Florida election results: Rick Scott beats Bill Nelson for Senate seat as Andrew Gillum loses to Ron DeSantis for governor
Democrat Donna Shalala also beats Republican Maria Elvira Salazar to take House seat in 27th district
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Your support makes all the difference.Republican Ron DeSantis has beaten Democrat Andrew Gillum in the race to become the next governor of Florida, extending GOP control of that office which has remained unbroken since 1994.
Meanwhile, the current governor of the state, Republican Rick Scott, has beat Senator Bill Nelson in the race for US Senate. Mr Scott beat Mr Nelson narrowly after an expensive race that ranks as one of the most expensive in US electoral history.
Mr Gillum called Mr DeSantis to concede, but vowed to continue to fight for causes he believes in.
In down ballot races, Democrats flipped two House seats from Republicans, with Democrats Debbie Mucarsel-Powell and Donna Shalala now set to become US representatives in January.
The Republican victory in the Florida Senate race reflects a broader trend for the GOP in that legislative body, as President Donald Trump’s party expanded its control there. The party flipped at last three seats from Democrats.
But, Democrats saw victories in ways that will hobble the president’s next two years in office, and gained control of the House of Representatives. Democrats will now yield power over congressional investigations, and will have the ability to re-open or expand investigations into Russia’s involvement in the 2016 election and any connection that involvement may have had to Mr Trump’s campaign.
Democrats also saw important wins in governors races across the country, even if Mr Gillum was unable to flip control in Tallahassee. As election results poured in from across the country, Democrats picked up at least six governorships from Republican hands. That means that the party will control at least 21 governor's mansions. Republicans, with four seats left to be decided on Wednesday morning, had retained control of 25 seats.
To see how the evening unfolded please read our live blog below
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Anna Eskamani, who we spoke to down in Florida while she was on the campaign trail in Orlando, has won her race for Florida House.
You've probably never heard of her, and the same can be said for many of the 7,000 individuals elected to state office across the country. Didn't know there were so many elected offices in the US, did you?
Ms Eskamani is a daughter of Iranian immigrants, and a compelling public speaker. Take a look at our coverage of both her and the broader state election issue, right here:
Both the governor's race and the Senate race are neck and neck as results continue to pour in from across Florida.
Mr Scott leads Mr Nelson in the Senate race, 50.5 to 49.5, with 83 per cent reporting. Mr DeSantis leads Mr Gillum in the governor's race, with 50 per cent compared to 48.8 per cent, and 77 per cent reporting.
Things are tight in Florida's governor and Senate races — with Republicans leading in both races at this point in the night.
But, Democrats could still come back. Most solidly Republican districts are already reporting all of their precincts, but votes are still to be counted in Democratic strongholds in southern Florida and other urban areas.
The question still to be answered is this: Are there enough uncounted ballots and precincts around Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Orlando, and in other urban areas for the Democrats to close the gap and win their races?
The governor and Senate races are still to be called in Florida, but results are in showing that voters have approved Amendment 4 — a ballot initiative to restore the right to vote for more than a million people who have become disenfranchised as a result of criminal convictions.
Here's our look at the issue, from Orlando:
While we wait for the complete results in Florida, we'll take a quick glance at some of the proposed constitutional amendments in the state.
In addition to the approval of Amendment 4 — which will return the right to vote to more than a million people with past criminal convictions — voters there have also approved an amendment that bans greyhound racing in the state. Commercial dog racing connected to wagers must now be phased out by 2020.
In yet another approved amendment, Floridians voted to prohibit offshore oil and gas drilling — while simultaneously prohibiting vaping in indoor workplaces on the same amendment.
We're still waiting on just 3 per cent of the precincts in Florida before winners in the Senate and governor's race can be called.
Republicans in both races are leading — but by just 1 per cent or less.
Included in the winners in Florida is Democrat Donna Shalala, who flipped Florida's 27th congressional district away from Republican control.
Ms Shalala served as former President Bill Clinton's Secretary of Health and Human Services throughout his White House tenure.
To take over the House, Demcorats need to gain a net total of 23 seats.
Things are looking grim for the Democrats at the top of the ticket in Florida — with nearly all precincts reporting.
In the Senate race, Mr Scott leads with 50.4 per cent of the vote so far compared to 49.6 per cent for Mr Nelson. Ninety-nine per cent of the precincts are reporting.
In the governor's race, Mr DeSantis leads with 49.9 per cent of the vote so far compared to 48.9 per cent for Mr Gillum. Ninety-eight per cent of the precincts are reporting.
If Mr Scott wins he can thank, in part, a massive investment he made in his campaign with his own money.
Mr Scott spent as much as $40 million of his own money on the race, making it one of the most expensive Senate races in US history.
Here's our report from South Florida:
Democrats picked up two House seats in Florida, with narrow wins by Debbie Mucarsel-Powell in the state's 26th congressional district, and Donna Shalala in the state's 27th congressional district.
The state is pretty evenly split now: Democrats have 13 House seats from the state and Republicans have 14 House seats.
We're still waiting on final results for the Senate and governor races. If Mr Scott wins in the Senate, then both US senators from Florida will be Republicans. If Mr DeSantis maintains his lead, then it will extend a drought for Democrats in that office that started in 1994.
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