issue of the broken term-limits pledge. Greg Lewis and retired Marine Corps
officer Bob Hering also announced they would challenge Keller in the primary, but they did not meet the qualifying requirements.
Grayson, an attorney who prosecutes war profiteers, had run unsuccessfully in the 2006 Democratic primary. In the 2008 primary, he faced Charlie Stuart (campaign website), who had lost to Keller by six percentage points in 2006; Mike Smith (campaign website), a former state prosecutor and current trial lawyer with Morgan and Morgan; Corbett Kroeler (campaign website), an environmental activist; Quoc Ba Van (campaign website), local weight-lifting champion and recent Emory Law School graduate.
Republican freshman incumbent Gus Michael Bilirakis faced several opponents in this race. Challengers included Democrat Bill Mitchell, independents Richard Emmons and John Kalimnios, and write-in candidate Andrew Pasayan. CQ Politics forecasted the race as 'Safe Republican'.
Republican incumbent Bill Young
, who has represented this district since 1971 and is currently the longest-serving Republican in the House, faced Dunedin
Mayor Democrat Bob Hackworth and write in candidate Don Callahan. Bob Hackworth won the Democratic primary on August 26, 2008 with 46% of the vote, defeating Samm Simpson and Max Linn
. CQ Politics forecasted the race as 'Safe Republican'.
Freshman Democratic congresswoman Kathy Castor
faced Republican challenger Eddie Adams, Jr.. CQ Politics forecasted the race as 'Safe Democrat'.
Republican incumbent Adam Putnam
, who has held this seat since 2001, was challenged by Democrat and Iraq War veteran Doug Tudor. CQ Politics forecasted the race as 'Safe Republican'.
Freshman Republican incumbent Vern Buchanan
(campaign website) was again challenged by Democratic banker Christine Jennings
(campaign website). Former Democratic Congressional candidate Jan Schneider also filed, running as an Independent. This was expected to be a competitive race in 2008, though Buchanan was far ahead of Jennings in fundraising. CQ Politics forecasted the race as 'Leans Republican'. George W. Bush won 56% of the district's vote in 2004 (CPVI=R+4).
Buchanan was certified as having won in 2006 by a 369-vote margin over Jennings, but Jennings challenged the election in court. Although Buchanan was seated by the House, the House has made no final decision on the matter. In mid-July 2007, Jennings announced she would run again in 2008.
Republican incumbent Connie Mack
, holder of this seat since 2005, was challenged by Democrat Robert Neeld (campaign website), Independent Jeff George (campaign website) and Republican State Senator Burt Saunders
(who ran as an Independent). CQ Politics forecasted the race as 'Safe Republican'.
Seven-term Republican incumbent Dave Weldon
had easily won re-election contests for a decade, but is retiring in 2008, leaving this Florida's only open House seat. Republican nominee State Senator Bill Posey
, who was endorsed by Weldon and the Florida Republican Party, faced Democratic nominee physician Steve Blythe (campaign website). Independent candidates Frank Zilaitis and Trevor Lowing also ran for the seat. Libertarian Jeffrey Bouffard, a computer engineer and army veteran, also filed to run, but did not qualify for the ballot. CQ Politics forecasted the race as 'Republican Favored'. George W. Bush won 57% of the vote here in 2004 (CPVI=R+4).
Republican nominee Tom Rooney
faced Democratic incumbent Tim Mahoney
.
This is normally a solidly Republican district, so consensus was that Mahoney's 50% to 48% win in 2006 could be attributed to the Mark Foley scandal
. The Republican nominee Joe Negron
's 2006 campaign was harmed by the fact that Foley's name remained on the ballot even though he was not a candidate, as his withdrawal from the race came too late to replace him on the ballot under Florida law. George W. Bush won this district by a 10-point margin in 2004 (CPVI=R+2).
Attorney Rooney won the Republican primary election against State Rep. Gayle Harrell
and Palm Beach Gardens
City Councilman Hal Valeche.
On October 12, 2008, it was revealed that Mahoney had an affair with a staffer, and had paid her $121,000 in a settlement to stave off a potential lawsuit. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi
has called for an ethics inquiry. Two days later, CQ Politics changed their forecast on the race from "No Clear Favorite" to "Leans Republican".
Democratic three-term incumbent Kendrick Meek
ran unopposed in this heavily Democratic district (CPVI=D+35).
Republican incumbent Ileana Ros-Lehtinen
has held this seat since 1989; however, her district has been increasingly trending Democratic in recent elections. The district contains many Miami suburbs and the entire Florida Keys
. Founder and CEO of LanguageSpeak and Chair of the Women's Enterprise National Council's Leadership Forum Annette Taddeo was the Democratic nominee and was able to raise a significant sum of money. Nonetheless, polls throughout the campaign showed Ros-Lehtinen in the lead. CQ Politics forecasted the race as 'Republican Favored'.
Democratic incumbent Robert Wexler
, representing this district since 1997, faced Republican Edward J. Lynch
and fellow Democrat Ben Graber, who chose to run as an independent candidate rather than compete against Wexler in the Democratic primary. Wexler had run opposed in the previous two elections. CQ Politics forecasted the race as 'Safe Democrat'.
Democratic incumbent Debbie Wasserman Schultz
(campaign website) has held this seat since 2005. Challengers Margaret Hostetter, who ran against Wasserman Schultz as a Republican in 2004 but chose to run as an independent in 2008, and Socialist
write-in candidate Marc Luzietti (campaign website) were not expected to be serious threats to Wasserman Schultz. CQ Politics forecasted the race as 'Safe Democrat'.
Republican incumbent Lincoln Diaz-Balart
(campaign website) had faced little more than token opposition since taking office in 1993. This year, however, the race was expected to be much tougher for Diaz-Balart, as the Democratic nominee, former Hialeah
Mayor Raul L. Martinez
(campaign website), is very well known in the area and could be a formidable challenger. CQ Politics forecasted the race as 'Leans Republican'. Rothenberg rated it as 'Pure Toss-Up.' Cook rated it as 'Republican Toss-Up'. Bush won 57% of the vote here in 2004 (CPVI=R+6).
On May 22, 2008, Diaz-Balart did not attend a debate hosted by the South Florida AFL-CIO
with Martinez due to scheduling and venue issues.
A July 7 poll conducted by a noted Democratic polster, Sergio Bendixen, showed Diaz-Balart ahead of Martinez by a four point margin, 41 to 37 percent, with 22 percent undecided. David Hill, the Diaz-Balart brothers' pollster, said Lincoln's internal polling shows the congressman with a 12-point lead over Martinez and a "double-digit advantage over his opponent in virtually every significant segment of the electorate."
On August 1, 2008, a leading Washington analyst, Rothenberg Political Report
, reported that they see a "possible re-election trouble for Lincoln Diaz-Balart". According to an August 14, 2008 Time
article, Lincoln Diaz-Balart faces a competitive race. It also said that "Democratic voter registration in Miami-Dade County, as in other places, is up, and Republican registration is down."
On August 25, 2008, Lincoln Diaz-Balart agreed to debate Martinez, at a Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce event at noon on October 8. On August 26, 2008, Martinez challenged Diaz-Balart to an additional debate in Denver, Colorado
, which both candidates were visiting during the 2008 Democratic National Convention
.
In a SurveyUSA
poll sponsored by Roll Call conducted in August 2008, Martinez led Diaz-Balart (48% to 46%) among likely voters. According to the poll, Diaz-Balart enjoyed 70% support from Cuban-Americans in the district. The poll's demographics (which were chosen by the pollster in 2008) are different from those of the district (based on the US census of 2000.) 51% of those questioned were Hispanic (34% of respondents were Cuban and 17% were non-Cuban). The percentage of Hispanics in the district is higher at 69.7%. Later polls, however, showed Diaz-Balart back in the lead.
First-term Democratic incumbent Ron Klein
was challenged by former army officer and Iraq War veteran Allen West
. Michael Prysner, an Iraq War veteran, peace activist, and college student, ran as a write-in candidate on the Party for Socialism and Liberation
ticket. CQ Politics forecasted the race as 'Democrat Favored'.
Republicans suffered a setback when popular former Boca Raton
Mayor Steven Abrams
announced he would not run. West and former navy pilot Mark Flagg announced they would run. Neurosurgeon Robert Brodner and 2006 Connecticut U.S. senatorial candidate Alan Schlesinger
were also potential candidates. This Fort Lauderdale
area district barely went to John Kerry in 2004 (CPVI=D+4).
Democratic incumbent Alcee Hastings
, who has held this seat since 1993, faced Republican Marion Dennis Thorpe Jr. in this heavily Democratic district. CQ Politics forecasted the race as 'Safe Democrat'.
Three-term Republican incumbent Tom Feeney
(campaign website) faced Democrat nominee and former State Representative Suzanne Kosmas
(campaign website) and independent Gaurav Bhola. On October 21, 2008, CQ Politics switched its outlook on the race from "No Clear Favorite" to "Leans Democratic."
The district includes the Orlando suburbs as well as the Space Coast
of Florida. In 2006, Feeney was re-elected by 58% to 42%. Although Feeney reportedly drew the district for himself while serving as speaker of the state house, the district is actually somewhat marginal on paper (CPVI=R+3). Bush took 55 percent of the vote in this district in 2004.
Republican three-term incumbent Mario Diaz-Balart
faced Miami-Dade County Democratic Party chairman Joe Garcia
(campaign website), a former executive director of the Cuban American National Foundation (CANF). CQ Politics forecasted the race as 'Leans Republican'. The Rothenberg Political Report as 'Toss-Up/Tilt Republican'. The Cook Political Report as 'Republican Toss Up'. Bush won 56% of the vote here in 2004 (CPVI=R+4).
Garcia announced on February 7, 2008, his candidacy for the U.S. House of Representatives in Florida's 25th congressional district.
In March 2008, the Garcia's campaign announced that noted political strategist Joe Trippi
, the campaign manager for 2004 presidential candidate and former Vermont governor Howard Dean
, was joining the campaign team as Senior Media Adviser.
