Ryan Nicol, Author at Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Ryan NicolNovember 6, 2018

Democratic state Rep. Javier Fernandez won a tight contest Tuesday night to retain his seat in House District 114. Fernandez earned 53 percent of the vote. His GOP opponent, Javier Enriquez, grabbed just 47 percent. The candidates has similar resumes coming into the race. Both are practicing attorneys. Each of them obtained their J.D. from […]

Ryan NicolNovember 6, 2018

Chip LaMarca held onto the House District 93 seat for Republicans Tuesday night, defeating his Democratic opponent Emma Collum. LaMarca earned 53 percent of the vote to Collum’s 46 percent. Non-party afilliated candidate Kelly Milam gathered just 1.5 percent of the vote. The district is the only one fully inside Broward County controlled by a […]

Ryan NicolNovember 6, 2018

GOP challenger Anthony Rodriguez grabbed a seat from the Democrats Tuesday night, knocking off incumbent state Rep. Robert Asencio in House District 118. With all votes counted, Rodriguez earned 51 percent of the vote to Asencio’s 49 percent. Rodriguez earned a fair amount of support from interest groups who backed his efforts to oust the […]

Ryan NicolNovember 6, 2018

State Rep. Manny Diaz is moving to the Senate, after defeating his Democratic opponent, David Perez. Diaz defeated Perez 54 percent to 46 percent. Diaz, who served as the state Rep. in House District 103, was a strong fundraiser as the contest neared its end. But Perez, who worked as chief of staff for former […]

Ryan NicolNovember 6, 2018

North Miami Beach Commissioner Anthony “Tony” DeFillipo will be moving to the mayor’s desk after a win Tuesday night. DeFillipo won 54 percent of the vote. Ray Marin was in second with 25 percent, followed by Robert Dempster at 21 percent. The city has dealt with a series of corruption problems in recent years. Former […]

Ryan NicolNovember 6, 2018

U.S. Rep. Brian Mast is holding onto his seat in Florida’s 18th Congressional District, beating back a challenge from Democratic nominee Lauren Baer. In the final tally, Mast defeated Baer 54 percent to 46 percent. Baer conceded the race in a statement obtained by Florida Politics. “While we came up short on winning tonight, one […]

Ryan NicolNovember 6, 2018

GOP U.S. Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart is holding onto his seat in Florida’s 25th Congressional District. Diaz-Balart fought off a challenge from Democratic candidate Mary Barzee Flores, earning 61 percent of the vote to Barzee Flores’ 39 percent. The Republican has long been a staple of the South Florida congressional scene, winning his first election to […]

Ryan NicolNovember 6, 2018

Democratic candidate Donna Shalala has turned Florida’s 27th Congressional District blue, defeating Republican nominee Maria Elvira Salazar. Shalala earned 52 percent of the vote to Salazar’s 46 percent. Non-party affiliated candidate Mayra Joli grabbed just 2 percent. As early as 2017, the New York Times was calling CD 27 “the best Democratic pick-up opportunity in […]

Ryan NicolNovember 6, 2018

State Sen. Gary Farmer has prevailed in the race for Senate District 34 over write-in candidate Richard Hal Sturm. Farmer earned 94 percent of the vote to Sturm’s 6 percent. Farmer was widely expected to hold on to the seat in his matchup against Sturm, who appeared on the ballot as a write-in candidate. The […]

Ryan NicolNovember 6, 2018

Plenty of internet experts have all sorts of predictions as to what will happen Tuesday night. But those putting their money where their mouth is see good news for Democratic candidates Andrew Gillum and Bill Nelson in their respective races for Governor and U.S. Senate. As of the drafting of this piece (though with numbers […]

Ryan Nicol

Javier Fernandez wins first full term in state house

Chip LaMarca keeps HD 93 seat red

Anthony Rodriguez ousts Robert Asencio in HD 118

Manny Diaz takes SD 36 over David Perez

Anthony DeFillipo to serve as next North Miami Beach Mayor

Brian Mast holds on to CD 18 seat, turns back Lauren Baer

Mario Diaz-Balart earns re-election in CD 25

Donna Shalala pulls out win over GOP opponent in CD 27

Gary Farmer cruises to re-election in SD 34

PredictIt: Odds favor Andrew Gillum, Bill Nelson