2018 Florida Primary Election Results Full election vote returns from the 2018 Florida Primary Share Shares Copy Link Copy Hide Transcript Show Transcript WEBVTT SPEECH. SANIKA: TONIGHT IS THE HISTORIC UPSET THAT THE TALLAHASSEE MAYOR WAS HOPING FOR. THE CROWD IS ECSTATIC. YOU CAN FEEL THE ENERGY GROWING AS THE NUMBERS STARTED COMING IN. TWO WEEKS AGO WITH THE ENDORSEMENT OF BERNIE SANDE, HE STARTED TO SEARCH - SURGE. THAT HAS BEEN THE MAGIC WORD IN HIS CAMPAIGN. COMPARED TO HIS OPPONENTS, HE WAS OUT ALMOST 10 ONE. HE WAS GOING AGAINST BILLIONAIRES AND TONIGHT HE WON. HE SPOKE ABOUT A WIDE VARIETY OF ISSUES THAT HE WANTED TO ADDRESS IF HE BECOMES THE NEXT GOVERNOR. HE WILL BE THE FIRST BLACK GOVERNOR OF TH STATE. HERE IS WHAT HE HAD TO SAY DURING HIS SPEECH. THEY SAID THIS MOMENT WOULD NOT BE POSSIBLE. A FEW. AND THEN THERE WERE A FEW MORE WHO BELIEVED THIS THING WAS POSSIBLE. >> WE LOVE YOU. >> I REALIZE THAT FOR SOME, THEY ARE JUST TUNING IN TO THE POSSIBILITY OF WHAT THIS MEANS FOR ALL OF US. SOME. FOR SOME. AND I WANT YOU TO KNOW, AS HAVE SAID AS I HAVE MOVED ACROSS FLORIDA, THIS THING IS NOT ABOUT ME. IT NEVER HAS BEEN, AND IT NEVER WILL BE. THIS RACE IS ABOUT EVERY SINGLE ONE OF US. SANIKA AS I MENTIONED, THE CAMPAIGN CREDITS A LOT OF THE SURGE TO THE FACT THAT BERNIE SANDERS ENDORSED HIM. BERNIE DAN -- BERNIE SANDERS HAS NOW CONGRATULATED HIM FOR HIS NOMINATION FOR THE DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE FOR GOVERNOR. IT IS STILL A LARGE PARTY OUT HERE TONIGHT. THIS IS SUCH A HISTORIC NIGHT. NOW WE JUST HAVE TO SEE IF HE CAN CARRY THE MOMENTUM THROUGH TO NOVEMBER. STEWART: AS SHE MENTIONED, BERNIE SANDERS WEIGHT I AND SAID WHAT MADE ANDREW’S CAMPAIGN SO POWERFUL IS HE IS NOT JUST WORKING HARD TO WIN AN ELECTION AM A HE HAS LAID OUT A VISION FOR A NEW COURSE FOR FLORIDA AND OUR COUNTRY. TONIGHT, FLORIDIANS JOINT ANDREW FOR STANDING UP AND DEMANDING CHANGE IN THE COMMUNITY. THAT’S WHAT THE POLITICAL REVOLUTION IS ALL ABOUT AND ANDREW GILLUM IS HELPING TO LEAD IT." SUMMER: MEANWHILE ON THE REPUBLICAN SIDE CONGRESSMAN RON DESANTIS WAS PREDICTED THE WINNER BY THE ASSOCIATED PRESS EARLY IN THE NIGHT OVER FORMER CONGRESSMAN/AGRICULTURE COMMISSIONER ADAM PUTNAM. STEWART: WESH 2’S MATT LUPOLI IS AT THE ROSEN SHINGLE CREEK. MATT: THIS RACE WAS CALLED EARLIER THAN MOST EXPECTED. THEY EXPECTED TO WIN, BUT THE TIMING WAS A SURPRISE. RO DESANTIS THANKED HIS SUPPORTERS AND THE PRESIDENT, CREDITING HIM WITH MUCH OF HIS SUCCESS. THE PRESIDENT CONGRATULATED HIM OVER TWITTER. IN H SPEECH, HE MENTIONED GOVERNOR RICK SCOTT AND SAID HE WANTS TO CONTINUE BUILDING ON WHAT HE CALLED HIS GOOD WORK, BORROWING THE GOVERNORS JOBS, JOBS, JOBS SLOGAN. ANOTHER FOCUS OF HIS SPEECH WAS WHEN HE MADE DURING THE CAMPAIGN. HE TALKED ABOUT WATER QUALITY AND RED TIDES. HE TOLD TH CROWD, KEEP FLORIDA GREAT AND MAKE IT EVEN GREATER. LET’S LISTEN TO HIS SPEECH. WE DON’T HAVE THAT, BUT WE HAVE ANOTHE CONGRATULATIONS, THIS ONE COMING FROM THE REPUBLICAN PARTY OF FLORIDA. THEY CALL HIM AN EXTENT -- THE CALL HIM AND OUTSTANDING CANDIDATE. SUMMER: PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP, WHO ENDORSED DESANTIS HAS ALREADY TWEETED ABOUT HIS WI TONIGHT SAYING, "SUCH A FANTASTIC WIN FOR RON DESANTIS AND THE PEOPLE OF THE GREAT STATE OF FLORIDA." TURNING NOW OUR ATTENTION TO GWEN GRAHAM WHO FOR A WHILE THERE LOOKED LIKE SHE ALMOST HAD THE NOMINATION. STEWART: WE GO NOW LIVE TO BOB HAZE BOB, THERE ARE STILL SOME PEOPLE THERE CONGRATULATING HER ON A WELL-RUN RACE. : SHE DID NOT JUST CONCEDE THE RACE, SHE GAVE -- ALL: -- BOB: SHE DID NOT JUST CONCEDE THE RACE, SHE GAVE OUT AND GAVE HER FULL SUPPORT BEHIND ANDREW GILLUM IN THIS RACE. AS YOU CAN SEE BEHIND ME, THE CROWD HA DISPERSED. NOT MANY PEOPLE OUT HERE BEFORE -- ANYMORE. MANY PEOPLE ARE CLEARING OUT. A FEW MINUTES AGO, SHE HAD HER FAMILY ON THE STAGE, INCLUDING BOB GRAHAM, HER FATHER AND FORMER SENATOR. SHE GAVE FULL SUPPORT TO ANDREW GILLUM. LET’S LISTEN TO WHAT SHE SAID. LET ME SAY, I RECENTLY SPOKE TO ANDREW GILLUM AND CONGRATULATED HIM ON HIS VICTORY. I SAID TO H THAT -- ANDREW AND I HAVE BEEN FRIENDS FOR A VERY