Florida Senate Race
Incumbent --
Marco Rubio (R)
(Defeated Kendrick B. Meek, D, to succeed George LeMieux, R, who retired); Will retire at end of current term. LeMieux announced he would not seek election in 2010 following his appointment to the seat
Likely Republican
Updated Oct. 14, 2010
Since being chased out of the Republican primary and deciding to run as an Independent, Gov. Charlie Crist has made no secret that he's looking to take votes from both Democrats and Republicans. But it looks increasingly unlikely that he can carve out enough votes in the center to win the three-way race against Rep. Kendrick Meek (D) and former state Speaker Marco Rubio (R).
Republicans have focused most of their attention on painting the governor as a liberal in disguise. Meek is touting himself as the only real Democrat in the race in an effort to prevent Crist from eating too far into the Democratic vote and becoming viewed as the de facto Democrat in the race.
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What appears likely is that Rubio will capture the lion's share of the Republican vote and a portion of GOP-leaning independents. Meek will get the Democratic base vote and Crist will get some middle-of-the-road and Democratic-leaning independents.
That math adds up to a Rubio victory, which is reflected in current polls.
State Information
U.S. Senate Delegation: 1 Democrat, 2 Republicans
U.S. House Delegation:
Florida's Other Senator
Sen. Marco Rubio-R
First Appointed: 2010; Defeated Kendrick B. Meek, D, to succeed George LeMieux, R, who retired
Last Elected: 2006 (60.3%)
State Offices
Governor: Rick Scott, R
First Elected: 2010 (1st term)
State House Control: Republican
State Senate Control: Republican
State Election History
| Year |
Election |
Candidate |
Votes |
Percent |
| 2010 |
general |
Marco Rubio (R) |
2,645,743 |
48.9% |
| Charlie Crist (I) |
1,607,549 |
29.7% |
| Kendrick Meek (D) |
1,092,936 |
20.2% |
| Alexander Snitker (LIBERT) |
24,850 |
0.5% |
| Sue Askeland (NPA) |
15,340 |
0.3% |
| Rick Tyler (NPA) |
7,397 |
0.1% |
| Bernie DeCastro (CNSTP) |
4,792 |
0.1% |
| Lewis Armstrong (NPA) |
4,443 |
0.1% |
| Bobbie Bean (NPA) |
4,301 |
0.1% |
| Bruce Riggs (NPA) |
3,647 |
0.1% |
| Piotr Blass (WRI) |
47 |
|
| Richard Lock (WRI) |
18 |
|
| Belinda Quarterman-Noah (WRI) |
18 |
|
| George Drake (WRI) |
13 |
|
| Robert Monroe (WRI) |
6 |
|
| Howard Knepper (WRI) |
4 |
|
| Carol Ann LaRosa (WRI) |
2 |
|
| 2004 |
general |
Mel Martinez (R) |
3,672,864 |
49.4% |
| Betty Castor (D) |
3,590,201 |
48.3% |
| Dennis Bradley (VET) |
166,642 |
2.2% |
| Mark Stufft (Write-In) |
119 |
|
| 1998 |
general |
Bob Graham (D) |
2,436,407 |
62.5% |
| Charlie Crist (R) |
1,463,755 |
37.5% |
| 1992 |
general |
Bob Graham (D) |
3,244,299 |
65.4% |
| Bill Grant (R) |
1,715,156 |
34.6% |
| Charles Evans (Write-In) |
86 |
|
| Wayne Wiechart (Write-In) |
71 |
|
| Dan Fein (Write-In) |
63 |
|
| 1986 |
general |
Bob Graham (D) |
1,877,543 |
55% |
| Paula Hawkins (R) |
1,552,376 |
45% |
Vote For President
| Year |
Democrat |
Republican |
Independent |
|
2012
+
|
: |
: |
|
| 2008 |
Barack Obama: 51.03% |
John McCain: 48.22% |
|
| 2004 |
John Kerry: 47% |
George W. Bush: 52% |
|
| 2000 |
Al Gore: 49% |
George W. Bush: 49% |
|
+ Nearly complete, unofficial returns
