Party like a politician: Where to find the candidates on Election Night

Election night parties will be raging across the state Tuesday. For some, it’s a chance to pop some bottles and celebrate. For others, it will be a somber event, marking the last hurrah of a long, hard-fought campaign.

Want to party like a politician? Here’s a rundown of where candidates will be as the polls close.

U.S. Senate

It was one of the most-watched U.S. Senate races this election cycle. And on Tuesday night, both Sen. Marco Rubio and Rep. Patrick Murphy will be toasting the crowd in South Florida.

Rubio will attend an election night party at the Hilton Miami Airport, 5101 Blue Lagoon Drive in Miami. The party is expected to begin around 6:30 p.m.

Meanwhile, Murphy will be in Palm Beach Gardens. The Democrat is set to attend an election night party at the Palm Beach Gardens Marriott, 4000 RCA Blvd. in Palm Beach Gardens. The doors open at 6:30 p.m.

Rubio has consistently led in the polls since announcing his re-election bid in June. Outside groups have poured millions of dollars into the race to re-elect Rubio; Murphy had the backing of President Barack Obama, Vice President Joe Biden, and Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton.

U.S. House

CD 2 — Republican Neal Dunn will hold an election night part at the Holiday Inn Panama City, 2001 N. Cove Blvd. in Panama City. The Panama City surgeon faces Democrat Walter Dartland and Libertarian Rob Lapham.

CD 5 — Democrat Al Lawson will hold his election night party at The Moon, 1105 East Lafayette St. in Tallahassee. The party kicks at 6:30 p.m. He faces Republican Glo Smith.

CD 6 — Rep. Ron DeSantis will hold his election night party at Daytona International Speedway, 1801 W. International Speedway Blvd. in Daytona Beach. The party kicks off at 6 p.m. DeSantis faces Democrat Bill McCullough.

CD 7 — Democrat Stephanie Murphy is holding her election night part at 7 p.m. at the Sheraton Orlando North Hotel, An Tobar Irish Pub, 600 North Lake Destiny Dr. in Maitland. She faces Republican Rep. John Mica.

CD 12 — Rep. Gus Bilirakis will hold his election night party at the St. Nicholas Cathedral Center, 348 N. Pinellas Ave. in Tarpon Springs. The fun begins at 6:30 p.m., and will include a visit from Shalyah Fearing, a semi-finalist on NBC’s “The Voice.” Bilirakis faces Democrat Robert Matthew Tager in the general election.

CD 13 — Rep. David Jolly will hold his election night party in the grand ballroom at The Vinoy Renaissance St. Petersburg Resort & Golf Club, 501 5th Ave. N.E. in St. Petersburg. The fun begins at 6 p.m. Jolly faces former Gov. Charlie Crist, a Democrat, in the general election

CD 18 — Republican Brian Mast will hold his election night party at Spoto’s Oyster Bar, 131 S.W. Flagler Ave. in Stuart. The party kicks off at 6 p.m. Democrat Randy Perkins is holding his party at Big Apple Pizza, 2311 S. 35th St. in Fort Pierce. Perkins’ party is expected to begin around 7 p.m.

CD 19 — Republican Francis Rooney will hold his election night party at Bistro 41, 13499 Cleveland Ave. in Fort Myers. The party begins at 6 p.m. Rooney faces Democrat Robert M. Neeld in the general election.

CD 22 — Rep. Ted Deutch will hold his election night party at Miller’s Ale House, 1200 Yamato Road in Boca Raton. The party begins at 7 p.m. Deutch, a Democrat, faces Republican Andrea Leigh McGee.

CD 26 — Democrat Joe Garcia will hold his election night party at La Carreta Restaurant, 11740 S.W. 88th St., in Miami. Garcia faces Rep. Carlos Curbelo, who unseated Garcia in 2014.