LONG TIME. WE WERE FRIENDS BEFORE TH RACE, DURING, AND INTO THE FUTURE. I SAID TO HIM, ANDREW, GO OUT AND WIN THIS THING. BOB: SHE WAS ACCORDING TO THE POLLS GOING INTO THE RACE THE FRONT RUNNER. SO THIS WAS A BIG SURPRISE FOR EVERYONE AT THE EVENT TONIGHT, ESPECIALLY HOW LONG IT DRAGGED OUT. EVENTUALLY HAD TO GIVE UP THE NOMINATION AND CONGRATULATING ANDREW GILLUM AND GIVING HER FULL SUPPORT TO HIM IN HIS RAISE FOR GOVERNOR AGAINST RON DESANTIS. -- RACE FOR GOVERNOR AGAINST RON DESANTIS. STEWART: YOU JUST NEVER KNOW WHO IS GOING TO WIN. THEY CAN CHANGE IN THE LAST FEW WEEKS. SUMMER: GREG FOX IS OUR POLITICAL EXPERT AND HE IS HERE WITH US TONIGHT. GREG: BERNI SANDERS CONGRATULATED ANDREW GILLUM ON HIS VICTORY. ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE THINKING THAT ONCE BERNIE JUMPED ON BOARD, THAT SEALED IT FOR ANDREW? I THINK ANDREW HAD THE MOMENTUM BEFORE THAT, IN THE LAST FEW WEEKS LEADING UP TO IT. I SAW THAT IN THE DEBATES. HE WAS NOT PICKING ON OTHER CANDIDATE, HE WAS TALKING ABOUT IDEAS AND TALKING ABOUT BEING EVERY MAN. SUMMER: HE IS THE ONLY ONE WHO WAS NOT A MILLIONAIRE OR BILLIONAIRE IN THE RACE. DO YOU THINK THAT RESONATED WITH VOTERS? GREG: I THINK IT DID. THE HE GET SOME OF THAT MONEY FROM THE PRIMARY AND LINE UP IN THE GENERAL ELECTION? STEWART: RON DESANTIS GOT A LOT OF MOMENTUM WITH TRUMP’S HELP. HOW MUCH DID THAT HELP PUSH HIM PAST THE FINISH LINE? GREG: HE HAD A VISIT FROM DONALD TRUMP, JR. AND WITH THE TRUMP BACKING, IT GALVANIZED A LOT OF REPUBLICANS WHO STILL FEEL LIKE TRUMP WON IN 2016 IN FLORIDA, HE IS STILL OUR GUY. SUMMER WHO KNEW RON DESANTIS A YEAR AGO? GREG: NOT A LOT OF PEOPLE. A THIRD TERM IN CONGRESS. BUT HE HAS HAD ALL OF THESE APPEARANCES ON FOX NEWS OVER AND OVER. PEOPLE KNOW HIM. STEWART: WILL THIS RACE BE DIRECTLY TIED TO WHAT HAPPENS ON THE SENATE SIDE AND YOU THINK THAT WILL GREATLY IMPACT TO WINS THE GOVERNOR? GREG: I DO NOT THINK VOTERS ARE TUNING IN THAT MUCH.<doc-sep> -- There are a number of competitive races to watch in the Sunshine State on Tuesday, but most eyes will be focused on the Democratic and Republican primaries in the gubernatorial race to succeed GOP Gov. Rick Scott, who is term-limited and running for U.S. Senate this cycle. The Republican primary in the gubernatorial race is between Rep. Ron DeSantis, who has the endorsement of President Trump, and Florida Agricultural Commissioner Adam Putnam. The Democratic race is a crowded mix, with former Rep. Gwen Graham, Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum and former Miami Beach mayor Philip Levine all running. Competitive House races are also developing in two GOP-held Miami-area districts and a number of districts across the state. Another race to watch is in the state's 9th Congressional District, where former congressman and liberal firebrand Alan Grayson is mounting a comeback bid to try and unseat Rep. Darren Soto. The polls in Florida close in most of the state at 7 p.m. Eastern Time, and in the western part of the state at 8 p.m. Eastern Time.<doc-sep>Andrew Gillum holds his son Davis as he addresses his supporters after winning the Democrat primary for governor on Tuesday, Aug. 28, 2018, in Tallahassee, Fla. Steve Cannon | AP An upset in Florida's Democratic gubernatorial primary Tuesday sets up what is likely to be a heated fight for the soul of a swing state between an unabashed liberal and a Republican trying to channel President Donald Trump. Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum, a self-described progressive who has the support of Sen. Bernie Sanders, triumphed over Democratic establishment choice Gwen Graham. He will face Trump-backed Rep. Ron DeSantis in November. If Gillum, 39, can beat his fellow 39-year-old in DeSantis, he would become Florida's first black governor. Also in the state, voters officially set up the closely watched U.S. Senate contest between incumbent Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson and Republican Gov. Rick Scott. The race is the most expensive in this year's midterms so far. Florida also chose nominees for a handful of competitive House races. In