Gov. Scott declares emergency in 42 counties as Gulf storm expected to make landfall Thursday

@ByKristenMClark

Almost two-thirds of Florida's counties are now under a state of emergency because of a tropical depression that's intensifying in the Gulf of Mexico and expected to make landfall Thursday afternoon as either a tropical storm or a Category 1 hurricane.

Republican Gov. Rick Scott issued the state of emergency for 42 counties on Wednesday morning, while he attended a morning briefing at the state Emergency Operations Center in Tallahassee. Metro areas covered by the emergency declaration include Tallahassee, Tampa Bay, Orlando, Gainesville, Jacksonville and the Space Coast. South Florida is "in the clear," one state official said.

(See Scott's emergency declaration here for the full list of affected counties.)

Tropical Depression 9 is still moving slowly in the Gulf at about 2 miles per hour but it's starting to take shape. The storm is expected to pick up steam and veer northeast toward Florida's Big Bend over the next 24-36 hours, said Bryan Koon, director of Florida's Division of Emergency Management.

FL Emergency Management Dir. Bryan Koon says Tropical Depression 9 "will become tropical storm today," still could become Cat1 hurricane.

— Kristen M. Clark (@ByKristenMClark) August 31, 2016

Coastal areas from Walton and Bay counties to the Anclote River are under a tropical storm warning, and much of that same area is under a hurricane watch.

MORE: "Swath of Florida Gulf Coast under tropical storm warning"

State officials expect landfall in Florida's Big Bend by late afternoon or evening Thursday, with the worst of the impacts overnight on Thursday.

Affected areas could see 5-10 inches of rain, with up to 15 inches in some areas. Three- to six-foot storm surges along the coast are expected from Indian Pass to Bonita Beach; they could be as high as 7-9 feet, depending on the intensity of the storm, officials said.

Any school closures necessary because of the storm are expected to be announced later today.

Speaking with reporters after the morning briefing, Scott urged preparation and vigilance.

"You've got to take care of yourself and be prepared," Scott said.

He advised Floridians to make sure they have battery-powered radios so they can monitor the weather and be alert of storm or tornado warnings. He also cautioned residents against driving in flooded waters and approaching downed power lines.

Photo credit: Florida Gov. Rick Scott addresses the media after a storm briefing at the state Emergency Operations Center in Tallahassee on Wednesday, Aug. 31, 2016. Kristen M. Clark / Herald/Times Tallahassee Bureau

As recount looms, Tampa Bay Senate race could tighten

As Pinellas and Hillsborough counties await a state order to begin machine recounts in a close state Senate race, more than 140 still-uncounted provisional ballots also still must be reviewed, adding more drama in Florida's closest race on Tuesday's ballot.

On Wednesday, Rep. Darryl Rouson, D-St. Petersburg, held a lead of 61 votes over Rep. Ed Narain, D-Tampa, in a Democratic primary for Tampa Bay's Senate District 19. Rouson had 10,776 votes and Narain 10,715, for a difference of 61 votes, or less than two-tenths of 1 percent. Secretary of State Ken Detzner must order a machine recount in a multi-county race where unofficial results show two candidates within half of a percentage point.

Rouson ran much stronger in Pinellas and Narain ran stronger in Hillsborough, where Supervisor of Elections Craig Latimer's office said Wednesday that about 100 provisional ballots still must be reviewed by a three-member canvassing board at a meeting set for 11 a.m. Thursday.

Hillsborough's web site includes a detailed explanation of provisional ballots. Counties must report their first set of unofficial returns to the state by noon Friday.

Latimer's spokeswoman, Gerri Kramer, said it was not clear how many of Hillsborough's provisionals were cast by Democrats in the Senate race. Pinellas, meanwhile, said it has 43 provisionals, and spokesman Jason Latimer said seven were cast by Democrats in Senate District 19.

The Pinellas canvassing board, chaired by County Judge John Carassas, will meet at 3 p.m. Thursday at the elections center in Largo to review those provisional ballots.

