Ryan Nicol
Tuesday’s election results didn’t go Democrats’ way in Florida. But in deep blue Broward and Palm Beach counties, three Democratic incumbents nevertheless secure fairly comfortable wins to hold onto their respective state Senate seats.
SD 24
Democratic Sen. Bobby Powell Jr. won his race against Republican candidate Eric P. Ankner. According to Tuesday’s unofficial results, Powell secured 56% of the vote as compared to Ankner’s 44%.
Powell will take over the Senate District 24 seat after previously representing Senate District 30. According to Matt Isbell of MCI Maps, the new district went for Joe Biden by 24 points in 2020 and for Andrew Gillum by more than 31 points in 2018.
All of Florida’s Senate districts feature elections this year due to the once-a-decade redistricting process. Those winning races in even-numbered seats, like Powell, will earn four-year terms. Those who won in odd-numbered seats will be back on the ballot in 2024 to re-stagger Florida’s Senate race.
Powell’s win Tuesday allows him to serve a total of 10 years in the Senate, longer than the eight-year term limit, thanks to the quirks of redistricting. He has held a Senate seat since 2016.
SD 24 is located in northeast Palm Beach County, covering West Palm Beach, Lake Worth Beach, Palm Springs and Greenacres.
SD 26
Democratic Sen. Lori Berman bested Republican opponent Steve Byers Tuesday. According to Tuesday’s unofficial results, Berman earned 55% of the vote, while Byers had just 45% support.
Berman will move to Senate District 26 after representing Senate District 31 since 2018. She will serve a four year term before facing term limits in 2026.
The district covers all of southern Palm Beach County, stretching from Belle Glade in the west over to Delray Beach in the east. Biden won by nearly 17 points in 2020, while Gillum took the district by more than 20 points in 2018.
SD 30
Democratic Sen. Tina Polsky pulled away from Republican challenger Bill Reicherter Tuesday in the SD 30 contest. According to Tuesday’s unofficial results, Polsky was ahead of Reicherter 55%-45%.
The redistricting process led to some decisions for Polsky and Berman. The Senate map drew Polsky’s home into SD 26, which would have pit her against Berman, a fellow Democratic incumbent.
Rather than face an intra-party struggle, Polsky moved to the new SD 30, which did incorporate much of her old district.
Polsky, too, will be able to serve 10 years in the Senate. She secured the Senate District 29 seat in 2020. By winning a four-year term Tuesday, she’ll only have served six years when she’s up for re-election in 2026, allowing her to chase another four-year term.
SD 30 spans the Palm Beach-Broward county line, covering Boca Raton and Coral Springs. This was a Biden plus-21 seat in 2020 and a Gillum plus-26 seat in 2018.