Arizona, Republican Rep. Martha McSally emerged from a bitter GOP Senate primary on Tuesday. She will face Democratic Rep. Kyrsten Sinema in her bid for outgoing GOP Sen. Jeff Flake's seat in November. Tuesday also set the stage for some House battles in Arizona, including one for the seat McSally vacated to run for Senate. Here are Tuesday's notable results: Race for Florida governor gets off to a tense start Rep. Ron DeSantis, Republican of Florida, and candidate for Florida Governor, speaks during a rally with President Donald Trump at Florida State Fairgrounds Expo Hall in Tampa, Florida, on July 31, 2018 SAUL LOEB | AFP | Getty Images With Trump's backing, DeSantis easily beat the more traditional Republican choice in state Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam. The general election race will pose a clash of ideologies, between the liberal economic policy championed by Gillum and the Trump conservatism espoused by DeSantis. It only took a few hours after his victory for DeSantis to spark backlash. Speaking to Fox News on Wednesday morning, the representative said Florida voters should not "monkey it up" and vote for what he called Gillum's "socialist agenda." DeSantis' campaign denied the comment had any racial intent. But critics quickly seized on the remarks as racist. "It's disgusting that Ron DeSantis is launching his general election campaign with racist dog whistles," Terrie Rizzo, chair of the Florida Democratic Party, said in a tweet that Gillum's campaign shared. Rizzo tweet Fox anchor Sandra Smith later read a statement from DeSantis' campaign saying it is "absurd" to characterize the language as anything other than talking about Gillum's policies. She said the network does not "condone this language." Appearing on Fox News later in the day, Gillum said DeSantis took a page from Trump's "campaign playbook." He called the comment a "bullhorn" rather than a whistle, but added that he's "not going to get down in the gutter with DeSantis and Trump." Gillum has backed positions such as Medicare for all, a $15-per-hour minimum wage, and restrictions on assault-style rifles and high-capacity magazines. Trump attacked Gillum on Wednesday morning, describing him as a "failed Socialist Mayor" and "not what Florida wants or needs!" The Tallahassee mayor responded that "what our state and country needs is decency, hope and leadership." Gillum tweet DeSantis has channeled Trump in pushing to reduce corporate taxes and regulation while promising to take a tougher stance on illegal immigration. One factor that could follow Gillum throughout the race is an FBI investigation into corruption in the Tallahassee government. The mayor, who was not personally implicated, has said he has no tolerance for corruption. Florida congressional races go according to plan While the gubernatorial primaries set off fireworks, the races for Congress in Florida went largely as expected on Tuesday. Nelson and Scott breezed to their party's nominations, setting up what promises to be a bitter, expensive contest. Flipping Nelson's seat would help Republicans keep or expand their 51 to 49 seat majority in the Senate. Three Democratic House incumbents — Reps. Al Lawson, Stephanie Murphy and Darren Soto — on Tuesday easily held off primary challenges. Tuesday set the stage for Florida's competitive congressional races. Democrats have several opportunities to pick up GOP-held seats in the state as they trip to flip the 23 Republican districts needed to take a House majority. The party has perhaps its best chance in the Miami-area 27th District, where former Health and Human Services Secretary Donna Shalala won the Democratic primary. She will face Cuban-American journalist Maria Salazar, who aims to succeed longtime Cuban-American Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen in a district Democrat Hillary Clinton won easily in 2016. Democrat Debbie Mucarsel-Powell won her primary for Florida's 26th District and will face GOP Rep. Carlos Curbelo. Clinton also won that district, which encompasses the southern most parts of the state. Trump tries to boost Arizona