Democrats Gain Ground in State House

While Democrats nationally were taking back the U.S. House, Florida Democrats were making gains in the state House of Representatives, picking up seven seats that previously were held by Republicans. Considering how deep a hole the Democrats have been in, that's progress.

Two of those seats are in Pinellas County, where Democrats Janet Long and Bill Heller captured seats previously held by Republicans. (Pinellas was the only county in Florida where more than one legislative seat changed parties).

Here are the others: In Orlando, Democrat Scott Randolph unseated Republican Rep. Sheri McInvale; in Sarasota, Democrat Keith Fitzgerald won the seat formerly held by Republican Donna Clarke; in Broward, Rep. Susan Goldstein lost her seat to Democrat Martin Kiar; in Miami-Dade, Democrat Luis Garcia won the seat formerly held by Gus Barreiro; and in the Florida Keys, Democrat Ron Saunders won back the seat he used to hold before it was won by Republican Ken Sorensen.

Tuesday night's results mean the new alignment in the House is 78 Republicans, 42 Democrats. The gain is not just a morale booster for Democrats -- it also denies the GOP a two-thirds majority that under legislative rules allows them to move the agenda at their own pace.

The Democrats quite nearly knocked off another incumbent, by the way: In Palm Beach County, Republican Rep. Carl Domino of Jupiter won by 189 votes, holding off a furious challenge from Democrat Frederick Ford.   

Comments

Tony domattio is a one termer. Losing THREE seats to the Democrats is unforgivable. I would never vote for him again.

He provided no leadership, no support for the local or legislative races. Paul Bedinghaus and peggy OShea left the party with the best GOTV infrastructure of anywhere in the United States, and now look at it.

Save the Party, convince Bedinghaus to come back now! Hell get anyone.

Let me be the first to say congratulations to the incoming Dems. After all the bile and hate in this campaign, maybe after being outspent 10 to 1, maybe just maybe, the good citizens of this state are starting to realize who really does represent their "values".

DiMatteo is done

Carol Jean is done too... big wins yesterday, but some big loses too.

[Czhechoff]

That would be difficult to convince Bedinghaus, I think Crist has plans for him for a while!

[boofdah]

Thanks 8:32. :) I share your hope.

[Tender Artist]

yeah, its one thing to have a guy representing your party who is embarrassing, as long as he raises the money and wins, but THIS, this is another story all together.

Tony, do us all a favor and find a stooge to replace you so at leats yiou'll still ahve control.

We all knew there was mess brewing in the house. Rubio and his team took their eyes off the ball and Gelber took advantage of it!

Brickfield?

I agree, I dont care, anyone but that mobster. bedinghaus, brickfield, how about a woman? Too abd O'Shea won her race.

How about berfield?

[PCREC GUY]

Yes! Berfield would be great. Is she a a member?

I hope rachelle warmouth runs. she has been a real dedictaed trooper for a long long time.

She knows every angle of running the local party.

[terminator]

the pendulum has swung back to the middle which is quite normal in the political process.

balance is a good thing.

things were out of wack with King Jeb and the GOP "too much" in control and far right wing policies ensued.

now that the numbers are more even in the house and senate and a moderate governor in place, policy should be more palatable for the average Floridian.

let's hope so.

Just one question, what will all those special interests who pumped $40 million into Crist's campaign expect to get in return for their largesse?

But let's not forget what was learned last night:

The Democrats schooled the R's in the state house. Better campaigns. Better strategy.

So wring your hands R's, it's just the beginning.

Why did Pinellas republicans stand out as such a big loser?

Is it the trends? the orgaiztion?

Terminator,
you may want to start trying to work WITH the Republicans in the House and try to tone down the rhetoric a bit.

If you ever want to gain ground against those bloated bureaucracies in the districts and help your members that is ...

The dems took back a few seats they never should have lost - due to the national tidal wave - don't break your arms patting yourselves on the back. It will only break your heart in two years.