Both counties' canvassing boards have already rejected an unknown number of mail ballots for a variety of defects. By law, Narain and Rouson can examine those ballot envelopes and review the boards' decisions.

Narain has retained Tallahassee election law expert Mark Herron to represent him, and Rouson said he's also planning to lawyer up. "We're going to be seeking counsel," Rouson said. "We're working on it."

A morning-after glimpse at an all-new Florida Senate

Florida's primary election was a mixed bag for Gov. Rick Scott in the Florida Senate, as two candidates he favored won their elections but two others lost in costly and hotly-contested Republican skirmishes across the state.

Scott, with a push from his allies at the Florida Chamber of Commerce, pulled out the stops for Rep. Doug Broxson, R-Gulf Breeze, who cruised to victory in Senate District 1 over Rep. Mike Hill, R-Pensacola Beach. Scott also triumphed in his backyard of Naples where Rep. Kathleen Passidomo, R-Naples, defeated Rep. Matt Hudson, R-Naples. Hill and Hudson both opposed Scott's priority of a framework for Enterprise Florida to spend $250 million for job incentives.

But two other candidates who opposed that proposal (HB 1325) were victorious Tuesday. Rep. Greg Steube, R-Sarasota, won a crowded race for an open Senate seat, and Rep. Debbie Mayfield, R-Vero Beach, defeated Rep. Ritch Workman in a vitriolic race for a Space Coast district. (Scott favored Workman and ex-Rep. Doug Holder of Sarasota over Steube).

In a three-way GOP race that was nip-and-tuck all night, Rep. Dennis Baxley, R-Ocala, needed a late push from Lake County voters and narrowly defeated Rep. Marlene O'Toole, R-Lady Lake, and businessman David Gee, based on unofficial returns on the state Division of Elections web site. O'Toole and Gee split the GOP vote in The Villages, a pillar of the redrawn Senate District 12 where both are residents.

Broxson, Passidomo, Steube and Mayfield are expected to join a new-look Senate that will have at least 18 new members out of 40 when it reorganizes in November in Tallahassee as it experiences the greatest one-year turnover since term limits took effect in 2000. Steube faces Democrat Frank Alcock in November in an area that has consistently favored Republican candidates.

The other new Senate candidates who won primaries Tuesday and are heavily favored in November or who face only write-in opposition are Democrats Randolph Bracy, Linda Stewart and Victor Torres in Orlando, Kevin Rader and Bobby Powell in Palm Beach, Gary Farmer in Fort Lauderdale and Daphne Campbell in Miami. Two others, both incumbents, also were assured of new terms Tuesday because they face only write-in opposition: Republican Lizbeth Benacquisto of Fort Myers and Democrat Jeff Clemens of Lake Worth.

Despite all those new faces, the partisan composition of the Senate remains 26 Republicans and 14 Democrats -- but that could change on Nov. 8.

 

$170 per vote and still not a winner: Self-funded primary candidates didn't fare well

@MichaelAuslen

Tuesday night's primary election was not kind to candidates who pumped hundreds of thousands of their own money into their races.

The 10 state legislative candidates with the most personal cash on the line Tuesday together spent $4.36 million on primary races -- and just two look like they're going to win.

State Rep. Debbie Mayfield, R-Vero Beach, won her state Senate primary against Rep. Ritch Workman, R-Melbourne. Workman had many Tallahassee special intersts behind him, while Mayfield cashed out assets to fund a bid for higher office.

In a three-way Republican primary for a Central Florida Senate seat, Rep. Dennis Baxley, R-Ocala, held a 700-vote lead at midnight against Rep. Marlene O'Toole, R-Lady Lake, and another self-funder from The Villages, David Gee. That's a 1-point margin, just enough to be outside the bounds of a recount.

This result was expected. The Times/Herald reported last week that it's becoming increasingly common for candidates to spend more and more personal money on their races, even though they rarely win. In 2008, just three of nine candidates who gave their campaigns $100,000 or more were elected to office.

