Democrats take two South Florida legislative seats with Special Election wins

Just as lawmakers prepare to put a wrap on this Session, voters elected Democrat Rosalind Osgood to represent a Broward County district in the Senate and Democrat Jervonte “Tae” Edmonds to represent a Palm Beach County House district in a Special General Election Tuesday.

The pair will succeed two state lawmakers who resigned from the Legislature to run for Congress last July. The timing of the election — and the two empty desks this Session — became symbolic of Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis’ effort to weaken the opposition party’s voice this Session.

Still, Osgood, who served on the Broward County School Board for nine years, most recently as chairwoman, won just over 80% of the vote, soundly defeating Joseph Carter, a former public school teacher, according to unofficial results with 100% of the precincts reporting. She’ll represent what’s now called Senate District 33.  Vote totals showed Osgood drawing 30,675 votes to Carter’s 7,302.

About 11% of the voters turned out, with the majority — 84% — voting by mail.

Senate Democratic Leader Lauren Book released a statement congratulating Osgood on her “overwhelming victory” shortly after results showed Osgood decisively ahead.

“Dr. Osgood will be a wonderful addition to our Democratic Caucus and a strong fighter for Floridians as we continue to battle against Republicans’ dangerous and hyper-partisan agenda in Tallahassee,” Book’s release said. “A former Broward County School Board Member, Dr. Osgood is widely respected across Broward for her work in creating programs to offer new opportunities for students, especially in communities of color. We look forward to serving with Dr. Osgood and congratulate her again on a well-deserved win.”

This Senate District covers parts of Margate, Pompano Beach, Tamarac, North Lauderdale, Sunrise, Lauderhill, Lauderdale Lakes, Oakland Park, Plantation and Fort Lauderdale. But redistricting is changing the district’s boundaries slightly and it’s being renumbered to Senate District 32 in the decennial redistricting process. That won’t take effect until the regular election later this year, however.

In Palm Beach County’s House District 88, Edmonds, a former aide to two lawmakers and a nonprofit founder, won slightly more than 80% of the votes. He defeated Republican Guarina Torres, a small business owner and a former Palm Beach County teacher. Torres earned almost 20% of the vote, according to unofficial results.

With all precincts reporting, unofficial results showed Edmonds winning 11,526 votes to Torres’ 2,860. About 14% of the district’s eligible voters turned out.

HD 88 is also being renumbered to become House District 94. The left-leaning district spans parts of Palm Beach County, including Lake Park, Riviera Beach and Mangonia Park.

Both districts lean heavily Democratic and the fundraising totals reflect that. Osgood raised a total of $108,191 to Carter’s $7,538. Edmonds raised $99,941 to Torres’ $9,810.

Tuesday’s winners in this Special General Election will have to run again later this year.

The timing is the result of DeSantis’ power to schedule elections and the spillover effects of U.S. Rep. Alcee Hastings’ death in office last year.