Nixon, Daniels, Mayfield win big

by | Aug 21, 2024

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TALLAHASSEE — Democrats Angie Nixon and Kimberly Daniels crushed their challengers for Jacksonville seats in the state House, while Sen. Debbie Mayfield, R-Indialantic, could be on the verge of returning to the House.

Those were among the takeaways Tuesday night as the results of House primaries across the state rolled in.

Nixon faced a challenge from former Jacksonville City Council member Brenda Priestly Jackson in Duval County’s House District 13, but Nixon captured nearly 81 percent of the vote, according to the state Division of Elections website. Nixon faces only a write-in opponent in November, virtually assuring her return to the House.

In nearby House District 14, Daniels, who has sometimes clashed with other House Democrats, faced two primary opponents. But she got 63.4 percent of the vote and also faces only a write-in candidate in November.

Meanwhile, Mayfield easily defeated former U.S. Rep. Dave Weldon in a Republican primary in Brevard County’s House District 32. Mayfield, who will face Democrat Juan Hinojosa in November, couldn’t run again for the Senate this year because of term limits. She served in the House from 2008 to 2016 before getting elected to the Senate.

Here are five other takeaways from House primaries:

— Rep. Bruce Antone, D-Orlando, Rep. Rita Harris, D-Orlando, Rep. Daryl Campbell, D-Fort Lauderdale, and Rep. Ashley Gantt, D-Miami, are assured of two more years in the House after winning primaries. They do not have opponents in November.

— Broward County Democrat Mitch Rosenwald and Miami-Dade County Democrat Wallace Aristide locked up House seats with their primary wins in District 98 and District 107, respectively. They do not have opponents in November.

— A general-election rematch is set after Republican Erika Booth won a primary in House District 35 in Orange and Osceola counties. Democrat Tom Keen flipped the seat in a January special election, and Republicans have made a priority of trying to win it back in November.

— Former lobbyist and state Public Counsel Richard Gentry could be headed to the House after winning one of the tightest legislative primaries of the night. Gentry received nearly 37 percent of the vote in the Republican primary in House District 27, while Steve Shives received 33 percent and Beckie Sirolli received about 30 percent. Gentry will face Democrat Andy Ferrari and Libertarian Dennis Simpson Jr. in November in the district, which is made up of parts of Lake, Marion and Volusia counties.

— All of the incumbent House members on Tuesday’s ballot won their primaries. Gantt was the only incumbent who received less than 60 percent of the vote, She received 53.3 percent in a three-way primary in House District 109 against former House members James Bush and Roy Hardemon.

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