On the night I lost the Senate primary in August, I told my supporters that the fight didn’t end with my campaign. The stakes in November were too high to sit out: control of the Senate, control of the House, and whether Florida would keep sliding toward one-party rule. I very quickly put my energy, my network, and the resources entrusted to me to continue the fight.
We delivered more than $3 million to Democratic campaigns and party committees. About half of it stayed here in Florida. The remainder went to Senate races that ultimately realized our goal of achieving the majority and to veterans running for office across the country. The scorecard shows the results as of Thursday morning, with races still being counted.
The headline is simple: Democrats won control of the House and the Senate. Trump has guardrails and he knows it. Of the races we supported, 70 have been won, 19 came up short, and 21 are still being counted but overwhelming majority of those races have the Democrat ahead. I am proud that the people who gave to my campaign had a hand in winning nearly 100 races in Florida and around the country.
Florida: building a stronger Democratic bench
Democrats broke Republican supermajorities in both the Florida House and Senate. That’s a significant victory in a state where Republicans have dominated for decades, and it helps soften the disappointment of David Jolly’s loss in the governor’s race. Of the 13 state legislative seats we targeted, Democrats won 11, flipping Senate District 10 and six state House seats while successfully defending four others.
Roughly $1.5 million went to Florida, most of it to the party’s coordinated campaign, the House and Senate victory funds, and to congressional candidates. That money paid for the unglamorous work that wins close races: field organizers, voter contact, and chasing mail ballots. And the victories extended beyond the state legislature. Pia Dandiya won FL-22, while Darren Soto, Kathy Castor, and Jared Moskowitz held their congressional seats. In St. Petersburg, Charlie Crist was elected mayor.
The Senate: winning the majority
Nearly $800,000 went to Senate candidates and the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee. Democrats flipped six seats we supported: Sherrod Brown in Ohio, Josh Turek in Iowa, Troy Jackson in Maine, and Roy Cooper in North Carolina; we also picked two dark horse winners Adam Hamilton in Kansas and Annie Andrews in South Carolina. Chris Pappas held New Hampshire. Mary Peltola’s race in Alaska is still too close to call. Of the ten called Senate races we backed, Democrats won eight.
I ran for the Senate because I believed it needed members who would stand up to abuse of power. I’m glad to have helped elect a majority that can.
Veterans: continued service in public office
Nearly $700,000 went to veterans running for office. I believe people who’ve served in uniform bring something our politics badly needs: a habit of putting the mission and the nation ahead of themselves.
My brother Eugene won reelection in VA-07 along with Pat Ryan in NY-18 and Don Davis in NC-01. Fred Wellman flipped MO-02 as did Cait Conley in NY-17, Zach Dembo in KY-06, Rebecca Bennett in NJ-07, and Elaine Luria in VA-02. JoAnna Mendoza, Nancy LaCore, Jessica Killin and Eileen Laubacher are ahead in races that haven’t been called yet. We also gave $100,000 to VoteVets, which backed veteran candidates nationwide.
What comes next
The work continues. The resources we raised will continue to make a difference, supporting candidates, organizers, and volunteers who delivered important victories across Florida and the country.
I ran because I believe public service matters, and that hasn’t changed. Neither has my commitment to Florida or to the people working to make it better. I am going to keep showing up for Florida. It is my home and as we say in the Army, wherever you go you leave it better than you found it.
And to all of you who gave and volunteered this year: thank you. You helped build our majority!
Results are from AP and network projections and Florida Division of Elections unofficial totals as of November 5. Some races are still being counted, and figures are rounded.
Thanks for graphic it will make it easier to tell people to F— Off with their nonsense . They want to lie I have the facts and time . I m not my mother’s daughter for nada .
I didn’t realize all the gains made in Florida. Just amazing!