Scott defeats McCollum
Businessman Rick Scott defeated Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum to become the Republican nominee for the governor’s race. Scott received 46 percent of the vote across the state to McCollum’s 44 percent. Scott beat McCollum in Duval County 55 percent to 37 percent. Mike McCalister, the other candidate on the ballot, received 10 percent across the state and 8 percent locally. With the win, Scott will take on Democratic gubernatorial nominee and Florida Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink in the Nov. 2 general election.
Meek trounces Greene
U.S. Rep. Kendrick Meek soundly defeated businessman Jeff Greene and two others to become the Democratic nominee for the U.S. Senate seat in the Nov. 2 general election. Meek collected 58 percent of the statewide vote compared to Greene, his closest competitor, at 31 percent. In Duval County, Meek took 65 percent of the vote to Greene’s 28 percent. Glenn Burkett and Maurice Ferre were also on the ballot. With the win, Meek will now take on Republican nominee Marco Rubio and independent candidate and current governor Charlie Crist for the seat.
Hulsey elected Circuit Judge
In the only local contested judicial race of Tuesday’s primary, attorney Mark Hulsey III defeated Assistant State Attorney Sam Garrison for Circuit Judge Group 25. Hulsey won 54 percent of the votes, compared to 46 percent for Garrison, across the area, with a 56 percent to 44 percent advantage in Duval County. Close to 138,000 votes were cast for the race. Hulsey was admitted to the Bar in 1983 and is self-employed.
Other results from Tuesday’s primary
Here are more results from races on Tuesday’s primary ballot. Winners are in bold. In races that were held at the statewide or district level, the second figure represents how voters in Duval County weighed in. Figures are rounded.
U.S. Senator - Republican
William Escoffery III…………………………………………………………… 6% (4%)
William Billy Kogut…………………………………………………………… 8% (6%)
Marco Rubio…………………………………………………………………… 84% (90%)
U.S. Representative in Congress District 3 - Democrat
Corrine Brown…………………………………………………………………… 80% (85%)
Scott Fortune……………………………………………………………………… 20% (15%)
U.S. Representative in Congress District 3 - Republican
Dean Black……………………………………………………………………… 35% (36%)
Chris Nwasike…………………………………………………………………… 19% (17%)
Michael ‘Mike’ Yost…………………………………………………………… 46% (47%)
U.S. Representative in Congress District 6 - Republican
Don Browning ………………………………………………………………… 29% (25%)
Clifford ‘Cliff’ Stearns………………………………………………………… 71% (75%)
Governor and Lieutenant Governor - Democrat
Brian Moore……………………………………………………………………… 23% (23%)
Alex Sink ………………………………………………………………………… 77% (77%)
Attorney General - Democrat
Dave Aronberg…………………………………………………………………… 41% (39%)
Dan Gelber……………………………………………………………………… 59% (61%)
Attorney General - Republican
Holly Benson…………………………………………………………………… 29% (35%)
Pam Bondi……………………………………………………………………… 38% (38%)
Jeff Kottkamp…………………………………………………………………… 33% (27%)
State Senator District 8 - Republican
Charles Perniciaro ……………………………………………………………… 38% (41%)
John Thrasher…………………………………………………………………… 62% (59%)
State Representative District 16 - Republican
Charles McBurney……………………………………………………………………… 84%
Luis Melendez …………………………………………………………………………… 16%
School Board District 2
Theresa Graham………………………………………………………………………… 24%
John P. King Jr. …………………………………………………………………………… 20%
Fred ‘Fel’ Lee……………………………………………………………………………… 37%
G.W. (Billy) Reynolds…………………………………………………………………… 18%
School Board District 4
Irvin PeDro Cohen……………………………………………………………………… 18%
Alzic D. Upton…………………………………………………………………………… 10%
Paula D. Wright………………………………………………………………………… 72%
School Board District 6
Steve Berry……………………………………………………………………………… 9%
Becki Couch……………………………………………………………………………… 56%
Gary Oliveras…………………………………………………………………………… 12%
Eric Smith………………………………………………………………………………… 23%
Jacksonville Beach Council Seat 5, District 2
Scott Chesnut…………………………………………………………………………… 34%
Manny Enriquez………………………………………………………………………… 13%
Jeanell Wilson…………………………………………………………………………… 54%
Jacksonville Beach Council Seat 6, District 3
Jon McGowan…………………………………………………………………………… 29%
David Lynn Smith……………………………………………………………………… 27%
Tom Taylor……………………………………………………………………………… 44%