State Senate

SD 8 — Democrat Rod Smith will hold his election night party at the Gainesville Woman’s Club, 2809 W. University Ave. in Gainesville. He’ll be co-hosting the party with Ken McGurn, a Democrat running in Florida’s 3rd Congressional District. Smith faces Republican Rep. Keith Perry in Senate District 8, while McGurn faces Republican Ted Yoho.

SD 13 — Republican Dean Asher is holding his election night party at Sheltair Orlando Air Center, 3024 E. Amelia St. in Orlando. The party kicks off at 7 p.m. Asher faces Democrat Linda Stewart.

SD 16 — Sen. Jack Latvala will hold his election night party at Ruth Eckerd Hall, 1111 N. McMullen Booth Road in Clearwater. If one Latvala isn’t enought, Rep. Chris Latvala will also be hosting his party at Ruth Eckerd Hall. The fun begins at 7 p.m. Sen. Latvala faces Katherine Perkins, a write-in candidate; while Rep. Latvala faces Democrat David Vogel in House District 67.

SD 18 — House Majority Leader Dana Young will hold an election night party at Pane Rustica, 3225 South MacDill Ave. in Tampa. Young faces Democrat Bob Buesing and no party affiliate candidates Joe Redner and Sheldon Upthegrove.

SD 37 — Rep. Jose Javier Rodriquez will host his election night watch party at Ball & Chain Restaurant, 1513 S.W. 8th St. in Miami. The fun begins at 7 p.m. Rodriguez faces Sen. Miguel Diaz de la Portilla.

SD 39 — Sen. Anitere Flores will hold an election night party at 8470 S.W. 8th St. in Miami. The party starts at 8:30 p.m., and Flores will be joined by Senate President designate Joe Negron and other election officials. Flores faces Democrat Debbie Mucarsel-Powell.

State House

HD 9 — Democrat Loranne Ausley will host an election night party at 7 p.m. at The Southern Public House, 224 E. College Ave. in Tallahassee. Ausley faces Republican Jim Messer.

HD 49 — Democrat Carlos Guillermo Smith will host his election night party at 7 p.m. at The Abbey, 100 S. Eola Drive in Orlando. He won’t be partying alone: Democrat Beth Tuura is also holding her festivities at The Abbey. Smith faces Shea Silverman in House District 49; while Tuura faces Republican Rep. Mike Miller in House District 47.

HD 63 — Democrat Lisa Montelione will host her election night party at Mr. Dunderbaks, 14929 Bruce B. Downs Blvd. in Tampa. The event is free and open to the public, and kicks off at 6:30 p.m.

HD 69 — Rep. Kathleen Peters will host an election night party at Middle Grounds Grill, 10925 Gulf Blvd. in Treasure Island. The party begins at 6:30 p.m. Democrat Jennifer Webb will hold her election night party at Punky’s Bar and Grill, 3063 Central Ave. in St. Petersburg. The party begins at 6:30 p.m.

HD 70 — Former St. Petersburg City Councilmember Wengay Newton will host an Election Night Watch Party for his campaign beginning 6:30 p.m. at The Hangar Restaurant & Flight Lounge in downtown St. Pete. The Hangar is located at the Albert Whitted Airport Terminal, 540 1st St. S.E., Second Floor in St. Petersburg. RSVP at 727-823-PROP. Newton faces Republican Cori Fournier.

HD 114 — Democrat Daisy Baez is holding her election night party at Pinch Me Gastrobar & Market, 216 Palermo Ave. in Coral Gables. The fun begins at 7 p.m. Baez faces Republican John Couriel.

Candidates aren’t the only one partying. Local party officials and supporters of ballot initiatives will also be partying hard Tuesday night:

— The Republican Party of Pinellas County holds its Election Night Watch Party at the St. Petersburg Hilton, 950 Lake Carillion Drive in Clearwater. Doors open at 6 p.m., with a cash bar.

— United for Care, the group behind the medical marijuana ballot initiative, will host its election night party at a hotel in downtown Orlando. The event kicks off at 6:30 p.m.

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