Florida 2008 General Election

The Green Papers: Florida 2008 General Election

This page is for offices up for election in 2008. Find 2009 elections here.

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Florida
Elections for Statewide offices and Congress
Primary: Tuesday 26 August 2008
General Election: Tuesday 4 November 2008

Electoral Votes:	27	(5.02% of 538)
Governor:	1
Senators:	2	(Electoral Classes 1 and 3)
2002-2010 Representatives:	25	(5.75% of 435)
2000 Census:	16,028,890	(5.68% of 281,998,273)
Estimated Voting age population (November 2000):	11,774,000
Registered Voters (November 2000):	8,752,717
Capital:	Tallahassee
Tuesday 26 August 2008 polling hours 7:00a EDT (1100 UTC) / 7:00a CDT (1200 UTC) to 7:00p EDT (2300 UTC) / 7:00p CDT (0000 UTC). Relatively small portions of this state are in CDT and so the vast majority of the polls are closed by the time indicated EDT.
Tuesday 4 November 2008 polling hours 7:00a EST (1200 UTC) / 7:00a CST (1300 UTC) to 7:00p EST (0000 UTC) / 7:00p CST (0100 UTC). Relatively small portions of this state are in CST and so the vast majority of the polls are closed by the time indicated EST.

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Florida State and Local Government

Florida 2008 Presidential Primaries, Caucuses, and Conventions:
Democrats, Republicans, Third Parties

2 January 2008: Florida Department of State - November 4, 2008 General Election - Official Results.

20 September 2008: Synchronized to Florida Division of Elections - Candidate Listing for 2008 General Election.

NOTE re: elections to the LEGISLATURE

Florida elects half its 40-member State Senate every two years, State Senators so elected to four-year terms (except in the election held two years after a Federal Decennial Census, when the entire State Senate is up for election, so as to better facilitate redistricting: half the Senators elected in such a calendar year of a Federal Decennial Census are elected for but two years and the same State Senators are up for election for another two years in the next General Election, that is: the one taking place two years after said Federal Census).

In 2008, State Senators representing odd-numbered districts will be up for election for four-year terms; State Senators representing even-numbered districts were elected to their current four-year terms in 2006 and will next be up for election (for two-year terms) in 2010.

The entire 120-member House of Representatives will be up for election to two-year terms in 2008.

Tuesday 26 August 2008 Primary
Returns from an official source



President 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2008, 2012. Term Limit: No more than 2 4-year terms in a lifetime. Electors: 27 (Winner-take-all), How Appointed, Meeting Place, Duly Appointed Presidential Electors, List of Presidential Candidates.


	Democratic	4,282,074	51.03%	Senator Barack Hussein Obama (27 Electoral Votes) • Vice President: Senator Joseph Robinette "Joe" Biden, Jr. • FEC P80003338: $778,642,047

	Republican	4,045,624	48.22%	Senator John Sidney McCain, III • Vice President: Governor Sarah H. Palin • FEC P80002801: $399,826,076

	Ecology Party of Florida	28,124	0.34%	Ralph Nader • Vice President: Matt Gonzalez • FEC P20000527: $4,520,160

	Libertarian	17,218	0.21%	former Congressman Bob Barr • Vice President, Wayne Allyn Root • FEC P80005580: $1,405,899

	Constitution	7,915	0.09%	Charles Obadiah "Chuck" Baldwin • Vice President: Darrell Castle • FEC P80005499: $262,010

	Green	2,887	0.03%	former Congressman Cynthia A. McKinney • Vice President: Rosa A. Clemente • FEC P80004930: $240,360

	America's Independent	2,550	0.03%	former Ambassador Alan L. Keyes • Vice President: Brian Rohrbough • FEC P60003076: $481,991

	Socialism and Liberation	1,516	0.02%	Gloria Estela La Riva • Vice-President: Eugene Puryear • FEC P80005572: $24,441

	Boston Tea	795	0.01%	Charles Jay • Vice President: John Wayne Smith

	Socialist Workers Party	533	0.01%	James E. Harris • Vice President: Alyson Kennedy The Party's Presidential nominee, Róger Calero, having been born in Nicaragua, does not meet the Constitutional requirements for President.

