TAMPA -- Total domination by the GOP.
Florida's reputation as a swing state took a heavy and perhaps mortal blow as Republican governor Ron DeSantis and Republican U.S. Senator Marco Rubio overwhelmingly win reelection.
DeSantis defeated Democrat and former governor Charlie Crist by almost 20 percentage points. At his victory speech, DeSantis declared that Florida "was a refuge of sanity" when the world "went mad" during the pandemic. "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race in this first time, and I have kept the faith." Supporters chanted "two more years" -- a possible reference to a presidential run by DeSantis in 2024.
A soft-spoken Crist offered best wishes to DeSantis and his family in a concession speech.
Rubio's victory over his Democratic opponent, Orlando congresswoman and former police chief Val Demings, was almost as impressive. Rubio beat Demings by more than 16 percentage points, or more than 800,000 votes. At his victory speech, Rubio told his audience that voters "will vote for people who fight for people like them." He says Democrats forgot about immigration and crime and told voters they had to endure higher prices because of climate change.
Demings declared that "constitutional rights" are under attack and that people are wondering if democracy can deliver safety and prosperity. She insisted that "even tonight, I still believe in America."
Both DeSantis and Rubio surprised by winning typically blue counties, including Miami-Dade, Palm Beach, Hillsborough and Pinellas. Both the Hillsborough and Pinellas county commissions flipped from Democratic to Republican control.
The red wave swept down ballot, with Republicans taking all seats on the Florida Cabinet, and winning supermajorities in the Florida House and Senate.
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