In April 2008, Garcia held a controversial fundraiser with Representative Charles B. Rangel
, who has met repeatedly with Fidel Castro
and pushed legislation that would allow U.S. citizens to travel to Cuba and allow American firms to do business there. Garcia said he "has serious disagreements with Rangel on Cuba. But having a relationship with the chairman of the powerful House Ways and Means Committee
would help him bring federal money back to the district." Diaz-Balart claimed Garcia had a radical left-wing agenda including supporting higher taxes on working families and appeasing the nation's enemies.
An August 14, 2008 Time
article labeled the race as competitive, pointing out that "Democratic voter registration in Miami-Dade County, as in other places, is up, and Republican registration is down".
According to many commentators, Garcia is Mario Diaz-Balart's most formidable political opponent ever because of the amount of money that he has raised and the national media attention that he has generated Nonetheless, the Rothenberg Political Report and CQ Politics rated the seat as "Toss-up/Tilt Republican," the Cook Political Report rated the district as "Likely Republican," and the Crystal Ball has rated the district as "Safe Republican"
A poll of the race, that was conducted conducted June 6 to 22, by noted Democratic pollster, Sergio Bendixen, showed Diaz-Balart ahead of Garcia 44 percent to 39 percent, with 17 percent undecided.
As of August 6, 2008, Garcia has raised $1,001,313 with $789,667 cash on hand for the 2007-2008 cycle. Mario Diaz-Balart, the five year incumbent, has raised $1,188,193 and has $1,029,556 cash on hand during the same cycle.
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
in the United States House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
. Representatives are elected for two-year terms; those elected will serve in the 111th Congress
111th United States Congress
The One Hundred Eleventh United States Congress was the meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government from January 3, 2009 until January 3, 2011. It began during the last two weeks of the George W. Bush administration, with the remainder spanning the first two years of...
from January 4, 2009 until January 3, 2011. The election coincides with the 2008 U.S. presidential election
United States presidential election, 2008
The United States presidential election of 2008 was the 56th quadrennial presidential election. It was held on November 4, 2008. Democrat Barack Obama, then the junior United States Senator from Illinois, defeated Republican John McCain, the senior U.S. Senator from Arizona. Obama received 365...
.
Florida has twenty-five seats in the House, apportioned according to the 2000 United States Census. Its delegation to the 110th Congress
110th United States Congress
The One Hundred Tenth United States Congress was the meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, between January 3, 2007, and January 3, 2009, during the last two years of the second term of President George W. Bush. It was composed of the Senate and the House of...
of 2007-2009 consisted of sixteen Republicans
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
and nine Democrats
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
. In 2008, Districts 8
Florida's 8th congressional district
Florida's 8th congressional district lies in central Florida. The district takes in parts of Orange County, Lake County, Marion County and Osceola County. Most of Orlando is in the district, including Walt Disney World...
and 24
Florida's 24th congressional district
Florida's 24th congressional district is a congressional district in the U.S. state of Florida. Created after the 2000 U.S. Census, the district includes portions of Brevard County and parts of Orange, Seminole, and Volusia counties...
changed party from Republican to Democratic, and District 16
Florida's 16th congressional district
Florida's 16th congressional district is a congressional district in the U.S. state of Florida. The district stretches from the Gulf of Mexico to the Atlantic Coast and includes parts of Charlotte, Glades, Hendry, Highlands, Okeechobee, St. Lucie, Martin, and Palm Beach counties. Included within...
changed party from Democratic to Republican. Florida's delegation to the 111th Congress therefore consists of fifteen Republicans and ten Democrats, a net increase of one Democrat. CQ Politics had forecasted districts 8, 13
Florida's 13th congressional district
Florida's 13th congressional district is a congressional district in the U.S. state of Florida that encompasses all of Sarasota, DeSoto, and Hardee counties and most of Manatee County except for a small northern coastal portion that is located in the neighboring 11th Congressional District...
, 15
Florida's 15th congressional district
Florida's 15th congressional district is a congressional district in the U.S. state of Florida. The district contains most of Brevard County south of the city of Cocoa, all of Indian River County, most of Osceola County, and a very small portion of Polk County...
, 16, 18
Florida's 18th congressional district
Florida's 18th congressional district is a congressional district in the U.S. state of Florida. Based in South Florida, the district includes portions of Miami-Dade and Monroe counties. The Miami-Dade section includes most of the city of Miami, the South Beach section of Miami Beach, and many of...
, 21
Florida's 21st congressional district
Florida's 21st congressional district is a congressional district in the U.S. state of Florida. Based in South Florida, the district is located in Miami-Dade County and includes many of the western suburbs of Miami such as Hialeah, Olympia Heights, and Cutler...
, 22
Florida's 22nd congressional district
Florida's 22nd congressional district is a congressional district in the U.S. state of Florida. Based in South Florida, the district encompasses the coastline from northern...
, 24 and 25
Florida's 25th congressional district
Florida's 25th congressional district is a congressional district in the U.S. state of Florida. Based in South Florida, the district includes parts of Collier, Miami-Dade, and Monroe counties...
to be at some risk for the incumbent party.
The Primary election was held August 26, 2008, with a registration deadline of July 28, 2008. The General election was held November 4, 2008, with a registration deadline of October 6, 2008. Early voting begins 15 days before an election and ends on the second day before an election. In 2008, early voting ran from October 20 through November 2.
Overview
| United States House of Representatives elections in Florida, 2008 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Votes | Percentage | Seats | +/– | |
| Republican | 3,993,663 | 49.92% | 15 | –1 | |
| Democratic Florida Democratic Party The Florida Democratic Party is the official organization for Democrats in the state of Florida.-History:The Florida Democratic Party has historically dominated dodo Florida's state and local politics. Florida's Governor's Mansion was closed to Republicans from 1877 until 1967, when Claude R... |
3,812,163 | 47.65% | 10 | +1 | |
| Others | 194,174 | 2.43% | 0 | 0 | |
| Valid votes | 8,000,000 | 94.60% | |||
| Invalid or blank votes | 456,329 | 5.40% | |||
| Totals | 8,456,329 | 100.00% | 25 | — | |
| Voter turnout | 75.2% | ||||
All of the vote totals were copied from the Secretary of State of Florida's Website
Match-up summary
| District | Incumbent | 2008 Status | Democratic | Republican | Other Party | Independent |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Florida's 1st congressional district Florida's 1st congressional district is a congressional district in the U.S. state of Florida, covering the state's western Panhandle. It includes all of Escambia, Holmes, Washington, and Santa Rosa counties and portions of Okaloosa and Walton counties... |
Jeff Miller Jeff Miller Jefferson B. "Jeff" Miller is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 2001. He is a member of the Republican Party. The district includes all of Escambia, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa, Walton, Holmes, and Washington Counties.... |
Re-election | Jim Bryan | Jeff Miller Jeff Miller Jefferson B. "Jeff" Miller is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 2001. He is a member of the Republican Party. The district includes all of Escambia, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa, Walton, Holmes, and Washington Counties.... |
||
| 2 Florida's 2nd congressional district Florida's 2nd congressional district is a congressional district in the U.S. state of Florida. The district consists of the eastern part of the Florida Panhandle along with much of the Big Bend region along the Emerald Coast, and is anchored in the state capital of Tallahassee and includes Panama... |
Allen Boyd Allen Boyd Fred Allen Boyd Jr. is the former U.S. Representative for , serving from 1997 until 2011. He is a member of the Democratic Party. He currently works for a lobbying firm, the Twenty-First Century Group.-Early life, education and career:... |
Re-election | Allen Boyd Allen Boyd Fred Allen Boyd Jr. is the former U.S. Representative for , serving from 1997 until 2011. He is a member of the Democratic Party. He currently works for a lobbying firm, the Twenty-First Century Group.-Early life, education and career:... |
Mark Mulligan | ||
| 3 Florida's 3rd congressional district Florida's 3rd congressional district is a congressional district in the U.S. state of Florida. The district includes portions of Alachua, Clay, Duval, Lake, Marion, Orange, Putnam, Seminole, and Volusia counties.... |
Corrine Brown Corrine Brown Corrine Brown is an U.S. Representative for , serving since 1993. She is a member of the Democratic Party.The district includes parts of Duval, Clay, Putnam, Alachua, Volusia, Marion, Lake, Seminole, and Orange Counties.... |
Re-election | Corrine Brown Corrine Brown Corrine Brown is an U.S. Representative for , serving since 1993. She is a member of the Democratic Party.The district includes parts of Duval, Clay, Putnam, Alachua, Volusia, Marion, Lake, Seminole, and Orange Counties.... |
|||
| 4 Florida's 4th congressional district Florida's 4th congressional district is a congressional district in the U.S. state of Florida. The district takes in most of Jacksonville along with a portion of North Florida... |
Ander Crenshaw Ander Crenshaw Ander Crenshaw is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 2001. He is a member of the Republican Party.-Early life, education and career:... |
Re-election | Jay McGovern | Ander Crenshaw Ander Crenshaw Ander Crenshaw is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 2001. He is a member of the Republican Party.-Early life, education and career:... |
||
| 5 Florida's 5th congressional district Florida's 5th congressional district is a congressional district in the U.S. state of Florida that comprises all of Citrus, Hernando, and Sumter counties and most of Lake, Levy, and Pasco counties and portions of Marion and Polk counties... |
Ginny Brown-Waite Ginny Brown-Waite Virginia "Ginny" Brown-Waite is the former U.S. Representative for , serving from 2003 until 2011. She is a member of the Republican Party.... |
Re-election | John Russell | Ginny Brown-Waite Ginny Brown-Waite Virginia "Ginny" Brown-Waite is the former U.S. Representative for , serving from 2003 until 2011. She is a member of the Republican Party.... |
||
| 6 Florida's 6th congressional district Florida's 6th congressional district is a congressional district in the U.S. state of Florida. The district stretches from the St. Johns River and Jacksonville, sweeping through North Central Florida, encompassing portions of Gainesville and Ocala, gerrymandering down to the northern tip of the... |
Cliff Stearns Cliff Stearns Clifford Bundy "Cliff" Stearns, Sr. is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 1989. He is a member of the Republican Party.-Early life, education and career:According to his official biography, Stearns was born in Washington, D.C... |