	Objectivist Party	419	0.00%	Thomas Robert "Tom" Stevens • Vice President: Alden Link • FEC P80005655: Financial report not available

	Socialist Party USA	405	0.00%	Brian Patrick Moore • Vice President: Stewart A. Alexander • FEC P80005275: $9,516

	Write-in	391	0.00%	John "Gary" Nettles • Vice President: William Bradford "Brad" Krones

	Prohibition Party	293	0.00%	Gene C. Amondson • Vice President: Leroy Pletten
Total		8,390,744	100.00%

U.S. Senate 6 year term. No Term Limit. 110^th Senate Senate Electoral Classes

Class 1	Democratic	Senator Bill Nelson • First elected: 2000; re-elected 2006 [also served in U.S. House- elected: 1978, 1980, 1982, 1984, 1986, 1988] • Seat up for election: Tuesday 6 November 2012

Class 3	Republican	Senator Mel Martinez • First elected: 2004 • Seat up for election: Tuesday 2 November 2010 • Open Seat - 2 December 2008: Announced he would not run for re-election.

	Independent			Dave Roberts

Governor 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2006, 2010. Term Limit: 2 consecutive 4-year terms, All Governors

	Republican	Governor Charlie Crist • First elected: 2006 • Chair up for election: Tuesday 2 November 2010 • The current Governor is unaffected by the State's term limit.

	Independent			Piotr Blass • for Lt. Governor: Jinamarie Gallo

Lieutenant Governor 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2006, 2010. Elected on ticket with Governor

	Republican	Lieutenant Governor Jeffrey D. "Jeff" Kottkamp • First elected: 2006 • Seat up for election: Tuesday 2 November 2010

110^th U.S. House of Representatives 2 year term, Election Cycle 2006, 2008. No Term Limit. 110^th House
Partisan Composition (primary disposition): 16 Republican (15 Renominated, 1 Open); 9 Democratic (9 Renominated)

CD 1 {map}	Republican	Congressman Jefferson B. "Jeff" Miller • Re-elected Tuesday 4 November 2008 • First elected 16 October 2001 - in a Special Election re: the resignation of Congressman Joe Scarborough 6 September 2001. • Seat up for election: Tuesday 4 November 2008 • Renominated - 26 August 2008 Primary
	Polls: Republican Congressman Jefferson B. "Jeff" Miller

	Republican	232,559	70.18%	Congressman Jefferson B. "Jeff" Miller • FEC H2FL01100: $360,055

	Democratic	98,797	29.82%	James Edward "Jim" Bryan • FEC H8FL01099: $18,784
Total		331,356	100.00%

CD 2 {map}	Democratic	Congressman F. Allen Boyd, Jr. • Re-elected Tuesday 4 November 2008 • First elected: 1996 • Seat up for election: Tuesday 4 November 2008 • Renominated - 26 August 2008 Primary
	Polls: Democratic Congressman F. Allen Boyd, Jr.

	Democratic	216,804	61.88%	Congressman F. Allen Boyd, Jr. • FEC H6FL00046: $1,450,645

	Republican	133,404	38.08%	Mark Mulligan • FEC H8FL02089: $33,411

	Write-in; (Republican)	159	0.05%	Robert Ortiz
Total		350,367	100.00%

CD 3 {map}	Democratic	Congressman Corrine Brown • Re-elected Tuesday 4 November 2008 • First elected: 1992 • Seat up for election: Tuesday 4 November 2008 • Renominated - 26 August 2008 Primary
	Polls: Democratic Congressman Corrine Brown
		Uncontested Race

	Democratic			Congressman Corrine Brown • FEC H2FL03056: $559,627

CD 4 {map}	Republican	Congressman Ander M. Crenshaw • Re-elected Tuesday 4 November 2008 • First elected: 2000 • Seat up for election: Tuesday 4 November 2008 • Renominated - 26 August 2008 Primary
	Polls: Republican Congressman Ander M. Crenshaw

