Election Day – November 4, 2008

Election Day is finally here! Thanks to all of our Associated Industries of Florida Political Council (AIFPC) members, who have traveled over the state interviewing candidates and speaking with incumbents on the issues facing Florida’s businesses.  We hope that you found the process informative and helpful as you made your decisions on who to support on Election Day. 

Please join us tonight at the AIF Election Watch 2008 party beginning at 7 p.m. in the courtyard as we watch the election results come in from today’s elections.  A wide-screen TV and computers will be available for you to monitor the results, as well as I will be sending out periodic emails to update you on the results.

In addition, please go to AIF’s website, www.aif.com, to view AIF’s endorsed Congressional and Florida Legislative candidates, our position on the constitutional amendments, and up-to-date election results. 

Today on Election Day there are a number of races that are still in play and I’ve outlined them below as the Races to Watch on November 4, 2008. 

Races to Watch

U.S. Congress

It is being forecasted that Florida will lose at least three Republicans Congressional seats- CD 8 Ric Keller; CD 24 Tom Feeney; and one Miami seat- either Lincoln Diaz Balart (CD 21) or Mario Diaz Balart (CD25).  But the Republicans may actually pick up one congressional seat, which is unheard of this election year around the nation, with Tom Rooney (R) opposing Congressman Tim Mahoney (D), who has faced an embarrassing scandal causing him to fall out of grace with the voters. 

The Florida Senate

SD 19:  Senator Gary Siplin goes up against Republican candidate Belinda Ortiz in the general election.  This is a target seat for the Republicans and if Ortiz wins in this Democratic district, it will be a huge victory for the Republicans. 

SD 23:  This is a top Senate race to watch this evening as former Representative Nancy Detert and political newcomer Morgan Bentley face off.  This is a battleground seat for the Republicans and  Democrats, as the R’s hope to hold on to the seat, and the D’s hope to take it in an upset.

SD 24:  In a race to succeed Senator Bill Posey, it is Thad Altman’s race to lose.  He was expected to win this Senate seat with little or no opposition, but the race in the final weeks has proven closer than expected as he faces his Democratic opponent Kendall Moore. 

SD 25:  While there is little doubt that Senate President Designate Jeff Atwater will win his last term in the Senate, it will be important to watch this race due to the surge of Democratic voter registration and early voting in his district. He faces political newcomer Linda Bird (D), who has been at the polls and connecting her campaign to that of Senator Obama.

The Florida House of Representatives

As for the House, it is difficult to determine exactly what will happen, but there are some areas that you should expect a shift.  It is expected that the Democrats will pick up a minimum of four to five seats in the House, but the Republicans are targeting seats as well and may pick up two seats.  It will be important to watch how the voter turnout and registration that leans Democratic will affect the races further down the ballot.  There are some seats that have become closer races due to the recent trends.   

Incumbents to watch:
HD 3:     Representative Clay Ford (R) v. Lumon May (D)
HD 20:   Doug Courtney (D) v. Representative Bill Proctor (R)
HD 32:   Representative Tony Sasso (D) v. Steve Crisafulli (R)
HD 46:   Representative John Legg (R) v. Ron Rice (D)
HD 48:   Representative Peter Nehr (R) v. Carl Zimmerman(D)
HD 54:   Representative Jim Frishe (R) v. George Gonzalez (D)
HD 67:   Richard Jackson (D) v. Representative Ron Reagan (R)
HD 69:   Laura  Benson (R) v. Representative Keith Fitzgerald (D)
HD 83:   Representative Carl Domino (R) v. Bryan Miller (D)
HD 91:   Representative  Ellyn Bogdanoff (R) v. Chris Chiari (D)

Open seats to watch:
HD 5:     Brad Drake (R) v. John McDaniel (D)
HD 8:     Peter Boulware (R) v. Michelle Rehwinkel Vasilinda (D)
HD 10:   Leonard Bembry (D) v. Don Curtis (R)
HD 21:   Linda Myers (D) v. Charles Van Zant (R)
HD 71:   Betty Gissendanner (D) v. Ken Roberson (R)
HD 81:   Michael DiTerlizzi (R) v. Adam Fetterman (D)