Danny Federico
reporter3.riverbendnews@gmail.com
*Note: At the time of writing, vote counts were 95 percent in. Not all numbers may be exactly the same once the vote count reaches 100 percent.*
On Tuesday, Nov. 8, citizens across the nation filed into their local voting precincts to cast their ballots in the 2022 Midterm Elections. Among choices for Governor, Florida Senator, Congress, Attorney General and Commissioner of Agriculture, residents of Hamilton and Lafayette County also saw candidate names in local county commissioner and school board races.
On the local level, Hamilton County voters had the opportunity to vote for the District 4 representative on the Board of County Commissioners. Candidates included Travis Erixton (REP), Kenny B. Morgan (DEM) and Scott Gay (NPA). With a total of 443 votes, equaling 43.6 percent, Erixton claimed the seat of District 4 Commissioner. Gay came in second with a total of 287 votes, equaling 28.25 percent. Morgan came in close to Gay, only being one vote shy with a count of 286, equaling 28.15 percent of the votes.
In Lafayette County, voters were able to vote for the District 2 representative on the School Board. Candidates in this race were incumbent Marion McCray and Mary Ann Koon McCray. By a vote of 1,600, totaling 56.4 percent, Marion was elected to remain in the seat. Mary Ann Koon received a total of 1,236 votes, equaling 43.6 percent.
In the midterm elections, Florida's results were primarily red, as the Republican Party seemed to dominate the state.
In the vote for US Senator, incumbent Marco Rubio (REP) and Val Demings (DEM) were the two main runners. With a total of 4,468,468 votes, equaling 57.7 percent of the state's votes, incumbent Rubio will remain in the seat. Demings received a total of 3,195,513 votes, equaling 41.3 percent of the state's votes. Locally, in Suwannee County, Rubio received 13,113 votes (80.44 percent), while Demings received 3,017 votes (18.51 percent); in Hamilton County, Rubio received 3,030 votes (70.78 percent), while Demings received 1,213 votes (28.33 percent); and in Lafayette County, Rubio received 2,519 votes (86.7 percent), while Demings received 348 votes (12 percent).
Lafayette County voters also had the opportunity to vote for Congress' District 2 representative. Candidates in this race were Neal Dunn (REP) and Al Lawson (DEM). Throughout the state, Dunn received a total of 179,873 votes (59.8 percent), while Lawson received a total of 120,842 votes (40.2 percent). Locally, in Lafayette County, Dunn received 115 votes (92 percent), while Lawson received 10 votes (eight percent).
The race for Congress' District 3 representative saw two main contenders: incumbent Kat Cammack (REP) and Danielle Hawk (DEM). Throughout the state, Cammack received a total of 177,99 votes (62.5 percent), meaning she will retain her seat, while Hawk received 103,254 votes (36.3 percent). Locally, in Suwannee County, Cammack received 13,259 votes (81.68 percent), while Hawk received 2,795 votes (17.22 percent); in Hamilton County, Cammack received 3,053 votes (71.97 percent), while Hawk received 1,153 votes (27.18 percent); and in Lafayette County, Cammack received 2,454 votes (88.6 percent), while Hawk received 287 votes (10.4 percent).
The highly anticipated race for Florida Governor saw primary contenders incumbent Ron DeSantis (REP) and Charlie Crist (DEM) go head-to-head. With a state total of 4,607,597 votes (59.4 percent), DeSantis will remain in the position of Governor. Crist received a total of 3,100,603 votes (40 percent) throughout the state. Locally, in Suwannee County, DeSantis received a total of 13,635 votes (83.38 percent), while Crist received 2,649 votes (16.20 percent); in Hamilton County, DeSantis received 3,145 votes (73.29 percent), while Crist received 1,118 votes (26.05 percent); and in Lafayette County, DeSantis received 2,615 votes (89.7 percent), while Crist received 294 votes (10.1 percent).
In the vote for Florida's Attorney General, incumbent Ashley Moody (REP) and Aramis Ayala (DEM) went head-to-head. With a total of 4,687,772 votes, equaling 60.4 percent of the state's votes, Moody will remain Florida's Attorney General. Ayala received a total of 3,076,361 votes, equaling 39.6 percent of the state's votes. Locally, in Suwannee County, Moody received 13,664 votes (84.03 percent), while Ayala received 2,597 votes (15.97 percent); in Hamilton County, Moody received a total of 3,170 votes (74.45 percent), while Ayala received 1,088 votes (25.55 percent); and in Lafayette County, Moody received a total of 2,616 votes (90.6 percent), while Ayala received 273 votes (9.4 percent).