	Republican	224,112	65.25%	Congressman Ander M. Crenshaw • FEC H0FL04066: $681,603

	Democratic	119,330	34.75%	James Joseph "Jay" McGovern • FEC H8FL04069: $170,557
Total		343,442	100.00%

CD 5 {map}	Republican	Congressman Virginia "Ginny" Brown-Waite • Re-elected Tuesday 4 November 2008 • First elected: 2002 • Seat up for election: Tuesday 4 November 2008 • Renominated - 26 August 2008 Primary
	Polls: Republican Congressman Virginia "Ginny" Brown-Waite

	Republican	265,186	61.15%	Congressman Virginia "Ginny" Brown-Waite • FEC H2FL05127: $722,174

	Democratic	168,446	38.85%	John T. Russell • FEC H4FL05032: $36,218
Total		433,632	100.00%

CD 6 {map}	Republican	Congressman Clifford Bundy "Cliff" Stearns • Re-elected Tuesday 4 November 2008 • First elected: 1988 • Seat up for election: Tuesday 4 November 2008 • Renominated - 26 August 2008 Primary
	Polls: Republican Congressman Clifford Bundy "Cliff" Stearns

	Republican	228,302	60.89%	Congressman Clifford Bundy "Cliff" Stearns • FEC H8FL06056: $806,444

	Democratic	146,655	39.11%	Timothy M. "Tim" Cunha • FEC H8FL06080: $249,755
Total		374,957	100.00%

CD 7 {map}	Republican	Congressman John L. Mica • Re-elected Tuesday 4 November 2008 • First elected: 1992 • Seat up for election: Tuesday 4 November 2008 • Renominated - 26 August 2008 Primary
	Polls: Republican Congressman John L. Mica

	Republican	238,721	62.00%	Congressman John L. Mica • FEC H2FL08055: $1,125,803

	Democratic	146,292	38.00%	Faye Armitage • FEC H8FL07047: $32,929
Total		385,013	100.00%

CD 8 {map}	Republican	Congressman Richard Anthony "Ric" Keller • First elected: 2000 • Seat up for election: Tuesday 4 November 2008 • Renominated - 26 August 2008 Primary
	Polls: Leans Democratic - WATCH - Democratic Alan Mark Grayson favored over Republican Congressman Richard Anthony "Ric" Keller

	Democratic	172,854	52.01%	Alan Mark Grayson • FEC H6FL08213: $3,307,271

	Republican	159,490	47.99%	Congressman Richard Anthony "Ric" Keller • FEC H0FL08042: $1,619,406
Total		332,344	100.00%

CD 9 {map}	Republican	Congressman Gus Michael Bilirakis • Re-elected Tuesday 4 November 2008 • First elected: 2006 • Seat up for election: Tuesday 4 November 2008 • Renominated - 26 August 2008 Primary
	Polls: Republican Congressman Gus Michael Bilirakis

	Republican	216,591	62.17%	Congressman Gus Michael Bilirakis • FEC H6FL09070: $1,494,533

	Democratic	126,346	36.27%	William David "Bill" Mitchell • FEC H6FL09096: $280,623

	No Party Affiliation	3,394	0.97%	John "Johnny K" Kalimnios • FEC H8FL09100: Financial report not available

	Term Limits for the United States Congress	2,042	0.59%	Richard Owings Emmons • FEC H8FL09092: $38,015

	Write-in	5	0.00%	Andrew George Pasayan • FEC H2FL09095: Financial report not available
Total		348,378	100.00%

CD 10 {map}	Republican	Congressman C.W. "Bill" Young • Re-elected Tuesday 4 November 2008 • First elected: 1970 • Seat up for election: Tuesday 4 November 2008 • Renominated - 26 August 2008 Primary
	Polls: Leans Republican - Republican Congressman C.W. "Bill" Young

	Republican	182,781	60.68%	Congressman C.W. "Bill" Young • FEC H6FL06035: $944,430

	Democratic	118,430	39.32%	Bob Hackworth • FEC H8FL10041: $155,698

	Write-in	9	0.00%	Donald Vincent "Don" Callahan • FEC H6FL10086: Financial report not available
Total		301,220	100.00%

