Sen. Marco RubioMarco RubioCanova refuses to congratulate Wasserman Schultz on victory The Hill’s 12:30 Report Rubio challenges Murphy to six debates MORE (R-Fla.) on Wednesday morning challenged his opponent for Senate, Rep. Patrick Murphy (D-Fla.), to six debates ahead of the November general election.
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In other races, U.S. Rep. Corrine Brown lost a primary as she faces felony fraud charges. Debbie Wasserman Schultz won the Democratic primary in the 23rd Congressional district.
Gimenez far out-raised Regalado with a political war chest of $4.5 million, not including money from political action committees.
Rubio’s comments aren’t all that surprising, given his obvious interest in the presidency and the flak he took for breaking his pledge not to seek a second term in the Senate. Still, Rubio’s chances of re-election could rely heavily on the presidential election between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump.
During their re-election efforts, both McCain and Rubio have offered support for Trump as the party’s White House nominee.
Of the 55 counties exceeding the state’s 24 percent turnout average, most were in GOP hotbeds across North and Central Florida.
He has the backing from all the big name Democrats including President Obama and Vice President Joe Biden.
Grayson had the support of many in his party’s liberal base and he did lead in a few polls early in the race, but his style and attitude grated on many of his Democratic colleagues.
Todd Martin, 53, and his 18-year-old daughter Haley, voted together in Tallahassee, where they recently moved as she starts college.
On the Democratic side, the battle between Mr. Grayson and Mr. Murphy looked like it would turn into a proxy fight between progressive and centrist Democrats. “They all know me”. “I like where Patrick Murphy stands on the algae”.
“I’m excited, in fact I’m very excited, to debate Sen”.
Secretary of State Ken Detzner said there were slight delays in opening some polling places, but described no other glitches.
CNN officially called both races approximately an hour after the polls closed at 7 p.m.
In the 19th district seat vacated by Mr. Clawson, Francis Rooney, former USA ambassador to the Vatican and a major GOP fundraiser, appears to have the upper hand over Chauncey Goss, son of former congressman and Central Intelligence Agency director Porter Goss; and Dan Bongino, an ex-Secret Service agent who twice failed in Maryland congressional bids.
Florida had to rip up and redraw its congressional maps after they were found to violate the state constitution’s provision requiring compact districts that don’t favor incumbents or political parties. Kelli Ward – who attacked Mr. McCain as too willing to compromise with Democrats but struggled to raise the money and amass widespread support – and two other Republicans on the ballot. Several races will essentially be decided in the primary and Florida will eventually send at least seven new House members to Washington. If Democrats sweep all four seats seen as competitive in November, that Republican advantage could be reduced to 14-13.
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According to Miami Herald, with his party’s nomination secure, Rubio is now on path to defend the Senate seat he’s held since 2010 and potentially help the GOP retain the majority in the U.S. Senate in November.
