Florida Republicans reclaimed a super-majority in the state House of Representatives, flipping six seats Tuesday night.
To capture a veto-proof majority, the GOP needed to oust at least five Democratic incumbents.
Republicans targeted seven sitting lawmakers: Rep. Karen Castor Dentel of Maitland; Rep. Michael Clelland of Lake Mary; Rep. Mark Danish of Tampa; Rep. Dwight Dudley of St. Petersburg; Rep. José Javier Rodríguez of Miami; Rep. Linda Stewart of Orlando; and Rep. Carl Zimmermann of Palm Harbor.
Two wins came early in Tampa Bay, where attorney Shawn Harrison prevailed over Danish, and special prosecutor Chris Sprowls bested Zimmermann.
Sprowls called it a "hard-fought victory."
Clelland lost to former Republican Rep. Scott Plakon in Seminole County. In neighboring Orange County, Stewart lost to Republican Mike Miller.
Castor Dentel also failed to win re-election. Her challenger, Republican Bob Cortes, owns a towing company and has served on the Longwood City Commission.
Republicans picked up an additional seat when Republican Rene Plasencia ousted Democratic Rep. Joe Saunders in Orlando.
Read more here.
Comments