Staff Reports
Win or lose, at least there will be a party.
Election night parties will be raging across the state Tuesday night. For some candidates, it’s a chance to celebrate and thank supporters; maybe even have a little bit of fun before the final sprint to November. It will be a somber event for others, marking the last hurrah of their campaign.
Here’s a rundown of where candidates will be partying hard when the polls close on Tuesday.
U.S. Senate
Rep. Patrick Murphy will hold his primary night shindig at the DoubleTree Hotel in Palm Beach Gardens. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. It will likely be a celebratory bash; polls have Murphy leading Rep. Alan Grayson by double digits. A St. Leo University poll conducted between Aug. 14 and Aug. 18 showed Murphy led Grayson 48 percent to 17 percent. A Florida Chamber Polling Institute survey, conducted from Aug. 17 to Aug. 22, showed Murphy was at 40 percent to Grayson’s 11 percent.
Sen. Marco Rubio will hold his primary night party at the Embassy Suites Orlando Lake Buena Vista South in Kissimmee. Doors open at 6:30 p.m., and guests are asked to register. Rubio is leading in the polls, with the St. Leo University poll showing he leads Carlos Beruff 68 percent to 14 percent. The Florida Chamber survey found Rubio leads Beruff 68 percent to 19 percent.
U.S. House
CD 2 — Neal Dunn is holding his election night gathering at the home of two supporters, Carey and Nancy Scott, in Panama City. The event begins at 7 p.m. central time (8 p.m. eastern time).
CD 4 — Republican John Rutherford will hold his election night party at the Hyatt Regency Jacksonville Riverfront. The party kicks off at 7 p.m. Melissa Nelson, a state attorney candidate in Florida’s 4th Judicial Circuit, will also be holding her party at the Hyatt Regency Jacksonville Riverfront.
CD 7 — Democrat Stephanie Murphy is hosting an primary night watch party at 7 p.m. at CaddyShanks the University of Central Florida.
CD 5 — Al Lawson will hold his election night party at The Moon in Tallahassee. The party kicks off at 6:30 p.m.
CD 10 — Democrat Bob Poe is hosting a primary night party at 7 p.m. at his campaign headquarters in Orlando
CD 11 — Republican Justin Grabelle plans to spend the evening at home, watching the returns and celebrating with his family and friends.
CD 18 — Republican Brian Mast kicks off his primary night party at 6:30 p.m. at the Palm City Civic Organization in Palm City. Republican Rebecca Negron will hold her election night watch party at Stuart Coffee in downtown Stuart. The event kicks off at 7 p.m. On the Democratic side, Randy Perkins will hold his primary night watch party at 6:30 p.m. at Big Apple Pizza in Fort Pierce.
CD 19 — Chauncey Goss will hold his watch party at The Edison at Fort Myers Country Club. His party kicks off at 6 p.m. Francis Rooney will hold his primary watch party at the Hyatt Regency Coconut Point in Bonita Springs. The watch party begins at 6 p.m.
CD 23 — Tim Canova will hold an election night watch party at a private residence in Pembroke Pines. The party starts at 8 p.m.
CD 26 — Joe Garcia, who is trying to reclaim his former seat in Congress, will hold his election night party at La Carreta in Miami. The event begins at 8:15 p.m.
State Senate
SD 12 — Dennis Baxley is holding his election night party at his campaign headquarters, 6006 S.E. Abshier Blvd. in Belleview. The fun kicks off at 7 p.m. and supporters are asked to RSVP to [email protected].
SD 19 — Rep. Ed Narain is scheduled to hold his election night festivities at the Tampa Heights Community Center in Tampa. Augie Ribeiro is holding his party at Three Birds Tavern beginning 7 p.m. Rep. Darryl Rouson will be at the Green Bench Brewery beginning at 6 p.m.
SD 27 — Sen. Lizbeth Benacquisto will hold her watch party at CRU Restaurant in Fort Myers. The party begins at 6:30 p.m., and supporters are asked to RSVP to [email protected].
SD 28 — Rep. Matt Hudson is having a private party to thank volunteers, supporters, family and friends. Rep. Kathleen Passidomo will her hold a primary night shindig at her campaign headquarters, located inside the Greater Naples Chamber of Commerce building in Naples.
SD 34 — Democrat Gary Farmer is kicking off his party at 7:30 p.m. He’ll be watching returns with supporters at Maguire’s Hill 16 in Fort Lauderdale.
State House
HD 48 — Democrat Alex Barrio is holding his festivities at Oh’ Que Bueno Restaurant in Orlando. The event begins at 7:30 p.m.
HD 59 — Rena Frazier is holding her election night watch party at O’Toole’s Irish Pub in Brandon. The party begins at 6:30 p.m.
HD 68 — Ben Diamond is holding his party at 400 Beach Seafood and Taphouse in St. Petersburg. The party begins at 6:30 p.m., and Diamond will join supporters after the polls close at 7 p.m. Eric Lynn is settling in at Reno Downtown Joint in St. Petersburg for his election night party. The fun begins at 7 p.m.
HD 114 — Daisy Baez will hold her election night party at PinchMe Gastrobar & Market in Coral Gables. The festivities begin at 9 p.m.
Candidates won’t be the only ones hosting election night parties.
The Florida Chamber of Commerce will hold a primary watch party starting at 7 p.m. at the Florida Chamber of Commerce building, 136. S. Bronough St. in Tallahassee. The event is hosted by Marian Johnson, Andrew Wiggins, Andy Gonzalez, and Hannah Kaplan.
The Orange County Democratic Party is throwing a shindig at 5:30 p.m. at Hammered Lamb, 1235 N. Orange Ave. in Orlando. The first 50 Democrats to arrive will receive a free drink.