[terminator]

9:15
you are totally right.

I hope I was way off base with regard to CC.

I do have friends on both sides of the aisle (believe it or not).

yes, the bloated districts are the "evil empire" and we have been warring against their egregiousness.

problem is too many teachers forget about all else once they get raises.

with Jeb out of the picture, hopefully the extremists on the state board, DOE and in the legislature will go with him.

Congrats to Crist!

"Pinellas was the only county in Florida where more than one legislative seat changed parties."
Justice, Long and Heller. Does the PCDEC and its leadership get any credit for this, or was it accomplished without their help?

I just looked at the Pinellas county supervisor of elections website. It says Crist got only 50.81% of the vote!

IN HIS OWN COUNTY? barely a majority??

is that final? anyone know?

It was accomplished in spite of the DEC>

I think Ed Helm should run the REC in Pinellas.

The Rep. party and its minions known as the FMA, Chamber, Insurance, Assoc. Ind., took a walloping this cycle. Let's see they spent nearly 7 million in their loss to Villabos, another 5-7 million in their lose to Justice, millions more to drag Storms to victory over an unknown, a couple million to pick up the Oelrich seat. When all is counted the "R's" probably spent 17 million to break even in the Senate.

Then there are the 7 new State House Dems that won. Tough cycle for "R's"

Way to go Senator Justice, Rep. Heller, and Rep. Long you have made us proud.

The registration in Pinellas is:

R 38%
D 37.5

Less than 4500 votes separate the two. Pinellas county is about lost by the republicans forever, save for notrth county, although Nehr almost lost there too.

Minions, all of you. You actually think something changed yesterday. No wonder this country is so screwed up.

Ok, it’s been fun. Now get back to work, you have bills to pay, and they’re not going to get any smaller. And by the way, your paycheck isn’t going to get any bigger.

Justice and Sink both lost in Hillsborough. Crist eked out a majority in his home county. Maybe Pinellas Dem's are creating a future.

OK…here’s the tally:

Helm Candidates: Valentine, Zimmermann, Simpson, Jovan, Hrbabsokshbrysy, Dramiesi

King Candidates: Kriseman, Heller, Long, Justice

Three huge losers last night:

Pinellas Republicans

Ed Helm

And Liz McCallum - she's always a loser.

Can someone explain to me how Hooper in a split district did better than all other republicans except anderson?

R's big business deep pockets won huge yesterday. who are we kidding.

Amendment 3. Sink is one of them on most issues, maybe even better than Lee. Less firm, but still firm control, of both chambers.

the only way they don't get 90 percent of what they want is if they do another big tort reform push.

even then they will probably prevail over trial bar, which had so-so results overall.

Good lord did Hillsborough Dems get killed. Janee Murphy can't quit soon enough!

If Ed Helm deserves no cridit for the D wins, why does Tony get blamed for the R losses?

Because tony did nothing to help the repubs, while helm did eberything to help, but was ineffective.

Correction 10:16… Valentine, Zimmerman, Simpson, Jovan, and Hrbabso…whatever… where all established candidates under Carrie (the dude) Wadlingers watch.

King controlled RK, CJ, BH, and JL. Congrats to King, but he’s still an accused child predator and should be disappeared.

Tony focues soley on Gus and crist!

And Crist still only recived %50 in Pinellas!

Dimatteo is the WORST chairman since Ron wwalker and Ray (im crooked) Aden

11:00, that’s the most contradicting expiation I’ve ever heard.

Tony did everything to help, and R’s lost.
Ed did everything to help, and D’s won.

Clearly, you are simply a Helm hater, or drunk.

NEWS FLASH!

Tony focused on two of the most important races in Pinellas for the R’s – Crist and Gus… and they both won.

Yeah, I’d say Tony sucks…

idiot.

11:03, you couldn't be more wrong. Helm opposed Kriseman and Heller - her contributed to their opponents. He did the same with Calvin Harris and Linda Lerner. Helm is the biggest loser of all - every Dem that he and his wife opposed, won.

