{"id":375418,"date":"2026-08-19T07:44:10","date_gmt":"2026-08-19T07:44:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/375418\/"},"modified":"2026-08-19T07:44:10","modified_gmt":"2026-08-19T07:44:10","slug":"strada-pericola-poised-to-battle-for-websters-seat","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/375418\/","title":{"rendered":"Strada,\u00a0Pericola\u00a0poised to battle for Webster\u2019s seat\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"

Businessman\u00a0Joe Strada and\u00a0lawyer James Pericola\u00a0appear to be\u00a0headed for a general election battle for U.S. House District 11 in November after\u00a0preliminary results showed them winning\u00a0the respective\u00a0primaries for\u00a0Republicans\u00a0and Democrats.\u00a0<\/p>\n

With all precincts reporting,\u00a0Strada\u00a0led by\u00a0a slim margin\u00a0against\u00a0former Lake County\u00a0Property\u00a0Appraiser and state lawmaker Carey Baker, according to published numbers from the\u00a0Orange County,<\/a>\u00a0Sumter County<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0Lake County<\/a>\u00a0election supervisors.\u00a0Orange\u00a0County\u00a0reported that some vote-by-mail ballots remained uncounted as of\u00a0midnight Wednesday morning,\u00a0and the race remained uncalled\u00a0by the Associated Press.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Unofficial results showed\u00a0Strada\u00a0with\u00a033.5% of the vote, while Baker had 33% of the vote\u00a0\u2014 amounting to a\u00a0377-vote\u00a0separation \u2014\u00a0which is within the margin\u00a0required\u00a0for a recount. Former Marine\u00a0Tim Wilkins garnered 25.5% of the vote.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

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U.S. House District 11 incumbent Rep. Dan Webster\u00a0announced his retirement<\/a>\u00a0in April and endorsed Baker to replace him.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

In the Democratic primary,\u00a0Pericola\u00a0handily defeated his two challengers to advance to the general election with 46.4% of the vote. Candidates Royal Webster\u00a0(27.5%) and Dan Williams (26.2%) finished second and third in the three-way race.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

In an\u00a0Apopka Chief questionnaire published last month<\/a>, Pericola said his campaign was focused on kitchen table issues,\u00a0including the\u00a0high cost\u00a0of living.\u00a0He reiterated those\u00a0themes\u00a0Tuesday night.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cAcross three counties, more than\u00a020,000 Democrats came together to nominate a candidate who will stand up to Trump and the failed policies that have brought us here\u00a0\u2014\u00a0astronomical gas prices, millions of Floridians kicked off their healthcare, and ridicule and shame around the world,\u201d\u00a0Pericola\u00a0said in a statement.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

Cook Political Report rates U.S. House District 11 as \u201csolidly red,\u201d meaning it is expected to go Republican in November.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

Elsewhere in Central Florida, former TV anchor\u00a0Ryan Elijah defeated embattled Rep. Cory Mills<\/a>\u00a0in a Republican primary for U.S. House District 7, which includes\u00a0Seminole and Volusia counties. Mills received the endorsement of President Donald Trump but had been plagued by scandals and ethics investigations.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

In statewide races, U.S. Sen.\u00a0Ashley Moody cruised to victory over three lesser-known Republican challengers, capturing more almost 80% of the GOP vote.\u00a0In November, she will face Democrat Angie Nixon, a progressive candidate who defeated the more moderate Alex Vindman.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

The winner will serve the remaining two years in Sen. Marco Rubio\u2019s remaining term, which he left to become U.S. Secretary of State last year.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

In the race to succeed Gov. Ron DeSantis,\u00a0who is term-limited,\u00a0U.S. Rep.\u00a0Byron Donalds won the GOP primary with\u00a0more than 47% of the vote, easily defeating\u00a0Lt. Gov.\u00a0Jay Collins,\u00a0who captured just over 25% of the vote.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cI am grateful to my family, my team, my volunteers, and every Floridian who powered us to this victory,\u201d Donalds said in an election night statement. \u201cNow is the time for the Republican Party to unite. By working together, we can make Florida more affordable and defend the Florida Dream for our families, seniors, and young people.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

In the general election, Donalds will face\u00a0former U.S. Rep.\u00a0David Jolly,\u00a0a Republican-turned-independent-turned-Democrat\u00a0who captured\u00a061% of the primary vote.\u00a0Former math teacher\u00a0Dayna Marie Foster came in second with more than 15% of the vote.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"\" <\/p>\n

J.C. Derrick is publisher for The Apopka Chief. He spent 18 years covering sports, education, and politics in Texas and Washington, D.C., before joining The Apopka Chief in 2025. J.C. is a member of the Florida Press Association Board of Directors.<\/p>\n

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