Re-election | Tim Cunha | Cliff Stearns Cliff Stearns Clifford Bundy "Cliff" Stearns, Sr. is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 1989. He is a member of the Republican Party.-Early life, education and career:According to his official biography, Stearns was born in Washington, D.C... |
||
| 7 Florida's 7th congressional district Florida's 7th congressional district is a congressional district in the U.S. state of Florida. The district consists of the suburban area between Orlando and Daytona Beach and includes St. Augustine, the first settlement in the United States. The district includes all of Flagler and St... |
John Mica John Mica John L. Mica is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 1993. He is a member of the Republican Party. He is the chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, starting January 3, 2011.... |
Re-election | Faye Armitage Faye Armitage Faye Armitage is a health activist and Florida politician.-Personal life:Armitage was raised in four different continents as a result of her father's employment with a multi-national corporation. She graduated from the University of Amsterdam with an MA in Economics before settling in the United... |
John Mica John Mica John L. Mica is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 1993. He is a member of the Republican Party. He is the chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, starting January 3, 2011.... |
||
| 8 Florida's 8th congressional district Florida's 8th congressional district lies in central Florida. The district takes in parts of Orange County, Lake County, Marion County and Osceola County. Most of Orlando is in the district, including Walt Disney World... |
Ric Keller Ric Keller Richard Anthony "Ric" Keller is an American politician, and was a Republican member of the United States House of Representatives, representing .Keller was defeated in his bid for a fifth term by Democrat Alan Grayson.... |
Re-election | Alan Grayson Alan Grayson Alan Mark Grayson is a former U.S. Representative for , serving from 2009 until 2011. He is a member of the Democratic Party and loves cookies. After losing the election he moved to Austin to start stand-up comedy and a cookie business. The district Grayson represented lies in central Florida... |
Ric Keller Ric Keller Richard Anthony "Ric" Keller is an American politician, and was a Republican member of the United States House of Representatives, representing .Keller was defeated in his bid for a fifth term by Democrat Alan Grayson.... |
||
| 9 Florida's 9th congressional district Florida's 9th congressional district is a congressional district in the U.S. state of Florida that encompasses most of rural eastern Hillsborough County, northern parts of Pinellas County and the Gulf coast of Pasco County .The district is currently represented by Republican Gus Bilirakis.-List of... |
Gus Michael Bilirakis | Re-election | Bill Mitchell Bill Mitchell William L. "Bill" Mitchell was an American automobile designer. Mitchell worked briefly as an advertising illustrator and as the official illustrator of the Automobile Racing Club of America before being recruited by Harley Earl to join the Art and Colour Section of General Motors in 1935... |
Gus Michael Bilirakis | Richard Emmons, Andrew Pasayan |
John Kalimnios |
| 10 Florida's 10th congressional district Florida's 10th congressional district is the only Florida district entirely within a single county, Pinellas County, Florida. It is currently represented by Republican Bill Young. Barack Obama received 51% of the vote in this district in 2008.... |
Bill Young Bill Young Charles William "Bill" Young is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 1971. He is a member of the Republican Party, and is currently the longest-serving Republican member of Congress... |
Re-election | Bob Hackworth | Bill Young Bill Young Charles William "Bill" Young is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 1971. He is a member of the Republican Party, and is currently the longest-serving Republican member of Congress... |
||
| 11 Florida's 11th congressional district Florida's 11th congressional district is a congressional district in the U.S. state of Florida that encompasses most of the city of Tampa and its suburbs and the shoreline of southeastern Hillsborough County. It also includes two areas in other counties: urban neighborhoods of south St... |
Kathy Castor Kathy Castor Kathy Castor is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 2007. She is a member of the Democratic Party.The district covers most of the city of Tampa, most of south St... |
Re-election | Kathy Castor Kathy Castor Kathy Castor is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 2007. She is a member of the Democratic Party.The district covers most of the city of Tampa, most of south St... |
Eddie Adams, Jr. | ||
| 12 Florida's 12th congressional district Florida's 12th congressional district is a congressional district in the U.S. state of Florida that encompasses much of Polk County as well as parts of rural and suburban east Hillsborough County and a small piece of western Osceola County.... |
Adam Putnam Adam Putnam Adam H. Putnam is the current Florida Commissioner of Agriculture and the former U.S. Representative for , serving from 2001 until 2011. He is a member of the Republican Party.-Early life, education and career:... |
Re-election | Doug Tudor | Adam Putnam Adam Putnam Adam H. Putnam is the current Florida Commissioner of Agriculture and the former U.S. Representative for , serving from 2001 until 2011. He is a member of the Republican Party.-Early life, education and career:... |
||
| 13 Florida's 13th congressional district Florida's 13th congressional district is a congressional district in the U.S. state of Florida that encompasses all of Sarasota, DeSoto, and Hardee counties and most of Manatee County except for a small northern coastal portion that is located in the neighboring 11th Congressional District... |
Vern Buchanan Vern Buchanan Vernon G. "Vern" Buchanan is the Congressman for , serving since 2007. He is a member of the Republican Party.-Early life and education:... |
Re-election | Christine Jennings Christine Jennings Christine Jennings is a self-made banker and businessperson, and a Democratic politician in Florida.In 2006, Jennings was the Democratic nominee for the United States Congress to represent Florida's 13th congressional district. The seat was left open when incumbent Katherine Harris ran for the U.S... |
Vern Buchanan Vern Buchanan Vernon G. "Vern" Buchanan is the Congressman for , serving since 2007. He is a member of the Republican Party.-Early life and education:... |
Jan Schneider Jan Schneider Dr Jan Schneider is a Democratic politician. She ran for United States Congress in in 2002 and 2004. Both times she won the Democratic Primary, and lost to Katherine Harris in the open election... |
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| 14 Florida's 14th congressional district Florida's 14th congressional district is a congressional district in the U.S. state of Florida. The district is located in the Gulf Coast region in Southwestern Florida and includes all of Lee County and portions of Charlotte and Collier counties... |
Connie Mack IV Connie Mack IV Cornelius Harvey McGillicuddy IV popularly known as Connie Mack IV is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 2005. He is a member of the Republican Party. The district includes Fort Myers and Naples.... |
Re-election | Robert Neeld | Connie Mack IV Connie Mack IV Cornelius Harvey McGillicuddy IV popularly known as Connie Mack IV is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 2005. He is a member of the Republican Party. The district includes Fort Myers and Naples.... |
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| 15 Florida's 15th congressional district Florida's 15th congressional district is a congressional district in the U.S. state of Florida. The district contains most of Brevard County south of the city of Cocoa, all of Indian River County, most of Osceola County, and a very small portion of Polk County... |
Dave Weldon Dave Weldon David Joseph Weldon, is an American politician and physician. He was a Republican member of the United States House of Representatives, representing .-Early life:... |
Open | Steve Blythe | Bill Posey Bill Posey William "Bill" Posey is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 2009. He is a member of the Republican Party. He formerly served in the Florida Senate and the Florida House of Representatives.... |
Jeffrey Bouffard | Frank Zilaitis, Trevor Lowing |
| 16 Florida's 16th congressional district Florida's 16th congressional district is a congressional district in the U.S. state of Florida. The district stretches from the Gulf of Mexico to the Atlantic Coast and includes parts of Charlotte, Glades, Hendry, Highlands, Okeechobee, St. Lucie, Martin, and Palm Beach counties. Included within... |
Tim Mahoney Tim Mahoney Timothy Edward "Tim" Mahoney was a U.S. Representative for and a member of the Democratic Party. He was elected in November 2006 after his opponent, six-term Republican incumbent Mark Foley, resigned on September 29, 2006, after questions were raised about an email exchange with a congressional... |
Re-election | Tim Mahoney Tim Mahoney Timothy Edward "Tim" Mahoney was a U.S. Representative for and a member of the Democratic Party. He was elected in November 2006 after his opponent, six-term Republican incumbent Mark Foley, resigned on September 29, 2006, after questions were raised about an email exchange with a congressional... |
Tom Rooney Tom Rooney (politician) Thomas J. "Tom" Rooney is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 2009. He is a member of the Republican Party.-Early life:... |
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| 17 Florida's 17th congressional district Florida's 17th congressional district is a congressional district in the U.S. state of Florida. Located in South Florida, the majority African American district includes the southern parts of Broward County and the eastern parts of Miami-Dade County... |
Kendrick Meek Kendrick Meek Kendrick Brett Meek is an American politician who was the U.S. Representative for from 2003 to 2011. He was the Democratic nominee in the 2010 Senate election for the seat of Mel Martinez, but he lost in a three way race to Republican Marco Rubio along with Independent Charlie Crist.-Early life,... |
Re-election | Kendrick Meek Kendrick Meek Kendrick Brett Meek is an American politician who was the U.S. Representative for from 2003 to 2011. He was the Democratic nominee in the 2010 Senate election for the seat of Mel Martinez, but he lost in a three way race to Republican Marco Rubio along with Independent Charlie Crist.-Early life,... |
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| 18 Florida's 18th congressional district Florida's 18th congressional district is a congressional district in the U.S. state of Florida. Based in South Florida, the district includes portions of Miami-Dade and Monroe counties. The Miami-Dade section includes most of the city of Miami, the South Beach section of Miami Beach, and many of... |
Ileana Ros-Lehtinen Ileana Ros-Lehtinen Ileana Ros-Lehtinen is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 1989. She is a member of the Republican Party.... |
Re-election | Annette Taddeo | Ileana Ros-Lehtinen Ileana Ros-Lehtinen Ileana Ros-Lehtinen is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 1989. She is a member of the Republican Party.... |
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| 19 Florida's 19th congressional district Florida's 19th congressional district is a congressional district in the U.S. state of Florida. Based in South Florida, the district includes parts of Palm Beach and Broward counties including the cities of Coral Springs, Margate, and Greenacres.... |
Robert Wexler Robert Wexler Robert Wexler is the president of the Washington-based S. Daniel Abraham Center for Middle East Peace.Wexler was a Democratic member of the U.S. House of Representatives, representing , from 1997 until his resignation on January 3, 2010.-Early life:Wexler was born in Queens, New York to Sonny and... |