CD 11 {map}	Democratic	Congressman Katherine Anne "Kathy" Castor • Re-elected Tuesday 4 November 2008 • First elected: 2006 • Seat up for election: Tuesday 4 November 2008 • Renominated - 26 August 2008 Primary
	Polls: Democratic Congressman Katherine Anne "Kathy" Castor

	Democratic	184,106	71.66%	Congressman Katherine Anne "Kathy" Castor • FEC H6FL11126: $631,095

	Republican	72,825	28.34%	Eddie Adams, Jr. • FEC H6FL11175: $57,640
Total		256,931	100.00%

CD 12 {map}	Republican	Congressman Adam H. Putnam • Re-elected Tuesday 4 November 2008 • First elected: 2000 • Seat up for election: Tuesday 4 November 2008 • Renominated - 26 August 2008 Primary
	Polls: Republican Congressman Adam H. Putnam

	Republican	185,698	57.46%	Congressman Adam H. Putnam • FEC H0FL12051: $1,843,688

	Democratic	137,465	42.54%	Douglas David "Doug" Tudor • FEC H8FL12054: $125,219
Total		323,163	100.00%

CD 13 {map}	Republican	Congressman Vernon "Vern" Buchanan • Re-elected Tuesday 4 November 2008 • First elected: 2006 • Seat up for election: Tuesday 4 November 2008 • Renominated - 26 August 2008 Primary
	Polls: Leans Republican - Republican Congressman Vernon "Vern" Buchanan

	Republican	204,382	55.54%	Congressman Vernon "Vern" Buchanan • FEC H6FL13148: $4,434,205

	Democratic	137,967	37.49%	Christine L. Jennings • FEC H4FL13069: $2,249,991

	No Party Affiliation; (Democratic)	20,289	5.51%	Jan Schneider • FEC H2FL13139: $30,658
	No Party Affiliation	5,358	1.46%	Don Baldauf • FEC H8FL13128: $9,020
Total		367,996	100.00%

CD 14 {map}	Republican	Congressman Connie Mack • Re-elected Tuesday 4 November 2008 • First elected: 2004 • Seat up for election: Tuesday 4 November 2008 • Renominated - 26 August 2008 Primary
	Polls: Republican Congressman Connie Mack

	Republican	224,602	59.44%	Congressman Connie Mack • FEC H4FL14059: $1,307,189

	Democratic	93,590	24.77%	Robert M. Neeld, Jr. • FEC H4FL14091: $15,781

	No Party Affiliation; (Republican)	54,750	14.49%	state Senator Burt Leon Saunders • FEC H4FL14034: $165,409
	No Party Affiliation	4,949	1.31%	Jeffrey Peter "Jeff" George • FEC H8FL14142: $20,326
Total		377,891	100.00%

CD 15 {map} Open	Republican	Congressman David Joseph "Dave" Weldon, Jr. • First elected: 1994 • Seat up for election: Tuesday 4 November 2008 • Open Seat - 25 January 2008: Announced retirement
	Polls: Leans Republican - Republican state Senator William "Bill" Posey
		Open Seat (no incumbent)

	Republican	192,151	53.10%	state Senator William "Bill" Posey • FEC H8FL15107: $944,893

	Democratic	151,951	41.99%	Stephen Lee "Steve" Blythe • FEC H8FL15057: $113,371

	No Party Affiliation	14,274	3.94%	Frank Zilaitis • FEC H8FL15099: $38,693
	No Party Affiliation; (Republican)	3,495	0.97%	Trevor James Lowing • FEC H8FL15123: $7,100
Total		361,871	100.00%

CD 16 {map}	Democratic	Congressman Timothy Edward "Tim" Mahoney • First elected: 2006 • Seat up for election: Tuesday 4 November 2008 • Renominated - 26 August 2008 Primary
	Polls: Leans Republican - Republican Thomas Joseph "Tom" Rooney favored over Democratic Congressman Timothy Edward "Tim" Mahoney