Helm put out the most impressive piece of literature I’ve seen come from the DEC in years. He did his best to keep it together while being attacked and sabotaged by the extreme left-wing of the Pinellas DEC membership.

Neither his, nor his wife’s personal choices have anything to do with the fact that Pinellas D’s won big, or lost big were it the case. Due respects to Harris and Lerner, we’ve accomplished nothing more than helping them pad their retirement. Neither has done anything for the Pinellas DEC since they first took office, neither will do anything now, both will retire after this, their final term, and both will have done nothing but allow the R’s to gear up for the taking of those seats in ’10. The same goes for Heller and that seat. Nice man, but an absolute waste of an opportunity for long-range capitol.

Justice and Kriseman are good men and will represent the D’s very well. More importantly, they offer sustainability and represent a future strength.

Your comments, 11:08, are a perfect example why the local DEC is in such a shambles. You would cut of your nose to spite your face.

[politicalspectator]

Speaking of huge losers 10:25 - Why would McCallum even matter in this election? She was finished a long time ago...the local party saw to that.

So the local Dems can enjoy the fruits of their labor: that old man and the other closet Republican boot-lickers.

lets be clear:

Tony tried to help Crist and Gus, they both won, although not by as much as they should have.

His fault lies in the fact that he offered to help to the down ballot races. NEWSFLASH Crist and Gus didnt need tonys help. The lsser known, lesser resourced candidates DO need the party help. this is where tony totally failed, and we have lost power directly because of tony dimatteos failure.

Correction..this is 11:26

Tony tried to help Crist and Gus, they both won, although not by as much as they should have.

His fault lies in the fact that he offered NO to help to the down ballot races. NEWSFLASH Crist and Gus didnt need tonys help. The lsser known, lesser resourced candidates DO need the party help. This is where tony totally failed, and we have lost power directly because of tony dimatteos failure.

[Tired of the madness in the RPOF]

Please email Chairman Carol Jean Jordan and personally thank her for her brilliant strategy that help the dems win. Chairman Carol Jean Jordan's e-mail address cjjordan@rpof.org .

Sincerly,
Tired of the madness in the RPOF

hang tight "tired"..the winds of change are coming soon to the party near you:)

A new, brilliant chairman is about to emerge as soon as Governor crist announces his support.

I think it is hilarious watching the Helm people trying to take credit for these wins. There were few people who worked harder to derail the work of Thurman and the House Caucus staff.

GOP: 78 members and 100 Ideas
DEMs: 42 members and 0 Ideas

Something tells me that Rubio/Sansom/Cannon will be able to govern just fine with a majority this size.

11:42, You are a Kool Aid drinking idiot.

“Thurman and the House Caucus staff.” Had nothing whatsoever to do with the local wins. Her focus was, as it should be, was on Davis – AND HE LOST!

She and her group of closet pedophiles should be thrown out on their asses. Justice, Kriseman, Heller, and Long won of their own volition. They each worked hard for it, reached across Party lines and avoided the local DEC from the get-go.

Neither Helm nor Thurman deserve credit.

Reading all the trash you losers write, I can't help but think, all of you are so insignificant in politics that you have to write your pathic little comments on a blog that 99.9 % of the people that read it (such as myself ) do so for the entertainment value. If any of you had any balls (sorry girls) you would get involved and try to make a real difference! If you are involved and write this crap, I truely feel sorry for you! How sad, how very very sad! You have no idea how stupid and comical you all sound!..... On the other hand, please keep up the good work. When ever I need a good laugh, I can always count on the Blogs!!! Kind of two faced huh? Oh well, im sure most of you can relate!

Adam,

Miami-Dade County picked up two seats, too.

Saunders and Garcia.

11:58, I couldn’t agree with you more. In fact, if you look on the Times home page; you’ll find their latest “Giggle Box” poll. There are two options missing, their newspaper and this blog.