Re-election | Robert Wexler Robert Wexler Robert Wexler is the president of the Washington-based S. Daniel Abraham Center for Middle East Peace.Wexler was a Democratic member of the U.S. House of Representatives, representing , from 1997 until his resignation on January 3, 2010.-Early life:Wexler was born in Queens, New York to Sonny and... |
Edward J. Lynch Edward J. Lynch Edward J. "Ed" Lynch, Sr. is an American politician and two-time Republican Party candidate for the United States House of Representatives from Florida's 19th congressional district.... |
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| 20 Florida's 20th congressional district Florida's 20th congressional district is a congressional district in the U.S. state of Florida. Based in South Florida, the district takes in parts of Broward and Miami-Dade counties. The district is based in Fort Lauderdale and includes many of its suburbs including Davie... |
Debbie Wasserman Schultz Debbie Wasserman Schultz Debbie Wasserman Schultz is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 2005. She is a member of the Democratic Party and the Chairwoman of the Democratic National Committee. She previously served in the Florida House of Representatives and the Florida Senate... |
Re-election | Debbie Wasserman Schultz Debbie Wasserman Schultz Debbie Wasserman Schultz is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 2005. She is a member of the Democratic Party and the Chairwoman of the Democratic National Committee. She previously served in the Florida House of Representatives and the Florida Senate... |
Marc Luzietti | Margaret Hostetter | |
| 21 Florida's 21st congressional district Florida's 21st congressional district is a congressional district in the U.S. state of Florida. Based in South Florida, the district is located in Miami-Dade County and includes many of the western suburbs of Miami such as Hialeah, Olympia Heights, and Cutler... |
Lincoln Diaz-Balart Lincoln Diaz-Balart Lincoln Rafael Díaz-Balart was the U.S. Representative for from 1993 to 2011. He is a member of the Republican Party. He previously served in the Florida House of Representatives and the Florida Senate... |
Re-election | Raul L. Martinez Raul L. Martinez Raul L. Martinez is a former mayor of Hialeah, Florida, United States. He is a Democrat and was mayor for 24 years, first elected in 1981 and was the Democratic congressional candidate for Florida's 21st congressional district in 2008.-Family:Former Hialeah Mayor Raul L... |
Lincoln Diaz-Balart Lincoln Diaz-Balart Lincoln Rafael Díaz-Balart was the U.S. Representative for from 1993 to 2011. He is a member of the Republican Party. He previously served in the Florida House of Representatives and the Florida Senate... |
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| 22 Florida's 22nd congressional district Florida's 22nd congressional district is a congressional district in the U.S. state of Florida. Based in South Florida, the district encompasses the coastline from northern... |
Ron Klein Ron Klein Ronald "Ron" Klein is a lawyer and former member of the United States House of Representatives for . He is a member of the Democratic Party. He previously served in the Florida House of Representatives and the Florida Senate. He is currently employed by the law firm Holland & Knight.-Early life,... |
Re-election | Ron Klein Ron Klein Ronald "Ron" Klein is a lawyer and former member of the United States House of Representatives for . He is a member of the Democratic Party. He previously served in the Florida House of Representatives and the Florida Senate. He is currently employed by the law firm Holland & Knight.-Early life,... |
Allen West (former U.S. military officer) Allen West (former U.S. military officer) Allen Bernard West is a Republican U.S. Representative who represents , serving since January 2011. He is the first African-American Republican Congressman from Florida since Josiah T. Walls left office in 1876 near the end of Reconstruction.West served in the United States Army in Iraq and was a... |
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| 23 Florida's 23rd congressional district Florida's 23rd congressional district is a congressional district in the U.S. state of Florida. Based in South Florida, the district is highly racially gerrymandered and consists of the heavily African American parts of Broward and Palm Beach counties... |
Alcee Hastings Alcee Hastings Alcee Lamar Hastings is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 1993. He is a member of the Democratic Party.-Early life, education and career:... |
Re-election | Alcee Hastings Alcee Hastings Alcee Lamar Hastings is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 1993. He is a member of the Democratic Party.-Early life, education and career:... |
Marion Dennis Thorpe Jr. | ||
| 24 Florida's 24th congressional district Florida's 24th congressional district is a congressional district in the U.S. state of Florida. Created after the 2000 U.S. Census, the district includes portions of Brevard County and parts of Orange, Seminole, and Volusia counties... |
Tom Feeney Tom Feeney Thomas Charles "Tom" Feeney III, usually known as Tom Feeney , is an American politician from the state of Florida. He represented . He was defeated in the 2008 election by Democrat Suzanne Kosmas.-Early life:... |
Re-election | Suzanne Kosmas Suzanne Kosmas Suzanne M. Kosmas is the former U.S. Representative for , serving from 2009 until 2011. She is a member of the Democratic Party... |
Tom Feeney Tom Feeney Thomas Charles "Tom" Feeney III, usually known as Tom Feeney , is an American politician from the state of Florida. He represented . He was defeated in the 2008 election by Democrat Suzanne Kosmas.-Early life:... |
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| 25 Florida's 25th congressional district Florida's 25th congressional district is a congressional district in the U.S. state of Florida. Based in South Florida, the district includes parts of Collier, Miami-Dade, and Monroe counties... |
Mario Diaz-Balart Mario Diaz-Balart Mario Rafael Diaz-Balart Caballero is the current U.S. Representative for , serving since 2011. A member of the Republican Party, he was elected in 2010 to succeed his brother, Lincoln Diaz-Balart. The district includes the city of Hialeah, along with several of Miami's southwestern suburbs... |
Re-election | Joe Garcia Joe Garcia Joe Garcia is a Miami-based lawyer and 2010 Democratic nominee for . He is the former executive director of the Cuban American National Foundation and was nominated by President Barack Obama to be director of the Office of Minority Economic Impact and Diversity of the United States Department of... |
Mario Diaz-Balart Mario Diaz-Balart Mario Rafael Diaz-Balart Caballero is the current U.S. Representative for , serving since 2011. A member of the Republican Party, he was elected in 2010 to succeed his brother, Lincoln Diaz-Balart. The district includes the city of Hialeah, along with several of Miami's southwestern suburbs... |
District 1
Republican incumbent Jeff Miller
Jeff Miller
Jefferson B. "Jeff" Miller is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 2001. He is a member of the Republican Party. The district includes all of Escambia, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa, Walton, Holmes, and Washington Counties....
has held this seat since winning a special election in 2001. He was challenged by Democrat Jim Bryan (campaign website), a Vietnam War
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
veteran. CQ Politics forecasted the race as 'Safe Republican'.
- Race ranking and details from CQ PoliticsCongressional QuarterlyCongressional Quarterly, Inc., or CQ, is a privately owned publishing company that produces a number of publications reporting primarily on the United States Congress...
- Campaign contributions from OpenSecrets.orgCenter for Responsive PoliticsThe Center for Responsive Politics is a non-profit, nonpartisan research group based in Washington, D.C. that tracks money in politics and the effect of money and lobbying activity on elections and public policy and maintains a public online database of its information.Their database...
Results
Incumbent Jeff Miller retained his seat with about 70 percent of the vote.District 2
Democratic incumbent Allen Boyd
Allen Boyd
Fred Allen Boyd Jr. is the former U.S. Representative for , serving from 1997 until 2011. He is a member of the Democratic Party. He currently works for a lobbying firm, the Twenty-First Century Group.-Early life, education and career:...
has held this seat since 1997. Other contestants in this race included Republican challenger Mark Mulligan and write-in candidate
Write-in candidate
A write-in candidate is a candidate in an election whose name does not appear on the ballot, but for whom voters may vote nonetheless by writing in the person's name. Some states and local jurisdictions allow a voter to affix a sticker with a write-in candidate's name on it to the ballot in lieu...
Robert Ortiz. CQ Politics forecasted the race as 'Safe Democrat'.
- Race ranking and details from CQ PoliticsCongressional QuarterlyCongressional Quarterly, Inc., or CQ, is a privately owned publishing company that produces a number of publications reporting primarily on the United States Congress...
- Campaign contributions from OpenSecrets.orgCenter for Responsive PoliticsThe Center for Responsive Politics is a non-profit, nonpartisan research group based in Washington, D.C. that tracks money in politics and the effect of money and lobbying activity on elections and public policy and maintains a public online database of its information.Their database...
Results
Allen Boyd was reelected with slightly under 62 percent of the vote.District 3
Democratic incumbent Corrine Brown
Corrine Brown
Corrine Brown is an U.S. Representative for , serving since 1993. She is a member of the Democratic Party.The district includes parts of Duval, Clay, Putnam, Alachua, Volusia, Marion, Lake, Seminole, and Orange Counties....
has held this seat since 1993 and ran unopposed in this election.
- Race ranking and details from CQ PoliticsCongressional QuarterlyCongressional Quarterly, Inc., or CQ, is a privately owned publishing company that produces a number of publications reporting primarily on the United States Congress...
- Campaign contributions from OpenSecrets.orgCenter for Responsive PoliticsThe Center for Responsive Politics is a non-profit, nonpartisan research group based in Washington, D.C. that tracks money in politics and the effect of money and lobbying activity on elections and public policy and maintains a public online database of its information.Their database...
District 4
Republican incumbent Ander Crenshaw
Ander Crenshaw
Ander Crenshaw is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 2001. He is a member of the Republican Party.-Early life, education and career:...
has held this seat since 2001. He was challenged by Democrat Jay McGovern, an Iraq War veteran. CQ Politics forecasts the race as 'Safe Republican'.
- Race ranking and details from CQ PoliticsCongressional QuarterlyCongressional Quarterly, Inc., or CQ, is a privately owned publishing company that produces a number of publications reporting primarily on the United States Congress...
- Campaign contributions from OpenSecrets.orgCenter for Responsive PoliticsThe Center for Responsive Politics is a non-profit, nonpartisan research group based in Washington, D.C. that tracks money in politics and the effect of money and lobbying activity on elections and public policy and maintains a public online database of its information.Their database...
Results
Republican Ander Crenshaw was reelected with around 65 percent of the votes.District 5
Republican incumbent Ginny Brown-Waite
Ginny Brown-Waite
Virginia "Ginny" Brown-Waite is the former U.S. Representative for , serving from 2003 until 2011. She is a member of the Republican Party....