Senate candidate Martha McSally, Republican U.S. Senate candidate from Arizona, speaks during an election night rally in Tempe, Arizona, on Tuesday, Aug. 27, 2018. Caitlin O'Hara | Bloomberg | Getty Images Trump got his preferred candidate in Florida's gubernatorial primary. But in another major GOP contest, the president was conspicuously silent until after voters chose the general election nominees. McSally easily won the Republican primary for Senate in Arizona. She will face off against Democrat Sinema in a contest to succeed Flake. The seat is perhaps Democrats' best Senate pickup opportunity on an otherwise brutal election map. After McSally had beaten conservatives Kelli Ward and Joe Arpaio, Trump endorsed her on Wednesday morning. The race for McSally's current 2nd District seat will factor heavily into the fight for House control. Former Democratic U.S. Rep. Ann Kirkpatrick will take on GOP businesswoman Lea Marquez Peterson in a bid to flip the seat. In 2016, Clinton won the district, which includes parts of Tuscon and stretches to the Southeastern corner of the state. Arizona's 1st District, a sprawling area in the Northeastern part of the state that Trump won in 2016, is represented by a Democrat. Incumbent Rep. Tom O'Halleran will go against Air Force veteran Wendy Rogers. In another statewide race, incumbent Republican Gov. Doug Ducey will face former education official David Garcia in his re-election bid. Oklahoma<doc-sep>
Politics & Government Florida Primary Election Results: DeSantis, Gillum Win Ron DeSantis and Andrew Gillum were declared winners of their respective gubernatorial primaries. Reply AVENTURA, FL — As polls closed in Florida on Tuesday, Ron DeSantis was declared the winner of the Republican gubernatorial primary. Meanwhile, Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum staged an upset victory over former congresswoman Gwen Graham on the Democrat side. With his win, Gillum will try to become Florida's first black governor and the first Democrat to hold that office in two decades. Endorsed by President Trump, the GOP congressman cruised to an early victory with 56.4 percent of the vote. DeSantis' closest opponent was Florida Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnan, who had the endorsement of Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi. Putnam had 36.6 percent of the vote, according to the Florida Department of State. "This is a good victory anyways, but man to beat someone of his caliber is a big, big deal," DeSantis told supporters after being declared the winner. "Let's just thank him for his service to Florida." DeSantis entered the race in January and largely built his name recognition with near-nightly Fox News appearances. Trump's endorsement helped him overtake Putnam, who has held elected office nearly his entire adult life. A former Navy lawyer, DeSantis won his seat in 2012 running as a Washington outsider. He ran for Senate in 2016 but dropped out of the race when Republican U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio decided to run for re-election after a failed presidential campaign. "This thing is not about me. It never has been, and it never will be," declared Gillum after being declared the winner. "This race is about every last single one of us — those of us in this room, those of us outside of this room, those of us who voted for me, those who did not vote at all, those who couldn't vote for me because they may be Republicans. But you want to know something? I want to be their governor too." Graham jumped out to an early lead over Gillum but then the mayor came back to take 34.2 percent of the vote compared to 31.4 percent for Graham. Former Miami Beach Mayor Philip Levine had 20.3 percent. Palm Beach billionaire Jeff Greene had 10.1 percent as Greene's entry into the race appeared to have siphoned away some of Levine's support. Both Greene and Levine are wealthy businessmen, but Levine had the added advantage of government experience, something that Greene attempted to downplay in interviews. At times, their campaign commercials struck a negative chord with voters.