More Republicans turned out than Democrats at the polls. The difference likely came down to third-party voters \u2014 more than 13,000 had cast their ballots as of 6 p.m. Tuesday.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt came down to turnout,\u201d Nathan said. \u201cI really think this came through because we were speaking to (third-party voters) where they were at.\u201d<\/p>\n
Nathan\u2019s performance is in keeping with a nationwide trend. In 20 state legislative races across the country, Democrats have improved upon former Vice President Kamala Harris\u2019 performance by 10.5 points on average, according to reporting from Axios.<\/p>\n
The Associated Press had not called the race for Nathan as of 10 p.m. But the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee, which funds state legislative races across the country, declared victory for Nathan and another Florida Democrat, Emily Gregory, who flipped a Palm Beach County state House seat that went for President Donald Trump by about 10 points.<\/p>\n
\u201cMar-a-Lago and Tampa just flipped red to blue, which should have Republicans sweating the midterms,\u201d Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee President Heather Williams said in a statement. \u201cState Democrats have now flipped a staggering 30 districts red to blue since Trump\u2019s election.\u201d<\/p>\n
David Jolly, a Democratic candidate for governor, also celebrated Nathan and Gregory as winners.<\/p>\n
\u201cTonight, (voters have) rightfully put their trust in Sen. Elect Brian Nathan and Rep. Elect Emily Gregory,\u201d Jolly said in a statement. In November, we have the historic opportunity to elect a Democratic Governor. It\u2019s clear. Change is here.”<\/p>\n
Senate District 14 covers much of Hillsborough County west of Interstate 275, including South and West Tampa, as well as suburbs like Town \u2018N Country, Westchase, Carrollwood and Lutz.<\/p>\n
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More than a quarter of eligible voters cast their ballots in Tuesday\u2019s special election. That\u2019s an improvement compared to the last time Hillsborough County held a special legislative election in 2017. Turnout in the election for House District 58, which at the time covered parts of east Hillsborough, was just over 15%.<\/p>\n
There are still 186 provisional ballots and other ballots awaiting review, said Gerri Kramer, spokesperson for the Hillsborough Supervisor of Elections office. Some may be rejected, she said.<\/p>\n
Voters have until Thursday to correct those ballots. If the race is still within recount territory (a margin of 0.5 percentage points or less), that process would begin March 31, Kramer said. Elections officers will decide Friday whether a recount is needed.<\/p>\n
Some who voted said they knew little about the candidates. About a dozen voters who spoke with the Tampa Bay Times Tuesday said they cast a ballot either to support their party or because such civic engagement was the right thing to do.<\/p>\n
Tomkow had two major advantages: a Republican registration advantage in the district and a sizable fundraising lead.<\/p>\n
Tomkow outspent Nathan more than 3-to-1. She also received more than $400,000 in in-kind contributions from the Florida Republican Senatorial Campaign Committee.<\/p>\n
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But Nathan said he sees parallels between himself and Texas Democrat Taylor Rehmet, an Air Force veteran and machinists union leader who won a special election in a solid red state Senate district that Trump carried by 17 points. Rehmet was also vastly outspent by his Republican opponent.<\/p>\n
The results Tuesday suggest Florida is not immune to surprise Democratic victories, Nathan said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think (my victory) says Florida is more in play than the prognosticators have said up until now,\u201d he said. \u201cThat\u2019s not to say it\u2019s going to be a walk in the park to flip the state. But I think we can flip large parts of the state.\u201d<\/p>\n
Nathan, should he win, will be on the ballot again in November. But for now, he said he\u2019s ready to fight to preserve Florida\u2019s congressional map in a special session next month<\/a>.<\/p>\n