(campaign website), who has held this seat since 2003, was again challenged by Democrat John Russell (campaign website), who received 40% against Brown-Waite in the 2006 election. CQ Politics forecasted the race as 'Safe Republican'. (CPVI=R+5)
Brown-Waite attracted a serious primary challenger in this sprawling Nature Coast
Nature Coast
The Nature Coast is a region of the U.S. state of Florida. It comprises the inside curve or Big Bend area of the western coast of the state and encompasses Citrus, Dixie, Hernando, Jefferson, Pasco, Levy, Taylor, and Wakulla counties...
district. As of November, Jim King had already begun a media campaign attacking Brown-Waite from the right and appealing to the conservative Christians who exert a serious influence in the local Republican Party. While King was a longshot to unseat Brown-Waite, a lengthy and divisive primary campaign of this sort risks draining the incumbent's campaign resources, splintering her support, and causing her to take up more conservative stances that would appeal less to moderate voters in the general election.
Russell is a businessman, acute care nurse practitioner
Nurse practitioner
A Nurse Practitioner is an Advanced practice registered nurse who has completed graduate-level education . Additional APRN roles include the Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist s, CNMs, and CNSs...
and local activist. He hoped to capitalize on Brown-Waite's difficult primary, her modest fundraising, and the recent demographic changes in this high-growth area.
- Race ranking and details from CQ PoliticsCongressional QuarterlyCongressional Quarterly, Inc., or CQ, is a privately owned publishing company that produces a number of publications reporting primarily on the United States Congress...
- Campaign contributions from OpenSecrets.orgCenter for Responsive PoliticsThe Center for Responsive Politics is a non-profit, nonpartisan research group based in Washington, D.C. that tracks money in politics and the effect of money and lobbying activity on elections and public policy and maintains a public online database of its information.Their database...
Results
Ginny Brown-Waite retained her seat. She received around 61 percent of the vote, improving her showing against Russell in the 2006 election by slightly over 1 percentage point.District 6
Republican incumbent Cliff Stearns
Cliff Stearns
Clifford Bundy "Cliff" Stearns, Sr. is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 1989. He is a member of the Republican Party.-Early life, education and career:According to his official biography, Stearns was born in Washington, D.C...
has held this seat since 1989. He faced Democratic challenger Tim Cunha (campaign website). CQ Politics forecasts the race as 'Safe Republican'.
- Race ranking and details from CQ PoliticsCongressional QuarterlyCongressional Quarterly, Inc., or CQ, is a privately owned publishing company that produces a number of publications reporting primarily on the United States Congress...
- Campaign contributions from OpenSecrets.orgCenter for Responsive PoliticsThe Center for Responsive Politics is a non-profit, nonpartisan research group based in Washington, D.C. that tracks money in politics and the effect of money and lobbying activity on elections and public policy and maintains a public online database of its information.Their database...
Results
Incumbent Cliff Stearns was reelected with just under 61 percent of the votes.District 7
Republican incumbent John Mica
John Mica
John L. Mica is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 1993. He is a member of the Republican Party. He is the chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, starting January 3, 2011....
, representing the district since 1993, faced Democratic challenger, Faye Armitage
Faye Armitage
Faye Armitage is a health activist and Florida politician.-Personal life:Armitage was raised in four different continents as a result of her father's employment with a multi-national corporation. She graduated from the University of Amsterdam with an MA in Economics before settling in the United...
(campaign website). CQ Politics forecasted the race as 'Safe Republican'.
- Race ranking and details from CQ PoliticsCongressional QuarterlyCongressional Quarterly, Inc., or CQ, is a privately owned publishing company that produces a number of publications reporting primarily on the United States Congress...
- Campaign contributions from OpenSecrets.orgCenter for Responsive PoliticsThe Center for Responsive Politics is a non-profit, nonpartisan research group based in Washington, D.C. that tracks money in politics and the effect of money and lobbying activity on elections and public policy and maintains a public online database of its information.Their database...
Results
Incumbent John Mica held his seat, gaining 62 percent of the votes.District 8
Democratic nominee Alan Grayson
Alan Grayson
Alan Mark Grayson is a former U.S. Representative for , serving from 2009 until 2011. He is a member of the Democratic Party and loves cookies. After losing the election he moved to Austin to start stand-up comedy and a cookie business. The district Grayson represented lies in central Florida...
(campaign website) challenged Republican incumbent Ric Keller
Ric Keller
Richard Anthony "Ric" Keller is an American politician, and was a Republican member of the United States House of Representatives, representing .Keller was defeated in his bid for a fifth term by Democrat Alan Grayson....
, who had held the seat since 2001. (campaign website). On October 21, 2008, CQ Politics switched its outlook on the race from "No Clear Favorite" to "Leans Democratic," citing the fact that there are now more registered Democrats that Republicans in Keller's district. George W. Bush won the district in 2004 with 55% of the vote (CPVI=R+3).
In 2006, Keller, author of the "Cheeseburger Bill", was reelected by less than expected to Orlando
Orlando, Florida
Orlando is a city in the central region of the U.S. state of Florida. It is the county seat of Orange County, and the center of the Greater Orlando metropolitan area. According to the 2010 US Census, the city had a population of 238,300, making Orlando the 79th largest city in the United States...
businessman Charlie Stuart
Charlie Stuart
The Florida 8th congressional district election, 2006 was an election for the United States House of Representatives. Republican Congressman Ric Keller defeated Democratic businessman Charlie Stuart to win a fourth term.-Candidates:...
, who polled 46%. After the November 2006 election, Keller announced that he would break his 2000 pledge to serve only four terms. Todd Long (campaign website), an Orlando attorney and radio talkshow host, then announced he would challenge Keller in the Republican primary, promising to make an issue of the broken term-limits pledge. Greg Lewis and retired Marine Corps
United States Marine Corps
The United States Marine Corps is a branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for providing power projection from the sea, using the mobility of the United States Navy to deliver combined-arms task forces rapidly. It is one of seven uniformed services of the United States...
officer Bob Hering also announced they would challenge Keller in the primary, but they did not meet the qualifying requirements.
Grayson, an attorney who prosecutes war profiteers, had run unsuccessfully in the 2006 Democratic primary. In the 2008 primary, he faced Charlie Stuart (campaign website), who had lost to Keller by six percentage points in 2006; Mike Smith (campaign website), a former state prosecutor and current trial lawyer with Morgan and Morgan; Corbett Kroeler (campaign website), an environmental activist; Quoc Ba Van (campaign website), local weight-lifting champion and recent Emory Law School graduate.
- Race ranking and details from CQ PoliticsCongressional QuarterlyCongressional Quarterly, Inc., or CQ, is a privately owned publishing company that produces a number of publications reporting primarily on the United States Congress...
- Campaign contributions from OpenSecrets.orgCenter for Responsive PoliticsThe Center for Responsive Politics is a non-profit, nonpartisan research group based in Washington, D.C. that tracks money in politics and the effect of money and lobbying activity on elections and public policy and maintains a public online database of its information.Their database...
Results
Alan Grayson defeated incumbent Ric Keller, receiving 52 percent of the vote. This was one of two pickups for the Democratic Party in Florida, along with District 24.District 9
Republican freshman incumbent Gus Michael Bilirakis faced several opponents in this race. Challengers included Democrat Bill Mitchell, independents Richard Emmons and John Kalimnios, and write-in candidate Andrew Pasayan. CQ Politics forecasted the race as 'Safe Republican'.
- Race ranking and details from CQ PoliticsCongressional QuarterlyCongressional Quarterly, Inc., or CQ, is a privately owned publishing company that produces a number of publications reporting primarily on the United States Congress...
- Campaign contributions from OpenSecrets.orgCenter for Responsive PoliticsThe Center for Responsive Politics is a non-profit, nonpartisan research group based in Washington, D.C. that tracks money in politics and the effect of money and lobbying activity on elections and public policy and maintains a public online database of its information.Their database...
Results
Incumbent Gus Michael Bilirakis retained his seat, receiving around 62 percent of the votes.District 10
Republican incumbent Bill Young
Bill Young
Charles William "Bill" Young is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 1971. He is a member of the Republican Party, and is currently the longest-serving Republican member of Congress...
, who has represented this district since 1971 and is currently the longest-serving Republican in the House, faced Dunedin
Dunedin, Florida
Dunedin is a city in Pinellas County, Florida, United States. The name comes from Dùn Èideann, the Scottish Gaelic name for Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland. The population was 35,691 at the 2000 census. As of 2004, the population recorded by the U.S. Census Bureau is 36,632...
Mayor Democrat Bob Hackworth and write in candidate Don Callahan. Bob Hackworth won the Democratic primary on August 26, 2008 with 46% of the vote, defeating Samm Simpson and Max Linn
Max Linn
Max Linn is an American politician from the U.S. state of Florida. He was the Reform Party nominee for governor of Florida in the 2006 election. He was defeated by Republican Charlie Crist.-Background:...
. CQ Politics forecasted the race as 'Safe Republican'.
- Race ranking and details from CQ PoliticsCongressional QuarterlyCongressional Quarterly, Inc., or CQ, is a privately owned publishing company that produces a number of publications reporting primarily on the United States Congress...
- Campaign contributions from OpenSecrets.orgCenter for Responsive PoliticsThe Center for Responsive Politics is a non-profit, nonpartisan research group based in Washington, D.C. that tracks money in politics and the effect of money and lobbying activity on elections and public policy and maintains a public online database of its information.Their database...
Results
Bill Young was reelected, receiving around 61 percent of the votes.District 11
Freshman Democratic congresswoman Kathy Castor
Kathy Castor
Kathy Castor is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 2007. She is a member of the Democratic Party.The district covers most of the city of Tampa, most of south St...
faced Republican challenger Eddie Adams, Jr.. CQ Politics forecasted the race as 'Safe Democrat'.
- Race ranking and details from CQ PoliticsCongressional QuarterlyCongressional Quarterly, Inc., or CQ, is a privately owned publishing company that produces a number of publications reporting primarily on the United States Congress...