	Republican	209,874	60.09%	Thomas Joseph "Tom" Rooney • FEC H8FL16022: $1,837,390

	Democratic	139,373	39.91%	Congressman Timothy Edward "Tim" Mahoney • FEC H6FL16059: $3,069,426
Total		349,247	100.00%

CD 17 {map}	Democratic	Congressman Kendrick B. Meek • Re-elected Tuesday 4 November 2008 • First elected: 2002 • Seat up for election: Tuesday 4 November 2008 • Renominated - 26 August 2008 Primary
	Polls: Democratic Congressman Kendrick B. Meek
		Uncontested Race

	Democratic			Congressman Kendrick B. Meek • FEC H2FL17056: $1,552,012

CD 18 {map}	Republican	Congressman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen • Re-elected Tuesday 4 November 2008 • First elected in a Special Election, 29 August 1989, re: death of Congressman Claude Pepper, 30 May 1989 • Seat up for election: Tuesday 4 November 2008 • Renominated - 26 August 2008 Primary
	Polls: Republican Congressman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen

	Republican	140,617	57.87%	Congressman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen • FEC H0FL18025: $1,834,650

	Democratic	102,372	42.13%	Annette Taddeo • FEC H8FL00034: $1,177,017
Total		242,989	100.00%

CD 19 {map}	Democratic	Congressman Robert Wexler • Re-elected Tuesday 4 November 2008 • First elected: 1996 • Seat up for election: Tuesday 4 November 2008 • Renominated - 26 August 2008 Primary
	Polls: Democratic Congressman Robert Wexler

	Democratic	202,465	66.16%	Congressman Robert Wexler • FEC H6FL19038: $2,908,098

	Republican	83,357	27.24%	Edward J. Lynch • FEC H8FL19042: $136,707

	No Party Affiliation; (Democratic)	20,214	6.61%	Benjamin "Ben" Graber • FEC H6FL19046: $425,788
Total		306,036	100.00%

CD 20 {map}	Democratic	Congressman Debbie Wasserman Schultz • Re-elected Tuesday 4 November 2008 • First elected: 2004 • Seat up for election: Tuesday 4 November 2008 • Renominated - 26 August 2008 Primary
	Polls: Democratic Congressman Debbie Wasserman Schultz

	Democratic	202,832	77.48%	Congressman Debbie Wasserman Schultz • FEC H4FL20023: $1,721,750

	No Party Affiliation; (Republican)	58,958	22.52%	Margaret Hostetter • FEC H4FL20031: $8,784

	Write-in	9	0.00%	Marc Luzietti • FEC H8FL20024: Financial report not available
Total		261,799	100.00%

CD 21 {map}	Republican	Congressman Lincoln Diaz-Balart • Re-elected Tuesday 4 November 2008 • First elected: 1992 • Seat up for election: Tuesday 4 November 2008 • Renominated - 26 August 2008 Primary
	Polls: Toss-up - Democratic Raul L. Martinez vs. Republican Congressman Lincoln Diaz-Balart

	Republican	137,226	57.90%	Congressman Lincoln Diaz-Balart • FEC H2FL19037: $2,284,221

	Democratic	99,776	42.10%	Raul L. Martinez • FEC H8FL21030: $1,893,437
Total		237,002	100.00%

CD 22 {map}	Democratic	Congressman Ron Klein • Re-elected Tuesday 4 November 2008 • First elected: 2006 • Seat up for election: Tuesday 4 November 2008 • Renominated - 26 August 2008 Primary
	Polls: Democratic Congressman Ron Klein

	Democratic	169,041	54.68%	Congressman Ron Klein • FEC H6FL22040: $3,955,503

	Republican	140,104	45.32%	Allen B. West • FEC H8FL22038: $584,980

	Write-in	6	0.00%	Piotr Blass • FEC H8FL00026: $0
Total		309,151	100.00%

CD 23 {map}	Democratic	Congressman Alcee L. Hastings • Re-elected Tuesday 4 November 2008 • First elected: 1992 • Seat up for election: Tuesday 4 November 2008 • Renominated - 26 August 2008 Primary
	Polls: Democratic Congressman Alcee L. Hastings

