.Democrats appeared to have slightly weakened the GOP’s hold on Florida’s congressional delegation Tuesday, but the size of their gain depended on the outcome of a race matching a nationally known Republican firebrand and a political newcomer.
With two new seats in play because of population gains between 2000 and 2010, Republicans appeared to be on track to carry no more than 18 of the 27 districts in Florida’s delegation to the U.S. House. Democrats were likely to win at least nine and perhaps 10, up from the six seats they hold in the current Congress.
One Republican incumbent, embattled Rep. David Rivera, was already on track to being ousted. A second, Rep. Allen West, was in a fight for his political life that seemed headed for a recount.
The Democratic pick-ups were part of a mini-Democratic wave that seemed to be sweeping over Florida. Republicans lost seats in both chambers of the Florida Legislature, Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson won re-election and President Barack Obama was in a neck-and-neck battle with GOP challenger Mitt Romney for the state’s 29 electoral votes.
Florida Democratic Party Chairman Rod Smith said the gains highlighted “a model we can use in the future” based on a durable foundation built on the party’s traditional advantage with women, young voters, black voters, Latinos and Asian-Americans.
“If we hold our traditional, Democratic base and the working and middle class, we can win in the South, and we can win particularly in Florida, which is the prize of the South,” Smith said in an interview.
One Republican victory was a 22nd term for Congressman C.W. “Bill” Young, who has faced a spirited challenge from Jessica Ehrlich, seen as a young, rising star for Democrats.
Congressman Vern Buchanan easily beat back a challenge from former state Rep. Keith Fitzgerald. Republican newcomer Trey Radel defeated his Democratic rival Jim Roach to represent residents of Congressional District 19 in the GOP bastion of southwest Florida.
The GOP was also celebrating wins by two freshmen incumbents who were targets of Democrats, nationally. Freshman Rep. Dan Webster beat back a challenge from former Orlando police chief Val Demings in central Florida and Rep. Steve Southerland prevailed over Democratic challenger Al Lawson.
But many of the night’s key wins went to Democrats. Lois Frankel, a former mayor of West Palm Beach and former state lawmaker, defeated former state House Majority Leader Adam Hasner for an open seat in a district that runs south from West Palm Beach to Fort Lauderdale before hooking west and heading toward Weston.
Former Congressman Alan Grayson, a strident liberal known for his fiery rhetoric, easily defeated Republican Todd Long in a Central Florida seat.
And Joe Garcia won a rematch with Rivera. The incumbent has faced an investigation by the Florida Ethics Commission and allegations that he funded a straw candidate to bash Garcia in the Democratic primary; Rivera has denied wrongdoing.
All eyes were focused on West’s race against Patrick Murphy, a former moderate Republican who said he was running as a Democrat as a reaction to the Tea Party movement. Murphy was leading, but by just 0.32 percentage points, well within the one-half percent margin that would trigger an automatic recount.
West has become known for his own brand of unyielding and conservative rhetoric, suggesting that more liberal members of Congress were essentially Communists and observing that Joseph Goebbels would be proud of Democratic propaganda.
“Murphy is a rising star in the party and will be a strong voice for the people of Florida in the United States Congress,” Smith said in a statement. “Tonight, the people of this district rejected divisive, hateful rhetoric in favor a fresh-faced, bipartisan approach centered around the issues important to Florida’s middle class families.”
–Brandon Larrabee, News Service of Florida
Bert says
And Dems ousted some other notable teabaggers too, Joe “DeadBeat Dad” Walsh, Frank Guinta, Chip Cravaack and Dan Lungren (who has yet to concede).
Riley says
I think our garbage hauler has an opening for Alan West. Maybe now congress can get something done. since he is gone.
Clint says
Florida…..The other Country !!!!
confidential says
Congratulations to Congressman Alan Grayson. Welcome back to serve us again Sir!!
You are a good man for the middle class, the workers and the less fortunate. Never stop to be out spoken!
coachpanto says
West will be back. We need more courageous people who recognize that American statism is far more deadly as Islamist terrorism. You whiny marxist parasites just irrevocably weakened this country. It’s Galt time you miserable disease. Your host is going to shrug you off and step on your empty head. Maybe wherever Statist Afterlife is, Statan will give you 72 children to shank, isn’t that what you statists like? $200k of debt per child born today…it’s fiscal pedophilia. I hope your grandchildren cut your fackin throat, parasite.
Geezer says
Alan West would make for a great septic tank service man.
I will stop now……… I am flirting with the prospect of being deleted.
——–stop!——–whew.
I wore a hole in my living room this morning.
FROM MY HAPPY DANCE!
Sea dog says
Jim Greer former Chairman of the Republicans in Florida recently declared in a deposition there was a conspircy to disfranchise blacks in Florida. When you add Florida Voters ID laws, reduced polling days, reduced and change locations and voter role purges it seems he may have been right, considering that some Floridians were still in line to vote at 2 AM this morning in Dade county after geting in line Tuesday afternoon, it seems to warrent a full and complete investigation by the Federal Goverment, its not going to happen if the Florida goverment is involved.