- Campaign contributions from OpenSecrets.orgCenter for Responsive PoliticsThe Center for Responsive Politics is a non-profit, nonpartisan research group based in Washington, D.C. that tracks money in politics and the effect of money and lobbying activity on elections and public policy and maintains a public online database of its information.Their database...
Results
Kathy Castor easily retained her seat with nearly 72 percent of the votes.District 12
Republican incumbent Adam Putnam
Adam Putnam
Adam H. Putnam is the current Florida Commissioner of Agriculture and the former U.S. Representative for , serving from 2001 until 2011. He is a member of the Republican Party.-Early life, education and career:...
, who has held this seat since 2001, was challenged by Democrat and Iraq War veteran Doug Tudor. CQ Politics forecasted the race as 'Safe Republican'.
- Race ranking and details from CQ PoliticsCongressional QuarterlyCongressional Quarterly, Inc., or CQ, is a privately owned publishing company that produces a number of publications reporting primarily on the United States Congress...
- Campaign contributions from OpenSecrets.orgCenter for Responsive PoliticsThe Center for Responsive Politics is a non-profit, nonpartisan research group based in Washington, D.C. that tracks money in politics and the effect of money and lobbying activity on elections and public policy and maintains a public online database of its information.Their database...
Results
Adam Putnam was reelected, receiving 57.5 percent of the vote.District 13
Freshman Republican incumbent Vern Buchanan
Vern Buchanan
Vernon G. "Vern" Buchanan is the Congressman for , serving since 2007. He is a member of the Republican Party.-Early life and education:...
(campaign website) was again challenged by Democratic banker Christine Jennings
Christine Jennings
Christine Jennings is a self-made banker and businessperson, and a Democratic politician in Florida.In 2006, Jennings was the Democratic nominee for the United States Congress to represent Florida's 13th congressional district. The seat was left open when incumbent Katherine Harris ran for the U.S...
(campaign website). Former Democratic Congressional candidate Jan Schneider also filed, running as an Independent. This was expected to be a competitive race in 2008, though Buchanan was far ahead of Jennings in fundraising. CQ Politics forecasted the race as 'Leans Republican'. George W. Bush won 56% of the district's vote in 2004 (CPVI=R+4).
Buchanan was certified as having won in 2006 by a 369-vote margin over Jennings, but Jennings challenged the election in court. Although Buchanan was seated by the House, the House has made no final decision on the matter. In mid-July 2007, Jennings announced she would run again in 2008.
- Race ranking and details from CQ PoliticsCongressional QuarterlyCongressional Quarterly, Inc., or CQ, is a privately owned publishing company that produces a number of publications reporting primarily on the United States Congress...
- Campaign contributions from OpenSecrets.orgCenter for Responsive PoliticsThe Center for Responsive Politics is a non-profit, nonpartisan research group based in Washington, D.C. that tracks money in politics and the effect of money and lobbying activity on elections and public policy and maintains a public online database of its information.Their database...
- Buchanan (R-i) vs Jennings (D) polls from Pollster.com
Results
Vern Buchanan was reelected to a second term. In contrast to the 2006 election, Buchanan won by a convincing margin, receiving 55.5 percent of the vote.District 14
Republican incumbent Connie Mack
Connie Mack IV
Cornelius Harvey McGillicuddy IV popularly known as Connie Mack IV is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 2005. He is a member of the Republican Party. The district includes Fort Myers and Naples....
, holder of this seat since 2005, was challenged by Democrat Robert Neeld (campaign website), Independent Jeff George (campaign website) and Republican State Senator Burt Saunders
Burt Saunders
Burt L. Saunders is a registered Republican and a former member of the Florida Senate, representing the 37th District since 1999. Previously he was a member of the Florida House of Representatives from 1994 through 1998. In 2008 Mr. Saunders ran for the United States House of Representatives in...
(who ran as an Independent). CQ Politics forecasted the race as 'Safe Republican'.
- Race ranking and details from CQ PoliticsCongressional QuarterlyCongressional Quarterly, Inc., or CQ, is a privately owned publishing company that produces a number of publications reporting primarily on the United States Congress...
- Campaign contributions from OpenSecrets.orgCenter for Responsive PoliticsThe Center for Responsive Politics is a non-profit, nonpartisan research group based in Washington, D.C. that tracks money in politics and the effect of money and lobbying activity on elections and public policy and maintains a public online database of its information.Their database...
Results
Connie Mack was returned to Congress for a third term, receiving over 59 percent of the votes.District 15
Seven-term Republican incumbent Dave Weldon
Dave Weldon
David Joseph Weldon, is an American politician and physician. He was a Republican member of the United States House of Representatives, representing .-Early life:...
had easily won re-election contests for a decade, but is retiring in 2008, leaving this Florida's only open House seat. Republican nominee State Senator Bill Posey
Bill Posey
William "Bill" Posey is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 2009. He is a member of the Republican Party. He formerly served in the Florida Senate and the Florida House of Representatives....
, who was endorsed by Weldon and the Florida Republican Party, faced Democratic nominee physician Steve Blythe (campaign website). Independent candidates Frank Zilaitis and Trevor Lowing also ran for the seat. Libertarian Jeffrey Bouffard, a computer engineer and army veteran, also filed to run, but did not qualify for the ballot. CQ Politics forecasted the race as 'Republican Favored'. George W. Bush won 57% of the vote here in 2004 (CPVI=R+4).
- Race ranking and details from CQ PoliticsCongressional QuarterlyCongressional Quarterly, Inc., or CQ, is a privately owned publishing company that produces a number of publications reporting primarily on the United States Congress...
- Campaign contributions from OpenSecrets.orgCenter for Responsive PoliticsThe Center for Responsive Politics is a non-profit, nonpartisan research group based in Washington, D.C. that tracks money in politics and the effect of money and lobbying activity on elections and public policy and maintains a public online database of its information.Their database...
Results
Bill Posey won the open seat with 53 percent of the vote. As a result, this seat remained under Republican control for the 111th Congress.District 16
Republican nominee Tom Rooney
Tom Rooney (politician)
Thomas J. "Tom" Rooney is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 2009. He is a member of the Republican Party.-Early life:...
faced Democratic incumbent Tim Mahoney
Tim Mahoney
Timothy Edward "Tim" Mahoney was a U.S. Representative for and a member of the Democratic Party. He was elected in November 2006 after his opponent, six-term Republican incumbent Mark Foley, resigned on September 29, 2006, after questions were raised about an email exchange with a congressional...
.
This is normally a solidly Republican district, so consensus was that Mahoney's 50% to 48% win in 2006 could be attributed to the Mark Foley scandal
Mark Foley scandal
The Mark Foley scandal, which broke in late September 2006, centers on soliciting e-mails and sexually suggestive instant messages sent by Mark Foley, a Republican Congressman from Florida, to teenaged boys who had formerly served as congressional pages...
. The Republican nominee Joe Negron
Joe Negron
Joe Negron is the senator for Florida's state senate district 28. He is also a former member of the Florida House of Representatives who served from 2000 to 2006. He represented District 82, serving Palm Beach, Martin, and St. Lucie Counties and was chairman of the Appropriations Committee...
's 2006 campaign was harmed by the fact that Foley's name remained on the ballot even though he was not a candidate, as his withdrawal from the race came too late to replace him on the ballot under Florida law. George W. Bush won this district by a 10-point margin in 2004 (CPVI=R+2).
Attorney Rooney won the Republican primary election against State Rep. Gayle Harrell
Gayle Harrell
Gayle B. Harrell serves as a Republican member of the Florida House of Representatives representing the 81st district....
and Palm Beach Gardens
Palm Beach Gardens, Florida
Palm Beach Gardens is a city in Palm Beach County in the U.S. state of Florida. The city is in the center of a rapidly-developing area north of West Palm Beach in the northern part of the county and the South Florida metropolitan area. , the population was 48,452...
City Councilman Hal Valeche.
On October 12, 2008, it was revealed that Mahoney had an affair with a staffer, and had paid her $121,000 in a settlement to stave off a potential lawsuit. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi
Nancy Pelosi
Nancy Patricia D'Alesandro Pelosi is the Minority Leader of the United States House of Representatives and served as the 60th Speaker of the United States House of Representatives from 2007 to 2011...
has called for an ethics inquiry. Two days later, CQ Politics changed their forecast on the race from "No Clear Favorite" to "Leans Republican".
- Race ranking and details from CQ PoliticsCongressional QuarterlyCongressional Quarterly, Inc., or CQ, is a privately owned publishing company that produces a number of publications reporting primarily on the United States Congress...
- Campaign contributions from OpenSecrets.orgCenter for Responsive PoliticsThe Center for Responsive Politics is a non-profit, nonpartisan research group based in Washington, D.C. that tracks money in politics and the effect of money and lobbying activity on elections and public policy and maintains a public online database of its information.Their database...
Results
Republican Tom Rooney, with 60 percent of the votes, defeated incumbent Congressman Tim Mahoney. This was the only district in Florida to switch from Democratic to Republican control in 2008.District 17
Democratic three-term incumbent Kendrick Meek
Kendrick Meek
Kendrick Brett Meek is an American politician who was the U.S. Representative for from 2003 to 2011. He was the Democratic nominee in the 2010 Senate election for the seat of Mel Martinez, but he lost in a three way race to Republican Marco Rubio along with Independent Charlie Crist.-Early life,...
ran unopposed in this heavily Democratic district (CPVI=D+35).
- Race ranking and details from CQ PoliticsCongressional QuarterlyCongressional Quarterly, Inc., or CQ, is a privately owned publishing company that produces a number of publications reporting primarily on the United States Congress...
- Campaign contributions from OpenSecrets.orgCenter for Responsive PoliticsThe Center for Responsive Politics is a non-profit, nonpartisan research group based in Washington, D.C. that tracks money in politics and the effect of money and lobbying activity on elections and public policy and maintains a public online database of its information.Their database...