	Democratic	172,835	82.18%	Congressman Alcee L. Hastings • FEC H2FL23021: $820,458

	Republican	37,431	17.80%	Marion Dennis Thorpe, Jr. • FEC H4FL23050: $51,635

	Write-in	40	0.02%	April Cook • FEC H8FL23036: Financial report not available
Total		210,306	100.00%

CD 24 {map}	Republican	Congressman Tom Feeney • First elected: 2002 • Seat up for election: Tuesday 4 November 2008 • Renominated - 26 August 2008 Primary
	Polls: Leans Democratic - WATCH - Democratic former state Representative Suzanne M. Kosmas favored over Republican Congressman Tom Feeney

	Democratic	211,284	57.20%	former state Representative Suzanne M. Kosmas • FEC H8FL24026: $2,108,182

	Republican	151,863	41.11%	Congressman Tom Feeney • FEC H2FL00250: $2,157,264

	No Affiliation	6,223	1.68%	Gaurav "Garv" Bhola • FEC H8FL24018: $6,725
Total		369,370	100.00%

CD 25 {map}	Republican	Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart • Re-elected Tuesday 4 November 2008 • First elected: 2002 • Seat up for election: Tuesday 4 November 2008 • Renominated - 26 August 2008 Primary
	Polls: Toss-up - Republican Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart vs. Democratic Jose Antonio "Joe" Garcia

	Republican	130,891	53.05%	Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart • FEC H2FL25018: $1,982,909

	Democratic	115,820	46.95%	Jose Antonio "Joe" Garcia • FEC H8FL25015: $1,788,034
Total		246,711	100.00%

Attorney General 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2006, 2010

	Republican	Attorney General Bill McCollum • First elected: 2006 • Seat up for election: Tuesday 2 November 2010

Chief Financial Officer 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2006, 2010. The new office of Chief Financial Officer will replace both the Comptroller and Treasurer in Florida.

	Democratic	Chief Financial Officer Adelaide Alexander "Alex" Sink • First elected: 2006 • Seat up for election: Tuesday 2 November 2010

Commissioner of Agriculture and Consumer Services 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2006, 2010

	Republican	Commissioner of Agriculture and Consumer Services Charles H. "Charlie" Bronson • First elected: 2002; re-elected: 2006 • Seat up for election: Tuesday 2 November 2010

	Republican			Carey Baker
	Republican			state Representative Marsha L. "Marty" Bowen

Political Parties Parties appear in parenthesis and italics when a candidate receives the endorsement of a given Party and/or official sources indicate a candidate's association with a particular Party but only where the Party in question does not appear on the actual ballot as such.

Major Parties
	• Democratic (affiliates): 11 incumbents, 28 candidates
	• Republican: 21 incumbents, 29 candidates
Major Third Parties
	• Green (affiliates): 1 candidate
	• Libertarian: 1 candidate
Other Third Parties
	• America's Independent (affiliates): 1 candidate
	• Boston Tea: 1 candidate
	• Constitution (affiliates): 1 candidate
	• Ecology Party of Florida: 1 candidate
	• Objectivist Party: 1 candidate
	• Socialism and Liberation: 1 candidate
	• Prohibition Party (affiliates): 1 candidate
	• Socialist Party USA: 1 candidate
	• Socialist Workers Party: 1 candidate
	• Term Limits for the United States Congress: 1 candidate
Independents
	• Independent: 2 candidates
	• No Affiliation: 1 candidate
	• No Party Affiliation: 9 candidates
Write-in/Scattered/otherwise not readily classifiable
	• Write-in: 7 candidates
Candidates running under the banner of more than one party are counted towards each party's total. A candidate who has lost a primary or is apparently no longer a candidate is not counted.

Notes

Candidates for office appear on this page in italics where 'The Green Papers' does not yet have independent confirmation from an election authority that the person so listed will actually appear on the ballot.

FEC indicates the Federal Election Commission (FEC) Campaign Finance Summary "Total Receipts" for candidates for Federal Office.