The race for Florida's Chief Financial Officer saw incumbent Jimmy Patronis (REP) and Adam Hattersley (DEM). With a total of 4,522,394 votes, equaling 59.5 percent of the state's votes, Patronis will retain his position. Hattersley received a total fo 3,080,019 votes, equaling 40.5 percent of the state's votes. Locally, in Suwannee County, Patronis received 13,329 votes (82.45 percent), while Hattersley received 2,837 votes (17.55 percent); in Hamilton County, Patronis received 3,055 votes (72.27 percent), while Hattersley received 1,172 votes (27.73 percent); and in Lafayette County, Patronis received 2,553 votes (88.9 percent), while Hattersley received 320 votes (11.1 percent).
Wilton Simpson (REP) and Naomi Esther Blemur (DEM) went against each other for the position of Commissioner of Agriculture. With a total of 4,505,055, equaling 59.3 percent of the state's votes, Simpson will claim the seat as Commissioner of Agriculture. Blemur received a total of 3,090,767 votes, equaling 40.7 percent of the state's votes. Locally, in Suwannee County, Simpson received a total of 13,446 votes (83 percent), while Blemur received 2,754 votes (17 percent); in Hamilton County, Simpson received 3,079 votes (72.79 percent), while Blemur received 1,151 votes (27.21 percent); and in Lafayette County, Simpson received 2,582 votes (89.6 percent), while Blemur received 299 votes (10.4 percent).
The highly anticipated race for District 3's State Senator saw Corey Simon (REP) go up against incumbent Loranne Ausley (DEM). With a total of 113,376 votes, equaling 53 percent of the district's votes, Simon claimed the seat of District 3 State Senator. Ausley received a total of 100,560 votes, equaling 47 percent of the district's votes. Locally, in Suwannee County, Simon received 13,222 votes (81.75 percent), while Ausley received 2,952 votes (18.25 percent); in Hamilton County, Simon received 3,025 votes (71.97 percent), while Ausley received 1,178 votes (28.03 percent); and in Lafayette County, Simon received 2,521 votes (88.5 percent), while Ausley received 330 votes (11.5 percent).
All five Florida Supreme Court justices on the ballot were reported by the Associated Press as receiving an approval rating between 62 and 64 percent, enough to retain their seats. These justices included Charles T. Canady, John D. Couriel, Jamie Grosshans, Jorge Labarga and Ricky Polston. Locally, Canady received 63.44 percent approval in Suwannee County, 64.66 percent approval in Hamilton County and 62 percent approval in Lafayette County. Couriel received 68.65 percent approval in Suwannee County, 64.97 percent approval in Hamilton County and 66.8 percent approval in Lafayette County. Grosshans received 68.27 percent approval in Suwannee County, 65.13 percent approval in Hamilton County and 65.8 percent approval in Lafayette County. Labarga received 51.22 percent approval in Suwannee County, 54.99 percent approval in Hamilton County and 49.4 percent approval in Lafayette County. Polston received 60.78 percent approval in Suwannee County, 37.22 percent approval in Hamilton County and 59.5 percent approval in Lafayette County.
In addition, five judges were looking to be retained in the First District Court of Appeal. Locally, Judge Ross L. Bilbrey received 65.12 percent approval in Suwannee County, 63.91 percent approval in Hamilton County and 63.8 percent approval in Lafayette County. Judge Susan Kelsey received 67.71 percent approval in Suwannee County, 65.14 percent approval in Hamilton County and 63.3 percent in Lafayette County. Judge Bobby Long received 68.32 percent approval in Suwannee County, 64.96 percent approval in Hamilton County and 66.2 percent in Lafayette County. Judge Lori S. Rowe received 59.79 percent approval in Suwannee County, 62.51 percent approval in Hamilton County and 59.4 percent approval in Lafayette County. Judge Bo Winokur received 65.34 percent approval in Suwannee County, 64.04 approval in Hamilton County and 63.7 percent approval in Lafayette County.
The final items on the ballot were three Constitutional Amendments. The first amendment involved the limitation on the assessment of real property used for residential purposes; the second amendment involved abolishing the Constitution Revision Commission; and the third involved additional homestead property tax exemption for specified critical public services workforce. Although these three amendments had high approval ratings, they needed to hit a threshold of 60 percent to pass. With Amendment 1 receiving a total of 57.3 percent votes, Amendment 2 receiving a total of 53.9 percent votes and Amendment 3 receiving 58.7 percent votes, neither of them passed.