And first-term Republican Sen. Grayson’s wife, Dena, failed in her bid to replace him in his central Florida district.
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He faces a tough Democratic challenge in the November general election from U.S. Rep. Ann Kirkpatrick. “He earned the worst voting record for any Florida senator in 50 years”.
South Florida voters were also choosing whether to keep former Democratic National Committee Chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz in Congress or to replace her with Tim Canova, a Bernie Sanders-backed law professor.
But that is precisely where Debbie Wasserman Schultz stands today.
She made no mention of Canova.
But they are potentially vulnerable if the presidential election turns into a landslide.
Wasserman Schultz had 6,775 more votes than Canova with 100 percent of precincts reporting, according to the Associated Press. Already dismayed by the establishment’s Hillary Clinton wrestling away the nomination for the presidency, they were hoping they might find some consolation in a victory over the woman that was a major asset for Clinton during the primaries. They say she is part of a Wall Street takeover of the party. “It’s more proof that voters are growing exhausted of politicians who put the demands of powerful and wealthy interests ahead of the needs of ordinary families”, said spokesperson Joe Dinkin. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, who recently had to step down from her position as chairwoman of the Democratic National Party after an email scandal, won her primary for a seventh term. Rubio, an outspoken Iran deal opponent, had been a favorite of pro-Israel Republicans for a period during the primaries.
Wasserman Schultz received campaign visits and donations from her House Democratic colleagues, as well as from Hillary Clinton and Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr.
U.S. Sen. John McCain beat back a primary challenge Tuesday from a Republican tea party activist to win the right to seek a sixth Senate term in November, clearing an important hurdle in a race that was inundated with questions about GOP presidential candidate Donald Trump.
“I’m humbled by and grateful for our success tonight and for the honor to be the Arizona Republican Party’s nominee for election to the United States Senate”, McCain expressed Tuesday night after turning 80 the day before.
“I’m not going to be endorsing Patrick Murphy for sure”, Grayson told the Orlando Sentinel after his loss.
The primary also sets the field for a race that could determine whether Democrats regain control of the U.S. Senate.
With 57 percent of precincts reporting, the AP declared Wasserman Schultz the victor, with 57.5 percent against Canova’s 42.5 percent.
Wasserman Schultz has accused Canova of not being a strong supporter of Israel, a key issue in a district with a large Jewish population.
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In the end, Wasserman Schultz’s troubles at the national level weren’t enough to damage her longstanding relationships in the Miami-area district. “There are thousands and thousands and thousands of doors that I’ve knocked on”, she said. And he had support in the district from more than two-thirds of Democrats under 35 years of age. Sanders has lost much of his shine with supporters for his decision to retain campaign manager Jeff Weaver, with much of his staff resigning.