And the rest? Well, Rep. Irv Slosberg, D-Boca Raton, spent more than $170 on each of 11,000 votes and still failed to unseat Sen. Jeff Clemens, D-Lake Worth. Asked before the election if his investment would be worth it even if he lost, Slosberg, all confidence, insisted, "I'm going to win."

Here's how these self-financers did and how much they spent on each vote. (Note: We've excluded George Gainer, who will take a Senate seat in the Panhandle unopposed after loaning his campaign $500,000 and scaring off any competition.)

1. Slosberg, SD 31 in Palm Beach County: Lost, $1.88 million ($170.15 per vote).

2. Jason Pizzo, D-Miami, SD 38 in Miami-Dade County: Lost, $770,000 ($111.98 per vote).

3. Michael Steinger, D-West Palm Beach, SD 30 in Palm Beach County: Lost, $665,170 ($64.60 per vote).

4. Augie Ribeiro, D-St. Petersburg, SD 19 in Hillsborough and Pinellas counties: Lost, $514,000 ($65.31 per vote).

5. Mayfield, SD 17 in Brevard and Indian River counties: Won, $501,050 ($21.36 per vote).

6. Baxley, SD 12 in Lake, Sumter and Marion counties: Apparent winner, $360,000 ($15.03 per vote).

7. Gee, SD 12: Lost, $310,000 ($18.24 per vote).

8. Brian Hodgers, R-Melbourne, HD 52 in Brevard County: Lost, $240,400 ($50.75 per vote).

9. Wenda Lewis, R-Alachua, HD 21 in Alachua, Gilchrist and Dixie counties: Lost, $205,392 ($49.08 per vote).

10. Jim Waldman, D-Coconut Creek, SD 34 in Broward County: Lost, $202,500 ($25.01 per vote).

Easy primary wins set stage for Senate showdown between Rubio and Murphy

@JeremySWallace and @ByKristenMClark

U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio and U.S. Rep. Patrick Murphy easily won their primaries Tuesday, setting up a battle over the next 70 days that promises to play a critical role in determining which political party controls the U.S. Senate for the next two years.

Rubio, who insisted four months ago that he didn’t want his Senate job anymore, won 72 percent of the vote in the Republican primary against the brash, self-funding millionaire Carlos Beruff and two lesser known candidates.

Murphy won 59 percent of the vote in a Democratic primary that included liberal firebrand U.S. Rep. Alan Grayson, political novice Pam Keith, a Miami labor attorney and Navy veteran, and two lesser established opponents.

Tuesday’s outcome was what Democratic leaders have wanted for nearly 18 months. Shortly after the 33-year-old, two-term congressman declared his bid for U.S. Senate in March 2015, the party’s establishment showered him with high-profile endorsements — including one from President Barack Obama — and lucrative financial support.

“I will be the hardest-working senator this state has ever had,” Murphy told supporters at his victory party in Palm Beach Gardens. “I will listen to you, I will meet with you and I will bring your voice to the United States Senate.”

Both Rubio and Murphy have been girding for this showdown. During their recent campaign stops, Murphy and Rubio have rarely mentioned their primary opponents. Instead, Murphy has aimed attacks on Rubio, reminding voters that the incumbent vowed earlier this year he would not seek reelection. He continued that line of attack on Tuesday.

“Senator Marco Rubio is the embodiment of the worst of Washington,” Murphy said. “I promise I will serve a full six-year term for the people of Florida.”

Read more here: Easy primary wins set stage for Senate showdown between Rubio and Murphy

Watch Rubio, Murphy primary victory speeches

via @learyreports

Marco Rubio and Patrick Murphy went after each other hard Tuesday after winning their respective primaries.

 

--ALEX LEARY, Tampa Bay Times

Winners of Florida's spirited congressional primaries

via @learyreports

Florida had a number of other spirited primaries that were settled tonight.

District 2: Neal Dunn narrowly defeated Mary Thomas in what was a nasty GOP primary for the seat currently held by Democrat Gwen Graham, who chose not to run because the district became more solidly Republican.

