EDlection2018: The Happiest Republicans In The Country — From The Governor’s Mansion To Statehouse — Are In Florida
EDlection2018: The Happiest Republicans in the Country — From the Governor’s Mansion to Statehouse — Are in Florida
EDlection2018: This is just one of the many races we have examined for the 2018 midterms, which have the potential to impact state and federal education policies. Stay updated with the latest news by subscribing to Newsletter and get the headlines delivered directly to your inbox.
In the recent election, Florida Democrats failed to make significant gains in the state legislature. They were only able to flip six seats in the state House and none in the Senate so far.
However, there is still a possibility of a recount in District 18 for one Senate seat, where the Democratic challenger is currently leading by 82 votes over the Republican incumbent, Dana Young. Even if the Democrats succeed in this race, they will still be four seats short of a majority. With the Republicans retaining control, as they have since Jeb Bush’s governorship twenty years ago, Tallahassee will remain under unified GOP rule.
The night began with hope for the Democratic party, as their gubernatorial nominee Andrew Gillum was leading in most polls, and the prospect of gaining control of the state Senate seemed attainable.
Unfortunately, Gillum’s opponent, conservative Rep. Ron DeSantis, secured a narrow and somewhat unexpected victory. Even the U.S. Senate race between Sen. Bill Nelson and incumbent Gov. Rick Scott proved to be disappointing, although a recount is likely.
With DeSantis taking office as the governor until 2022 and the Republicans holding majorities in the statehouse, the Democrats’ aspirations for changing the education system in Florida will be delayed once again. The era of Republican dominance in the state, which coincided with the implementation of aggressive reform policies, such as the private school voucher system and merit pay for teachers, will continue.
Despite the hope that Gillum, along with the activism that followed the Parkland shootings, would lead to a Democratic victory, they will begin their third decade as a minority party in the third-largest state of America.
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