Senator Rick Scott (R-FL) has defeated challenger former Congresswoman Debbie Mucarsel-Powell (D-FL), retaining his seat in the upper chamber for the first time. It appears he will win by double digits. Sen. Scott has yet to lose an election in his political career, which is impressive considering all of his races have been statewide.
The former Florida governor seemed to be in firm control of the race a month before election day, but the race grew closer seemingly every week.
Sen. Scott had a seven-point lead heading into Election Day, according to the latest poll from Research Co. The smallest lead for Scott in the November polls was three points, according to Morning Consult.
President Trump was also comfortable with a 6.6-point lead over Vice President Kamala Harris in Florida heading into today, according to the FiveThirtyEight average, which appeared to be on par with the polling in comparison to Sen. Scott.
The two had leads in the double digits just weeks ago, but it seems their victories in the Sunshine State will be comfortable regardless. The early vote favored Republicans as they had a 3.5 million to 2.7 million advantage heading into Election Day. With Republicans normally winning Election Day, that figure was too daunting for Florida Democrats.
Race History
Sen. Scott and former Rep. Mucarsel-Powell have traded jabs throughout this campaign cycle.
Recently, Scott called out Mucarsel-Powell for allegedly violating Sunshine State election laws, as it appears she filmed herself inside a polling location. This is against Florida Statute 102.031(5) which states:
“No photography is permitted in the polling room or early voting area, except an elector may photograph his or her own ballot.”
Former Rep. Mucarsel-Powell posted a video seemingly inside a polling station in anticipation of her casting her ballot early. It was deleted.
However, in the middle of October. Mucarsel-Powell released an advertisement depicting Scott as a giant snake. In the ad, Sen. Scott’s head is placed on top of the giant snake as he slithers out of medical offices and toward the Capitol Building.
?NEW AD?: Florida's biggest snake isn't in the Everglades — he's in the U.S. Senate. pic.twitter.com/sa1qif6gWd
— Debbie Mucarsel-Powell (@DebbieforFL) October 15, 2024
“Then Scott slid into the Senate, where he wrote the plan to end social security, raise your taxes, and ban abortion,” said the former congresswoman. “Rick Scott’s a slippery politician who’s been ripping you off. I’m Debbie Mucarsel-Powell, and I approve this message because your family is getting squeezed and it’s time for a senator with a spine.”
Scott Still Has One More Campaign
Despite the political punches, it appears Sen. Scott will continue his effort to obtain Republican Senate leadership. Whether the GOP takes back the upper chamber remains to be seen. Republicans won control of the Senate in the 2014 election but relinquished it in the 2020 election cycle. In 2022, the attempt at a "Red Wave" by the GOP tightened the balance of power in the Senate 51-49 in favor of the Democrats but did not deliver a seismic shift. Republicans obtained a razor-thin majority in the House of Representatives in 2022.
This is a developing story.
