Staff Reports
The southern half of Florida, like the northern half, had close, nationally watched Congressional races. There were also a number of contests that ended early.
Democratic Rep. Alcee Hastings of Delray Beach had only write-in opposition from Jay Bonner in District 20 and will be returning to Washington. Running unopposed were Democratic Reps. Lois Frankel of West Palm Beach in District 21 and Frederica Wilson in District 24.
Republican state Sen. Greg Steube of Sarasota defeated Allen Ellison, a social engineer from Wauchula, for the District 17 open seat vacated by the retiring Republican Tom Rooney of Okeechobee. Ellison was chosen by Democrats to fill the spot on the ballot left vacant after the recent death of nominee April Freeman.
GOP Rep. Francis Rooney of Naples easily won a second term representing District 19 after defeating David Holden, a Naples financial planner, while Democratic Rep. Ted Deutch of Boca Raton had little problem winning another term in District 22 after defeating health entrepreneur Nicolas Kimaz, also of Boca Raton.
Democratic Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz of Weston, the former chair of the Democratic National Committee, has won re-election in District 23 after beating writer Joe Kaufman and two independent candidates. She defeated Kaufman in 2016 by 16 points in 2016.
