MARION COUNTY, FL (352today.com) – It’s election day, and the returns are starting to come in for races that will impact the future of the 352 in ways great and small.
We’ll keep up with as many as we can, focusing on pivotal races in key areas, in this running liveblog, then unpack what it all may or may not mean in another story when the smoke clears.
7:42 p.m.: With 0 precincts officially reporting, Ashley Moody, Randy Fine and newcomer gubernatorial candidate Byron Donalds hold handy leads. Moody’s got the biggest lead of the Big (Republican) Three.
7:50 p.m.: With 3 precincts officially reporting, David Jolly is crushing the rest of the Democratic gubernatorial candidates. Statewide, the former Republican reportedly has around 60 percent of what little vote has been counted at this point.
8:00 p.m.: Marion County’s early and vote-by-mail ballots are completely counted. Sumter and Alachua counties still have vote-by-mail ballots out. With all 33 precincts reporting, Joe Strada looks like he’s gonna take the Republican primary for U.S. Representative for District 11 in Sumter County. James Pericola seems to have the Democratic side shored up there, too.
8:05 p.m.: In Marion County’s locally controversial school board races, it’s still very early, but looking like Dr. Sarah James will keep her District 5 seat, while Eric R. Cummings holds a lead in Dist. 3 and Mike Mills has a bit of an edge over Brigitte Smith in Dist. 4.
8:10 p.m.: Most national outlets are already projecting a Donalds vs. Jolly gubernatorial faceoff in November.
8:15 p.m.: The tightest race in the 352 right now? Probably the 5th Judicial Circuit race, in which Nicole Morris and Lisa Yeager are neck-and-neck.
8:30 p.m.: Gainesville, it looks like you’re gonna keep Mayor Harvey Ward, Jr.
8:33 p.m.: Donalds wins the Republican gubernatorial primary.
8:36 p.m.: Democratic Socialist Florida Rep. Angie Nixon just scored an upset win over establishment candidate Alex Vindman to become the party’s Senate candidate.
8:45 p.m.: Speaking of Democrats, their State Rep., Dist. 21 race looks too close to call between Antione Fields and Jacquelyn “Jackie” Randall.
9:05 p.m.: Ashley Moody will keep her Senate seat to run against Democratic Socialist Nixon in November.
Matt the Welder got trounced.
9:15 p.m.: Looks like the Sumter County School Districts are done: Sally Moss takes District 1, David A. Williams takes Dist. 3, and Michael Johnson takes Dist. 5.
9:30 p.m.: Pending Alachua County School District results: Hunter Miller takes District 1, Sarah Rockwell takes Dist. 3.
In the two Republican Marion County Board of County Commissioners races, Mike Crimi takes District 2, while Jeff Bairstow takes Dist. 4.