Sam Andras says
I respect Allen West for his service to his country but that’s where it ends. West continually talks out of both sides of his mouth. He criticizes the President for doing things that he himself does. His comments about how the President flew into Afghanistan in the cover of dark instead of standing out front is no different than his own unwillingness to appear in certain public venues and to carry a gun for self protection. This is just one example of his foolish words. But the issues don’t stop here. His allegations against the President and other members of Congress are an embarrassment. Rather than listening to the voices of those who voted he’s vowed to muddy the waters; just a further example of his representation of self before the people.
gobnait says
Grayson is back? What the hell is wrong with you people? That lunatic is certifiable. You deserve the piss poor government you get.
Samuel Smith says
West was a war criminal who got in trouble with the brass for beating a confession out of a “suspected terrorist”. He’s not really someone you want representing your interests in office, but Florida’s a little odd and between him and the governor it seems like part of criminal rehabilitation in this state is to have them serve at least one term in government.
Dorothea says
Allen West is contesting his defeat. Good read here:
http://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/news/local-govt-politics/cerabino-rep-west-wearing-out-his-welcome-with-lat/nSzrL/
Excerpt:
“There’s a limited shelf life for paranoid lectures on Marxism, Saul Alinsky’s playbook, and secret Communists in Congress. And before long, it dawned on an electorally significant number of his constituents that they were stuck with an arrested-development congressman who is more of a WWF version of Sarah Palin than a problem solver.
West tried to fix his bluster fatigue by switching districts this year, moving from Broward County to northern Palm Beach County, which is part of a more Republican-friendly district that stretches into the Treasure Coast.”
Dlf says
How could anyone vote for the for Grayson,loose cannon.
Karma says
Allen West not winning a 2nd term does not surprise me. We see how blacks are treated if they disagree with Democrats and President Santa Clause. A black decorated war veteran who served his country loses, yet Santa’s helper Jessie Jackson JR wins in a landslide. What has Mr. Jackson done? He has been in the Mayo clinic for depression and bipolar disorder for months and now he is plea bargaining for misuse of campaign funds. What am I missing here? Just kidding, I know why he was re-elected.
http://www.suntimes.com/16234631-761/sneed-exclusive-jesse-jackson-jr-in-plea-deal-talks-with-feds-sources.html
Magnolia says
Sea Dog, I’d like to see a copy of that deposition. Where can I get it? Where did you see it?
Dif: Nasty, loose cannon. Holds his district meetings in union halls and yells at his constituents!
Dorothea says
@Karma
Allen West ran in a predominately Republican friendly district. He switched districts just for that reaston and was defeated by a relatively unknown Democrat. The color if his skin had nothing to do with it.
Magnolia says
@Dorothea
Nah, the color of his skin had NOTHING to do with it. Democrats are NOT racists.
Dorothea says
@Magnolia
Look above. I already posted an article from the Palm Beach Post explaining why Allen West lost. Here is a repeat of an excerpt:
“There’s a limited shelf life for paranoid lectures on Marxism, Saul Alinsky’s playbook, and secret Communists in Congress. And before long, it dawned on an electorally significant number of his constituents that they were stuck with an arrested-development congressman who is more of a WWF version of Sarah Palin than a problem solver.”
The deposition is 630 pages. Here is part 4. You can get to the rest of the deposition from this website.
http://www.scribd.com/doc/102252167/Jim-Greer-deposition-transcript-part-4
derekcrane says
West was redistricted.
confidential, Yes, even lunatics need representation.
Magnolia says
@ Dorothea
From what I read in that testimony, this guy was paying himself thousands of dollars a month under the table for his fundraising services without anybody knowing about it. Embezzlement? Sounds like a pretty good case to me.
If there was any discussion of keeping black people from voting, which I doubt because this guy is going to the slammer for a long time, then former Gov. Charlie Crist may need deposing, too. Pretty despicable.
Why has this not gone to trial? Do you know?
Thanks for the link. Interesting.
Dorothea says
@Magnolia
The criminal trial was scheduled this month and recently postponed to February.
Insidious says
Alan West was NOTHING but a talking head for the former T-party. Fox News loved him because
Roger Ails had his hand up West’s ass, made his mouth move, and Ails dubed his voice into a hallow head with a stupid flat top hair cut.
Alan West and Sarah Palin are starting a third party for the next election. I heard it was called the Repubatard Party. It’s made up of right wing nutjobs, T-baggers, Wall Street bankers, Fox News,
Rush, Hannity, B O’R, and the cry baby Glenn Beck.
You think they’re going to keep their foot on my throat, not so much.
Sorry Coach Pantywaste, West is gone, get use to it.
NortonSmitty says
Yea, why return that unserious frigging lunatic! I mean he is so far out of touch with the American people he didn’t even mention abortions, fag marriage or Sharia Law once in his entire campaign! He just babbled stupid shit about how the Banks, Corporations and Billionaires have too much influence in Washington and are using it to screw over all the working middle class!
I mean what kind of poltroon would fall for that bullshit? The vote must have been rigged!
NortonSmitty says
derekboy, I think you have just come up with the new Republican mantra! I can see it tattooed on the side of a pachyderm now, “Vote Republican! Because Even Lunatics Need Representation!”.
Better copy write it quick before Carl Rove grabs it!
NortonSmitty says
And evidently nor are they stupid.