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.