Staff Reports
With hundreds of races on ballots throughout the state this year, there are bound to be some underwhelming gimme races for candidates.
This year, as redistricting shook up districts from the Panhandle to the Keys, several races featured uncompetitive matchups.
Here’s a rundown of Senate incumbents who had a drama-free night Tuesday to secure reelection.
Senate District 8: Space Coast
Republican Sen. Tommy Wright landed another term in the upper chamber in this R+15 district against Democratic challenger Andrea Williams, a nonprofit worker from Titusville.
Wright, the incumbent in Senate District 14 that shifted to SD 8 under new maps, earned 63% of the vote Tuesday night. He previously won the district with 56% of the vote in 2018 when his name wasn’t even on the ballot. That year, Wright took over the race after candidate Dorothy Hukill unexpectedly passed away, leaving any votes cast for her to transfer to Wright’s candidacy.
The district was a safe seat for Republicans, with just under 150,000 GOP voters to nearly 124,000 Democrats, according to L2 voter data.
Senate District 9: North-central Florida north of Orlando
In another red district, Republican Sen. Keith Perry walked away victorious Tuesday night with 66% of the vote over Democratic challenger Rodney Long, a real estate broker who ran on increased education funding, access to affordable housing, protecting democracy and supporting abortion access.
Perry avoided a Primary showdown against Republican colleague Dennis Baxley after redistricting put them both in the reimagined SD 9. Baxley instead ran in Senate District 13 after establishing residence in Lake Mary.
In the new SD 9, 56% of voters chose Gov. Ron DeSantis in 2018 and 58% went for former President Donald Trump in 2020, according to a performance analysis from MCI Maps.
The redrawn district includes just over 157,000 Republicans compared to fewer than 124,000 Democrats, according to L2 voter data.
Senate District 13: Central Florida, including parts of Orlando
Baxley, meanwhile, toppled Democrat Stephanie Dukes, a Mulberry native and educator who retired after suffering an injury while breaking up a fight among students, with 62% of the vote.
Baxley’s new district was an easy win for the longtime lawmaker, with nearly 151,000 Republicans and fewer than 108,000 Democrats.
Senate District 17: Central Florida including parts of Orlando
The district, previously SD 13, is one of several in the Orlando area that favors Democrats. Incumbent Sen. Linda Stewart secured 56% of the vote over Republican challenger Steve Dixon, a self-proclaimed Christian conservative who ran on an anti-abortion rights platform.
Stewart was the only Democrat in the Legislature to receive an endorsement from the Florida Chamber of Commerce. But she likely didn’t need the boost. The district, under its new boundaries, includes about 133,000 Democratic voters compared to just 84,000 Republicans.
Senate District 25: Central Florida, Orlando area
Incumbent Democratic Sen. Victor Torres (in the former Senate District 15) easily fended off a rematch of his 2016 race against Republican Peter Vivaldi Jr., a conservative talk show host and political and business marketing consulting business owner, with 53% of the vote.
This year’s result was closer than expected. In that 2016 contest, Torres beat Vivaldi with 59% of the vote.
There were few changes to the district under reapportionment, meaning Democrats held onto a majority under the new map. Democrats boast just over 139,000 voters compared to just over 74,000 for the GOP, according to L2 voter data.
Senate District 27: Southwest and central Florida from just outside Fort Myers to east of Tampa Bay
Republican Sen. Ben Albritton will continue his reign in the GOP stronghold district, earning 71% of the vote against Democratic challenger Christopher Proia, a trucker and stand-up comic who ran on a platform of helping working class individuals find good paying jobs.
Albritton is slated to be Senate President beginning in 2024, assuming the GOP maintains control of the chamber.
Republicans have an approximately 67,000-voter advantage in the district.
