- November 23, 2024
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TALLAHASSEE — Backed by Gov. Ron DeSantis and Senate Republican leaders, House Appropriations Chairman Tom Leek, R-Ormond Beach, and Rep. Keith Truenow, R-Tavares, trounced their opponents Tuesday in closely watched GOP primaries for open state Senate seats, according to unofficial results posted on the Florida Division of Elections website.
Meanwhile, Sen. Geraldine Thompson locked up another four years in the Senate by easily defeating former Sen. Randolph Bracy in a Democratic primary in Orange County’s District 15. No other candidates ran for the seat.
Also, Rep. Kristen Arrington, D-Kissimmee, defeated two other candidates to win the Democratic primary for an open seat in Senate District 25 in Orange and Osceola counties. She will face Republican Jose Martinez in November.
In South Florida, former Broward County Commissioner Barbara Sharief topped two opponents in the Democratic primary in Senate District 35, which is open because Senate Minority Leader Lauren Book, D-Davie, is term-limited. Sharief will face Republican Vincent Parlatore in November in the Democratic-leaning district.
Among Republican Senate candidates advancing Tuesday were Sen. Ed Hooper, R-Clearwater, and Rep. Randy Fine of Brevard County, who is looking to succeed term-limited Sen. Debbie Mayfield, R-Indialantic.
Leek’s race in Senate District 7 drew heavy attention as he received support from business groups and state Republican leaders, and opponent David Shoar, a former St. Johns County sheriff, was backed by trial attorneys. Millions of dollars poured through political committees to support each candidate, and Shoar received an endorsement from former President Donald Trump.
Results on the state Division of Elections website showed Leek with 47.3 percent of the vote, while Shoar got 27.5 percent and a third candidate, Gerry James, received 25.2 percent. Leek will face Democrat George Anthony “T” Hill in November in the solidly Republican district, which is made up of St. Johns, Flagler, Putnam and part of Volusia counties.
Leek, in a statement issued less than an hour after the polls closed, credited voters “who did not fall for the false attacks, hurled by statewide Democrat, personal injury lawyers, who spent millions of dollars trying to influence a local state Senate Republican primary election.