District 9: Darren Soto beat Dena Grayson, wife of Alan Grayson, as well as Susannah Randolph for the Democratic nomination.

District 10: Val Demings easily won, dispatching Geraldine Thompson and Bob Poe for the Democratic nomination.

District 18: Brian Mast beat Rebecca Negron, wife of incoming Florida Senate president Joe Negron, in the GOP primary.

District 19: Francis Rooney scored a big win over Chauncey Goss and Dan Bongino for the GOP nomination and an all-but-certain trip to Congress.

--ALEX LEARY, Tampa Bay Times

The race David Rivera lost

@PatriciaMazzei

Embattled former U.S. Rep. David Rivera won the Republican primary for Florida House District 118 in a squeaker on Tuesday. But he lost his other race on the ballot.

Rivera was running for state committeeman in the Miami-Dade County Republican Party. He came in second to County Commissioner Bruno Barreiro. State Rep. Manny Diaz of Hialeah came in third.

Barreiro got 25 percent of the vote, compared to Rivera's 18 percent. Only 207 votes separated Rivera and Diaz.

That's a bigger margin than what won Rivera the House primary. He defeated political rookie Anthony Rodriguez by a mere 174 votes.

Longtime Miami-Dade GOP state committeewoman Liliana Ros easily won reelection.

Wasserman Schultz beats Canova in South Florida

U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz staved off her first primary challenge in 24 years, defeating first-time candidate Tim Canova on Tuesday to position herself to hang on to her South Florida seat despite a crush of national opposition to her candidacy.

Wasserman Schultz harnessed the backing of the biggest names in Democratic politics to help her win — President Barack Obama praised her while in Miami, and Vice President Joe Biden and Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton campaigned for her in the district. Despite the fact that Canova raised millions of dollars and had an army of progressive volunteers, Wasserman Schultz convinced voters in her district to focus on her advocacy for local causes and her liberal views for decades, and to ignore the Democratic scandal that cost her the post of national party chair.

“This is a community with an incredibly progressive heart that has lifted me up and helped me to be able to shout from the rooftops the idea that you can in America use government as a catalyst to improve people's lives,” she told her supporters at Scuotto’s Pizza & Pasta in Sunrise Tuesday night.

Wasserman Schultz made no mention of Canova and instead bashed Republicans for trying to repeal the Affordable Care Act and urged the crowd to support Clinton.

“We commit right here and now Broward County will carry Hillary Clinton to the White House,” she said.

Wasserman Schultz choked up as she thanked her parents who teaching her the Jewish value of Tikkun Olam, the concept of repairing the world and making it a better place.

She led Canova by about 14 percentage points in a district that stretches from Weston to northern Miami-Dade County.

Keep reading here.

Garcia wins squeaker over Taddeo, setting rematch against Curbelo

@PatriciaMazzei

Former U.S. Rep. Joe Garcia held off a political surge Tuesday by former friend and political ally Annette Taddeo to win the Democratic primary for Florida’s 26th congressional district, setting up a rancorous rematch against Republican Rep. Carlos Curbelo, who ousted Garcia from office two years ago.

“The campaign starts here,” Garcia said as he celebrated at a La Carreta Cuban restaurant in West Kendall. “Talking about the issues that matter to the people of Florida, clean water, the Zika virus, guns, and most of all, better jobs for our families.”

Garcia eked out a victory against Taddeo by 51-49 percent, according to unofficial Florida election results — even though he was outspent by about 4-to-1 by Taddeo, who raised more than twice as much as Garcia and had the political and financial support of the national Democratic Party.

Yet Garcia was so well-known in the Westchester-to-Key West district that he led in public-opinion polls from the start. His big advantage tightened only in recent weeks after Taddeo began advertising on television and in the mail. She never attacked Garcia in TV ads, however, and he didn’t spend a dollar on the air.

On Tuesday, Taddeo edged Garcia in mail-in ballots, and in the Florida Keys. But in-person voters and the far larger portion of the district in Miami-Dade County put him over the top.

More here.

Photo credit: David Santiago, el Nuevo Herald