FL House Results: Alan Grayson's Good News

By Julie Sobel and Scott Bland  //  August 14, 2012 | 9:10 p.m.

FL-26 [10:10 p.m.] Two-time Democratic congressional nominee Joe Garcia won the right to take on freshman Republican Rep. David Rivera Tuesday night in Florida's 26th Congressional District, setting up a rematch of their 2010 matchup in a different environment.

With 94 percent of precincts reporting in the Miami-based district, Garcia led businesswoman Gloria Romero Roses 53 percent to 31 percent in the Democratic primary, with two other candidates dividing the remainder of the vote. The Associated Press called the race for Garcia.

Garcia and Romero Roses both got into the race late after another Democratic candidate dropped out, and Garcia's name recognition from previous runs helped boost him to a decisive primary victory. Now he will turn his attention to Rivera, who beat Garcia 52 percent to 43 percent in 2010 but has been bedeviled by ethical complaints since then. Rivera's fundraising is more or less frozen, and the district split nearly evenly between Democrats and Republicans in the 2008 presidential race.

But Garcia will have to contend with high negatives from his previous runs. Last cycle, Rivera hit Garcia as soft on Cuba and will surely reprise those lines again. Still, Rivera's relative lack of funds and checkered past make this a race to watch in the fall.

FL-02 [9:57 p.m.] Former state senator Al Lawson won the Democratic nomination to take on freshman Republican Rep. Steve Southerland Tuesday night in Florida's 2nd District. With 96 percent of precincts reporting, Lawson, who is African-American, had 54 percent of the primary vote to 26 percent for state legislator Leonard Bembry, with two other candidates dividing the rest. The Associated Press called the primary for Lawson.

Lawson challenged then-Rep. Allen Boyd in the 2010 Democratic primary and put up a strong showing against the incumbent, who later lost to Southerland in the general election. But Bembry -- who was endorsed by the Blue Dog PAC -- was considered a potentially better general election candidate for Democrats than the more liberal Lawson in a district the both John McCain and George W. Bush narrowly won in the past two presidential races.

FL-06 [9:50 p.m.] With 78 percent of precincts reporting, the Associated Press called the Florida's 6th District race for attorney Ron DeSantis. DeSantis had 40 percent of the vote to state legislator Fred Costello's 22 percent. Three other Republican candidates took between 10 and 15 percent of the vote. The Club for Growth had supported DeSantis, and congratulated him on his victory. "Ron DeSantis will fight to limit government and cut spending - and he'll stand up to the big spenders in both parties," said Club for Growth President Chris Chocola in a statement. "Ron clearly articulated the pro-growth message which is why he won a resounding victory tonight." The newly drawn coastal district leans Republican, and DeSantis is expected to win the general election. FL-19 [9:34 p.m.] Republican radio host Trey Radel won the primary to replace GOP Rep. Connie Mack in Florida's 19th District Tuesday night, fighting off a six-person field to secure the nomination. With 100 percent of precincts reporting, Radel led his nearest challenger, Chauncey Goss, 30 percent to 22 percent, with the remainder divided between the other four candidates. The Associated Press called the race for Radel. Mack's run for Senate opened up the safe seat, and Radel is now heavily favored to take the seat in Congress. FL-09 [9:10 p.m.] Former Democratic Rep. Alan Grayson will get the challenger he wanted: With 91 percent of precincts reporting, the Associated Press called Florida's 9th District GOP primary for radio host Todd Long. Long had 47 percent of the vote compared to 28 percent for Osceola County Commissioner John Quinones, while two other candidates divided the remainder of the vote. Since Grayson didn't face a competitive primary of his own, he cut a television ad attacking Quinones, and -- along with Democratic outside group House Majority PAC, which spent $81,000 -- targeted the Republican with mailings as well. The Puerto Rican Quinones could have posed a greater challenge to Grayson in a district with a quickly growing Puerto Rican population. Grayson is favored to win the newly-drawn Democratic-leaning district in November.

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Reid Wilson, Editor-in-Chief
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Julie Sobel, Editor
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