Election Briefs: Primary Races

STATE SENATE 

BEAN CRUISES PAST WEINSTEIN
Former Rep. Aaron Bean has defeated Rep. Mike Weinstein in the race for a crucial GOP Senate nomination in Northeast Florida. With almost all precincts reporting, Bean had 64.5 percent of the vote to 35.5 percent for Weinstein. The win was a boost for Sen. Joe Negron, R-Stuart, in his bid for the Senate presidency in 2016-18. Bean is allied to Negron’s supporters, while Weinstein was seen as a supporter of Sen. Jack Latvala, R-Clearwater. Bean faces Democrat Nancy Soderberg in the November general election, though the district is heavily Republican.

STATE HO– — USE 

ADKINS TOPS BYRD IN HD 11 GOP RACE
Rep. Janet Adkins, R-Fernandina Beach, was cruising to victory Tuesday in a primary fight against Neptune Beach attorney Cord Byrd in the redrawn House District 11. Adkins, seeking a third term, was easily beating Byrd in Nassau and Duval counties, with almost all precincts reporting in both counties. Democrat Dave Smith, of Neptune Beach, and a write-in candidate await Adkins in the November general election.

EAGLE SOARS TO WIN IN HD 77
Dane Eagle, a Cape Coral Republican who gathered political experience as an aide to former Gov. Charlie Crist, appeared headed to an easy win Tuesday in the Republican primary in House District 77. With 97.6 percent of precincts counted in Lee County, Eagle had about 72 percent of the vote in his primary against Chris Berardi. Eagle will face Cape Coral Democrat Arvella Clare, who was unopposed Tuesday, in the November general election.

FITZENHAGEN BLITZES MARTIN IN HD 78
Fort Myers Republican Heather Fitzenhagen cruised to a win Tuesday in the GOP primary in House District 78. With 97.6 percent of the precincts counted in Lee County, Fitzenhagen had about 69 percent of the vote in her primary against Jonathan Martin. She will face Independent Party candidate Kerry Babb in the November general election.

CALDWELL HEADED BACK TO HO– — USE
Rep. Matt Caldwell, R-Lehigh Acres, will get another term in the Florida House after trouncing primary opponent Jon Larsen Shudlick in District 79. With 97.6 percent of the precincts counted in Lee County, Caldwell had about 85 percent of the votes. He does not have an opponent in the November general election.

CONGRESS 

MICA TOPS ADAMS
Long-time House member John Mica handily defeated tea party favorite Sandy Adams Tuesday as he cruised to victory in the race for the Republican race Congressional District 7. Mica led Adams by nearly a 20 percentage point margin as he garnered more than 60 percent of the vote in Orange and Seminole Counties. The win was a victory for the Republican establishment as Mica, chairman of the House Transportation Committee, was targeted by tea party groups, who helped propel Adams into office in 2010. Mica will face Democrat Jason Kendall, who was leading in his primary by a 61-39 percent margin over Nicolas Ruiz.

NEWCOMER RADEL STUNS IN DISTRICT 19
Conservative radio talk show host Trey Radel appeared likely to defeat a field of political veterans and well-known family names and become the standard bearer for Congressional District 19 in southwest Florida. Radel, 36, was atop a crowded field of six candidates including two state House representatives — Gary Aubuchon and Paige Kreegel – and Chauncey Goss, son of former Congressman and CIA Director Porter Goss. With 97 percent of the vote in for Lee County, Radel had a commanding lead with more than 37 percent of the vote. The Fort Myers resident was also holding his own in Collier, coming in slightly behind Bryon Donalds, a candidate from Collier County. Radel would next face Democratic candidate Jim Roach in November in the GOP-dominated district. 

LAWSON TO TAKE ON SOUTHERLAND
Former state Sen. Al Lawson of Tallahassee will square off against Republican U.S. Rep. Steve Southerland after Lawson defeated state House Rep. Leonard Bembry of Greenville in the Democratic primary for Congressional District 2 in northwest Florida. With most of the vote counted, Lawson led with 56 percent of the vote over his Democratic rival, who conceded the race shortly before 9 p.m. Two other candidates garnered negligible vote totals. 

CRENSHAW WINS EASY
Republican incumbent U.S. Rep. Ander Crenshaw won easily in the Republican primary for Congressional District 4 on Tuesday. With most of the votes counted, Crenshaw commanded nearly 72 percent of the vote. His nearest Republican rival, Bob Black, had garnered 18 percent of the vote. Crenshaw now faces Jim Klauder, a non-affiliated candidate in the general election in November.

OTHER RACES

STORMS STORMING TO PROPERTY APPRAISER WIN
Outgoing Sen. Ronda Storms, R-Valrico, appeared headed to an easy win in the Hillsborough County Property Appraiser GOP primary against incumbent Rob Turner. With 178 of 347 precincts reporting, Storms had 70 percent of the vote to 30 percent for Turner. Storms entered the race after the Tampa Bay Times reported that Turner sent pornographic messages to an employee who since claimed she was a victim of sexual discrimination. The winner of the Storms-Turner race will face former Rep. Bob Henriquez, a Democrat, and nonaffiliated candidates James DeMio and Rob Townsend in the general election.