Jacob Ogles
Republican Erika Booth has unseated Democratic Rep. Tom Keen, winning a House District 35 after losing a high-profile Special Election less than a year ago.
With 28 of 34 precincts in Orange County and 69% of Osceola precincts in, Booth led with 52.2% to Keen’s 47.8%.
Keen conceded the race to Booth.
“Although we did not come out on top, I’m extremely proud of everything we’ve accomplished and deeply honored to have represented this community in the Florida State House,” the Orlando Democrat said. “I’m so grateful to each supporter and volunteer who knocked doors, made phone calls, shared this campaign’s message and believe in our vision, and to my legislative staff who helped shepherd meaningful change for our community and our state through the legislative process.”
Booth argued on the trail that Keen had not followed through on promises made to voters.
“Tom Keen went to Tallahassee under false pretenses,” she said. “He said he’d fix the insurance and affordability crisis — then when represented with solutions, he voted ‘no.’”
And the Republican State Leadership Committee (RSLC) heralded the HD 35 win and other victories in state House races.
“While Democrats claimed Florida was in play this cycle, voters proved them wrong by keeping the state legislature deep red in Tallahassee,” said RSLC President Dee Duncan.
“Floridians have seen firsthand that when the federal government fails to do its job, a Republican-controlled legislature along with a Republican Governor like Ron DeSantis will push back with commonsense legislation that cuts taxes, supports law enforcement, expands school choice, and enacts border security. The RSLC was proud to invest in state legislative races in Florida and we are excited to see the GOP supermajorities continue to work alongside Governor DeSantis and continue to provide a better way of life for Florida.”
Booth, a former Osceola County School Board member, ran with the support of the Florida House Republican Campaign Committee both in the Special Election and Regular Election cycles. She had to resign her School Board seat in January in order to run, but that meant she was been able to spend more of her time campaigning for the November election. She believed constituents have been disappointed by Keen.
“He is out of touch with our community and the reception I’ve received is much more positive than the Special,” she said.
Booth and Keen have effectively campaigned for the HD 35 seat for a year, since each won their respective Primaries last November. Keen in January won the seat, which had previously been held by Republican Rep. Fred Hawkins, and Florida Democrats cheered the victory as evidence of an effective field program.
Keen wanted to return to Tallahassee to demand fixes to a property insurance crisis he said Republican supermajorities have ignored. He voted against legislation that has failed to address the problems, he said.
Keen noted that because he took office after the start of the 2024 Legislative Session, he could not introduce his own legislation. He still joined other lawmakers as sponsors on their legislation and managed to argue a bill on the floor and get two measures passed into law where he was a prime sponsor, if not the initial filer. He also helped secure appropriations, including $8 million for Valencia Community College and state contributions to a major Toho Water Authority modernization.
“I would like to congratulate Erika Booth on her victory and I believe she will serve District 35 with respect and dignity in Tallahassee,” Keen said. “To my fellow Democrats, I hope that our loss does not deter you. We made history in January and I want you all to continue fighting the good fight. No matter how much we are outspent or how red a district is, please continue fighting for what you believe in.”
Booth stressed her own roots in the community. Husband Ricky Booth sits on the Osceola County Commission, and she has been involved in the Florida Farm Bureau, Bookmark Buddies Mentor Program, Silver Spurs Riding Club and the PEO Philanthropic Organization.
Heading into the General Election, Keen was widely viewed as the most vulnerable Democrat currently serving in the Legislature. The more than 40,000 registered Republicans in HD 35 outnumbered roughly 39,000 Democrats, but the decision arguably was in the hands of the near 40,000 voters with no party affiliation there.
But Keen, unlike in January, outraised Booth. His campaign reported almost $123,000 in fundraising through Oct. 18, when it still had almost $13,000 cash on hand. Booth, in comparison, raised just over $118,000 and had under $7,500 in the bank at the same time.
Meanwhile, the Friends of Tom Keen political committee raised $135,000 over the cycle and had around $5,100 as of Oct. 28. The respective Booth PAC raised around $58,000, but still had almost $42,000 of that to spend in the last days of the race.