District 18
Republican incumbent Ileana Ros-Lehtinen
Ileana Ros-Lehtinen
Ileana Ros-Lehtinen is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 1989. She is a member of the Republican Party....
has held this seat since 1989; however, her district has been increasingly trending Democratic in recent elections. The district contains many Miami suburbs and the entire Florida Keys
Florida Keys
The Florida Keys are a coral archipelago in southeast United States. They begin at the southeastern tip of the Florida peninsula, about south of Miami, and extend in a gentle arc south-southwest and then westward to Key West, the westernmost of the inhabited islands, and on to the uninhabited Dry...
. Founder and CEO of LanguageSpeak and Chair of the Women's Enterprise National Council's Leadership Forum Annette Taddeo was the Democratic nominee and was able to raise a significant sum of money. Nonetheless, polls throughout the campaign showed Ros-Lehtinen in the lead. CQ Politics forecasted the race as 'Republican Favored'.
- Race ranking and details from CQ PoliticsCongressional QuarterlyCongressional Quarterly, Inc., or CQ, is a privately owned publishing company that produces a number of publications reporting primarily on the United States Congress...
- Campaign contributions from OpenSecrets.orgCenter for Responsive PoliticsThe Center for Responsive Politics is a non-profit, nonpartisan research group based in Washington, D.C. that tracks money in politics and the effect of money and lobbying activity on elections and public policy and maintains a public online database of its information.Their database...
- Ros-Lehtinen (R-i) vs Taddeo (D) polls from Pollster.com
Results
Ileana Ros-Lehtinen defeated challenger Taddeo, receiving nearly 58 percent of the vote.District 19
Democratic incumbent Robert Wexler
Robert Wexler
Robert Wexler is the president of the Washington-based S. Daniel Abraham Center for Middle East Peace.Wexler was a Democratic member of the U.S. House of Representatives, representing , from 1997 until his resignation on January 3, 2010.-Early life:Wexler was born in Queens, New York to Sonny and...
, representing this district since 1997, faced Republican Edward J. Lynch
Edward J. Lynch
Edward J. "Ed" Lynch, Sr. is an American politician and two-time Republican Party candidate for the United States House of Representatives from Florida's 19th congressional district....
and fellow Democrat Ben Graber, who chose to run as an independent candidate rather than compete against Wexler in the Democratic primary. Wexler had run opposed in the previous two elections. CQ Politics forecasted the race as 'Safe Democrat'.
- Race ranking and details from CQ PoliticsCongressional QuarterlyCongressional Quarterly, Inc., or CQ, is a privately owned publishing company that produces a number of publications reporting primarily on the United States Congress...
- Campaign contributions from OpenSecrets.orgCenter for Responsive PoliticsThe Center for Responsive Politics is a non-profit, nonpartisan research group based in Washington, D.C. that tracks money in politics and the effect of money and lobbying activity on elections and public policy and maintains a public online database of its information.Their database...
Results
Wexler retained his seat, receiving around 66 percent of the vote.District 20
Democratic incumbent Debbie Wasserman Schultz
Debbie Wasserman Schultz
Debbie Wasserman Schultz is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 2005. She is a member of the Democratic Party and the Chairwoman of the Democratic National Committee. She previously served in the Florida House of Representatives and the Florida Senate...
(campaign website) has held this seat since 2005. Challengers Margaret Hostetter, who ran against Wasserman Schultz as a Republican in 2004 but chose to run as an independent in 2008, and Socialist
Socialist Party USA
The Socialist Party USA is a multi-tendency democratic-socialist party in the United States. The party states that it is the rightful continuation and successor to the tradition of the Socialist Party of America, which had lasted from 1901 to 1972.The party is officially committed to left-wing...
write-in candidate Marc Luzietti (campaign website) were not expected to be serious threats to Wasserman Schultz. CQ Politics forecasted the race as 'Safe Democrat'.
- Race ranking and details from CQ PoliticsCongressional QuarterlyCongressional Quarterly, Inc., or CQ, is a privately owned publishing company that produces a number of publications reporting primarily on the United States Congress...
- Campaign contributions from OpenSecrets.orgCenter for Responsive PoliticsThe Center for Responsive Politics is a non-profit, nonpartisan research group based in Washington, D.C. that tracks money in politics and the effect of money and lobbying activity on elections and public policy and maintains a public online database of its information.Their database...
Results
As expected, Debbie Wasserman Schultz easily won reelection, receiving over 77 percent of the vote.District 21
Republican incumbent Lincoln Diaz-Balart
Lincoln Diaz-Balart
Lincoln Rafael Díaz-Balart was the U.S. Representative for from 1993 to 2011. He is a member of the Republican Party. He previously served in the Florida House of Representatives and the Florida Senate...
(campaign website) had faced little more than token opposition since taking office in 1993. This year, however, the race was expected to be much tougher for Diaz-Balart, as the Democratic nominee, former Hialeah
Hialeah, Florida
Hialeah is a city in Miami-Dade County, Florida, United States. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 226,419. As of 2009, the population estimate by the U. S...
Mayor Raul L. Martinez
Raul L. Martinez
Raul L. Martinez is a former mayor of Hialeah, Florida, United States. He is a Democrat and was mayor for 24 years, first elected in 1981 and was the Democratic congressional candidate for Florida's 21st congressional district in 2008.-Family:Former Hialeah Mayor Raul L...
(campaign website), is very well known in the area and could be a formidable challenger. CQ Politics forecasted the race as 'Leans Republican'. Rothenberg rated it as 'Pure Toss-Up.' Cook rated it as 'Republican Toss-Up'. Bush won 57% of the vote here in 2004 (CPVI=R+6).
On May 22, 2008, Diaz-Balart did not attend a debate hosted by the South Florida AFL-CIO
AFL-CIO
The American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations, commonly AFL–CIO, is a national trade union center, the largest federation of unions in the United States, made up of 56 national and international unions, together representing more than 11 million workers...
with Martinez due to scheduling and venue issues.
A July 7 poll conducted by a noted Democratic polster, Sergio Bendixen, showed Diaz-Balart ahead of Martinez by a four point margin, 41 to 37 percent, with 22 percent undecided. David Hill, the Diaz-Balart brothers' pollster, said Lincoln's internal polling shows the congressman with a 12-point lead over Martinez and a "double-digit advantage over his opponent in virtually every significant segment of the electorate."
On August 1, 2008, a leading Washington analyst, Rothenberg Political Report
Stuart Rothenberg
Stuart Rothenberg is an American editor, publisher, and political analyst best known for his Washington-based, biweekly, self-proclaimed non-partisan political newsletter The Rothenberg Political Report...
, reported that they see a "possible re-election trouble for Lincoln Diaz-Balart". According to an August 14, 2008 Time
Time (magazine)
Time is an American news magazine. A European edition is published from London. Time Europe covers the Middle East, Africa and, since 2003, Latin America. An Asian edition is based in Hong Kong...
article, Lincoln Diaz-Balart faces a competitive race. It also said that "Democratic voter registration in Miami-Dade County, as in other places, is up, and Republican registration is down."
On August 25, 2008, Lincoln Diaz-Balart agreed to debate Martinez, at a Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce event at noon on October 8. On August 26, 2008, Martinez challenged Diaz-Balart to an additional debate in Denver, Colorado
Denver, Colorado
The City and County of Denver is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Colorado. Denver is a consolidated city-county, located in the South Platte River Valley on the western edge of the High Plains just east of the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains...
, which both candidates were visiting during the 2008 Democratic National Convention
2008 Democratic National Convention
The United States 2008 Democratic National Convention was a quadrennial presidential nominating convention of the Democratic Party where it adopted its national platform and officially nominated its candidates for President and Vice President of the United States. The convention was held in Denver,...
.
In a SurveyUSA
SurveyUSA
SurveyUSA is a polling firm in the United States. It conducts market research for corporations and interest groups, but is best known for conducting opinion polls for various political offices and questions...
poll sponsored by Roll Call conducted in August 2008, Martinez led Diaz-Balart (48% to 46%) among likely voters. According to the poll, Diaz-Balart enjoyed 70% support from Cuban-Americans in the district. The poll's demographics (which were chosen by the pollster in 2008) are different from those of the district (based on the US census of 2000.) 51% of those questioned were Hispanic (34% of respondents were Cuban and 17% were non-Cuban). The percentage of Hispanics in the district is higher at 69.7%. Later polls, however, showed Diaz-Balart back in the lead.
- Race ranking and details from CQ PoliticsCongressional QuarterlyCongressional Quarterly, Inc., or CQ, is a privately owned publishing company that produces a number of publications reporting primarily on the United States Congress...
- Campaign contributions from OpenSecrets.orgCenter for Responsive PoliticsThe Center for Responsive Politics is a non-profit, nonpartisan research group based in Washington, D.C. that tracks money in politics and the effect of money and lobbying activity on elections and public policy and maintains a public online database of its information.Their database...
- Diaz-Balart (R-i) vs Martinez (D) polls from Pollster.com
Results
Despite predictions of a close election, Lincoln Diaz-Balart won reelection by a fairly comfortable margin, receiving just under 58 percent of the vote.District 22
First-term Democratic incumbent Ron Klein
Ron Klein
Ronald "Ron" Klein is a lawyer and former member of the United States House of Representatives for . He is a member of the Democratic Party. He previously served in the Florida House of Representatives and the Florida Senate. He is currently employed by the law firm Holland & Knight.-Early life,...
was challenged by former army officer and Iraq War veteran Allen West
Allen West (former U.S. military officer)
Allen Bernard West is a Republican U.S. Representative who represents , serving since January 2011. He is the first African-American Republican Congressman from Florida since Josiah T. Walls left office in 1876 near the end of Reconstruction.West served in the United States Army in Iraq and was a...
. Michael Prysner, an Iraq War veteran, peace activist, and college student, ran as a write-in candidate on the Party for Socialism and Liberation
Party for Socialism and Liberation
The Party for Socialism and Liberation is a Marxist-Leninist political party in the United States. It was originally created as the result of a split within the ranks of Workers World Party , although their political line is nearly identical. The San Francisco branch as well as several other...
ticket. CQ Politics forecasted the race as 'Democrat Favored'.
Republicans suffered a setback when popular former Boca Raton
Boca Raton, Florida
Boca Raton is a city in Palm Beach County, Florida, USA, incorporated in May 1925. In the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 74,764; the 2006 population recorded by the U.S. Census Bureau was 86,396. However, the majority of the people under the postal address of Boca Raton, about...
