Jacob Ogles
Gubernatorial candidate Adam Putnam, Attorney General candidate Frank White and Agriculture Commissioner candidate Matt Caldwell each won the straw poll Sunday held by the Republican Party of Brevard’s Council of Clubs.
In the Governor’s race, Putnam won 229 votes compared to 192 for U.S. Rep. Ron DeSantis, with Melbourne Republican Bob White also pulling in 149 votes in the hometown poll. A smattering of votes went to other Republicans including Don Baldauf and Nathan White.
Putnam’s win comes on the heels of a series of straw poll victories.
White bested opponent Ashley Moody 280 votes to 227. It was some good news for White after losing earlier straw polls conducted by the Central Florida Republican Women’s Clubs, the Casselberry Chamber of Commerce and the Seminole Republican Executive Committee.
Caldwell, meanwhile, squeaked out his straw poll win in Brevard, besting Denise Grimsley by just one vote, with 215 votes to her 214. Mike McAllister took 52 votes and Baxter Troutman won 22.
The poll also showed adjunct professor George Collins ahead of state Rep. Rene “Coach P” Plasencia in the Republican race for state House in District 50; the challenger took 275 votes to the incumbent’s 228.
