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Statehouse Remains Under GOP Control

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The Associated Press

Published: November 4, 2008

TALLAHASSEE — Republicans kept control of the Florida Legislature by a comfortable margin Tuesday despite a Democratic tide that swept across much of the rest of the nation.

Although there were 15 seats up for grabs in the Senate, the parties broke even leaving Republicans with a 26-14 advantage with all nine incumbents winning.

One of the most high-profile races is in Tallahassee where former Florida State University and pro football star Peter Boulware, a Republican, was trailing slightly in his bid to take an open House seat considered a Democratic stronghold.

Boulware spent a half-million dollars in his bid against Democrat Michelle Rehwinkel Vasilinda, a community college teacher and attorney. With 91 percent of the expected vote counted, Vasilinda had 49 percent while Boulware had 47.5 percent.

The incumbent in that district, Democrat Loranne Ausley, was one of 33 House members forced out by term limits.

Most of the other contests that attracted the most interest were in the Senate.

Former state Rep. Nancy Detert defeated Sarasota attorney Morgan Bentley, who Democrats hoped might have been able to capture the seat held by Republican Lisa Carlton, who was prohibited from running again by the state's term limits law.

State Rep. Thad Altman of Melbourne defeated Democrat Kendall Moore and kept the Senate seat vacated by Bill Posey, who won a congressional seat Tuesday, in GOP hands.

Democrat Gary Siplin of Orlando, who was targeted by Republicans, held off challenger Belinda Ortiz.

Six senators were already elected without opposition — four Republicans and two Democrats. Nine incumbents ran in the 15 contested Senate races.

In the 120-member House, 43 incumbents were unopposed.

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