Mayor Steven Abrams
Steven L. Abrams
Steven L. Abrams is the District Four Palm Beach County commissioner and former mayor of the City of Boca Raton, Florida. A lawyer, he was elected mayor in March 2001 and re-elected in 2003 and 2005. He previously served as a city council member from 1989-1999...
announced he would not run. West and former navy pilot Mark Flagg announced they would run. Neurosurgeon Robert Brodner and 2006 Connecticut U.S. senatorial candidate Alan Schlesinger
Alan Schlesinger
Alan Schlesinger is an attorney, former Derby, Connecticut mayor, former Connecticut State Representative, and three-time unsuccessful Congressional candidate who received the Republican nomination for the seat representing Connecticut that is currently held by U.S...
were also potential candidates. This Fort Lauderdale
Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Fort Lauderdale is a city in the U.S. state of Florida, on the Atlantic coast. It is the county seat of Broward County. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 165,521. It is a principal city of the South Florida metropolitan area, which was home to 5,564,635 people at the 2010...
area district barely went to John Kerry in 2004 (CPVI=D+4).
- Race ranking and details from CQ PoliticsCongressional QuarterlyCongressional Quarterly, Inc., or CQ, is a privately owned publishing company that produces a number of publications reporting primarily on the United States Congress...
- Campaign contributions from OpenSecrets.orgCenter for Responsive PoliticsThe Center for Responsive Politics is a non-profit, nonpartisan research group based in Washington, D.C. that tracks money in politics and the effect of money and lobbying activity on elections and public policy and maintains a public online database of its information.Their database...
Results
Ron Klein successfully defended his seat, receiving slightly less than 55 percent of the vote.District 23
Democratic incumbent Alcee Hastings
Alcee Hastings
Alcee Lamar Hastings is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 1993. He is a member of the Democratic Party.-Early life, education and career:...
, who has held this seat since 1993, faced Republican Marion Dennis Thorpe Jr. in this heavily Democratic district. CQ Politics forecasted the race as 'Safe Democrat'.
- Race ranking and details from CQ PoliticsCongressional QuarterlyCongressional Quarterly, Inc., or CQ, is a privately owned publishing company that produces a number of publications reporting primarily on the United States Congress...
- Campaign contributions from OpenSecrets.orgCenter for Responsive PoliticsThe Center for Responsive Politics is a non-profit, nonpartisan research group based in Washington, D.C. that tracks money in politics and the effect of money and lobbying activity on elections and public policy and maintains a public online database of its information.Their database...
Results
Alcee Hastings easily retained his seat with over 82 percent of the vote.District 24
Three-term Republican incumbent Tom Feeney
Tom Feeney
Thomas Charles "Tom" Feeney III, usually known as Tom Feeney , is an American politician from the state of Florida. He represented . He was defeated in the 2008 election by Democrat Suzanne Kosmas.-Early life:...
(campaign website) faced Democrat nominee and former State Representative Suzanne Kosmas
Suzanne Kosmas
Suzanne M. Kosmas is the former U.S. Representative for , serving from 2009 until 2011. She is a member of the Democratic Party...
(campaign website) and independent Gaurav Bhola. On October 21, 2008, CQ Politics switched its outlook on the race from "No Clear Favorite" to "Leans Democratic."
The district includes the Orlando suburbs as well as the Space Coast
Space Coast
The Space Coast is a region in the U.S. state of Florida around Kennedy Space Center , where NASA launched space shuttles until the last one on July 8th, 2011 at 11:29am; and Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, site of unmanned civilian and military space launches...
of Florida. In 2006, Feeney was re-elected by 58% to 42%. Although Feeney reportedly drew the district for himself while serving as speaker of the state house, the district is actually somewhat marginal on paper (CPVI=R+3). Bush took 55 percent of the vote in this district in 2004.
- Race ranking and details from CQ PoliticsCongressional QuarterlyCongressional Quarterly, Inc., or CQ, is a privately owned publishing company that produces a number of publications reporting primarily on the United States Congress...
- Campaign contributions from OpenSecrets.orgCenter for Responsive PoliticsThe Center for Responsive Politics is a non-profit, nonpartisan research group based in Washington, D.C. that tracks money in politics and the effect of money and lobbying activity on elections and public policy and maintains a public online database of its information.Their database...
- Feeney (R-i) vs Kosmas (D) polls from Pollster.com
Results
Suzanne Kosmas ousted incumbent Tom Feeney, receiving around 57 percent of the vote. This district was one of two in Florida to switch from Republican to Democratic control in 2008, along with District 8.District 25
Republican three-term incumbent Mario Diaz-Balart
Mario Diaz-Balart
Mario Rafael Diaz-Balart Caballero is the current U.S. Representative for , serving since 2011. A member of the Republican Party, he was elected in 2010 to succeed his brother, Lincoln Diaz-Balart. The district includes the city of Hialeah, along with several of Miami's southwestern suburbs...
faced Miami-Dade County Democratic Party chairman Joe Garcia
Joe Garcia
Joe Garcia is a Miami-based lawyer and 2010 Democratic nominee for . He is the former executive director of the Cuban American National Foundation and was nominated by President Barack Obama to be director of the Office of Minority Economic Impact and Diversity of the United States Department of...
(campaign website), a former executive director of the Cuban American National Foundation (CANF). CQ Politics forecasted the race as 'Leans Republican'. The Rothenberg Political Report as 'Toss-Up/Tilt Republican'. The Cook Political Report as 'Republican Toss Up'. Bush won 56% of the vote here in 2004 (CPVI=R+4).
Garcia announced on February 7, 2008, his candidacy for the U.S. House of Representatives in Florida's 25th congressional district.
In March 2008, the Garcia's campaign announced that noted political strategist Joe Trippi
Joe Trippi
Joe Trippi is a long-time American Democratic campaign worker and consultant. A mainstay in presidential politics, Trippi has worked on the presidential campaigns of Edward Kennedy, Walter Mondale, Gary Hart, Dick Gephardt, Jerry Brown and most recently John Edwards...
, the campaign manager for 2004 presidential candidate and former Vermont governor Howard Dean
Howard Dean
Howard Brush Dean III is an American politician and physician from Vermont. He served six terms as the 79th Governor of Vermont and ran unsuccessfully for the 2004 Democratic presidential nomination. He was chairman of the Democratic National Committee from 2005 to 2009. Although his U.S...
, was joining the campaign team as Senior Media Adviser.
In April 2008, Garcia held a controversial fundraiser with Representative Charles B. Rangel
Charles B. Rangel
Charles Bernard "Charlie" Rangel is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 1971. A member of the Democratic Party, he is the third-longest currently serving member of the House of Representatives. As its most senior member, he is also the Dean of New York's congressional delegation...
, who has met repeatedly with Fidel Castro
Fidel Castro
Fidel Alejandro Castro Ruz is a Cuban revolutionary and politician, having held the position of Prime Minister of Cuba from 1959 to 1976, and then President from 1976 to 2008. He also served as the First Secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba from the party's foundation in 1961 until 2011...
and pushed legislation that would allow U.S. citizens to travel to Cuba and allow American firms to do business there. Garcia said he "has serious disagreements with Rangel on Cuba. But having a relationship with the chairman of the powerful House Ways and Means Committee
United States House Committee on Ways and Means
The Committee of Ways and Means is the chief tax-writing committee of the United States House of Representatives. Members of the Ways and Means Committee are not allowed to serve on any other House Committees unless they apply for a waiver from their party's congressional leadership...
would help him bring federal money back to the district." Diaz-Balart claimed Garcia had a radical left-wing agenda including supporting higher taxes on working families and appeasing the nation's enemies.
An August 14, 2008 Time
Time (magazine)
Time is an American news magazine. A European edition is published from London. Time Europe covers the Middle East, Africa and, since 2003, Latin America. An Asian edition is based in Hong Kong...
article labeled the race as competitive, pointing out that "Democratic voter registration in Miami-Dade County, as in other places, is up, and Republican registration is down".
According to many commentators, Garcia is Mario Diaz-Balart's most formidable political opponent ever because of the amount of money that he has raised and the national media attention that he has generated Nonetheless, the Rothenberg Political Report and CQ Politics rated the seat as "Toss-up/Tilt Republican," the Cook Political Report rated the district as "Likely Republican," and the Crystal Ball has rated the district as "Safe Republican"
A poll of the race, that was conducted conducted June 6 to 22, by noted Democratic pollster, Sergio Bendixen, showed Diaz-Balart ahead of Garcia 44 percent to 39 percent, with 17 percent undecided.
As of August 6, 2008, Garcia has raised $1,001,313 with $789,667 cash on hand for the 2007-2008 cycle. Mario Diaz-Balart, the five year incumbent, has raised $1,188,193 and has $1,029,556 cash on hand during the same cycle.
- Race ranking and details from CQ PoliticsCongressional QuarterlyCongressional Quarterly, Inc., or CQ, is a privately owned publishing company that produces a number of publications reporting primarily on the United States Congress...
- Campaign contributions from OpenSecrets.orgCenter for Responsive PoliticsThe Center for Responsive Politics is a non-profit, nonpartisan research group based in Washington, D.C. that tracks money in politics and the effect of money and lobbying activity on elections and public policy and maintains a public online database of its information.Their database...
- Diaz-Balart (R-i) vs Garcia (D) polls from Pollster.com
Results
Mario Diaz-Balart held off challenger Joe Garcia, receiving slightly more than 53 percent of the vote.External links
- Florida Division of Elections
- U.S. Congress candidates for Florida at Project Vote SmartProject Vote SmartProject Vote Smart is a non-profit, non-partisan research organization that collects and distributes information on candidates for public office in the United States...
- Florida U.S. House Races from 2008 Race Tracker
- Campaign contributions for Florida congressional races from OpenSecrets.orgCenter for Responsive PoliticsThe Center for Responsive Politics is a non-profit, nonpartisan research group based in Washington, D.C. that tracks money in politics and the effect of money and lobbying activity on elections and public policy and maintains a public online database of its information.Their database...