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2016 qualifying

Instant winners aplenty in Florida Senate races

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You might want to call them instant winners. As of 5 p.m. Friday, a dozen Florida Senate candidates appeared to win their elections when the qualifying period ended without them drawing opposition. Newcomers Lauren Book and George Gainer were among those candidates who did not draw an opponent. Gainer, a Bay County Republican, ran unopposed in Senate District 2. That race was expected to be hotly contested and deemed one to watch by political observers. But in March, Rep. Matt…

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Lauren Book headed to Florida Senate, wins SD 32 race unopposed

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Just call her an instant winner. Lauren Book won her Senate District 32 race Friday after no other candidate qualified for the race. A second Democrat, Emmanuel Blimie, had indicated he planned to run, but state records show Blimie did not qualify. “Having met thousands of people in the Senate district, listening to and learning about the things most important to them, I am incredibly honored and proud to now have the opportunity and to be allowed to serve the…

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With no opposition, Dane Eagle wins re-election in HD 77

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Dane Eagle is headed back to the Florida House. Eagle won his House District 77 race Friday after no other candidate qualified to run. Candidates have until noon Friday to qualify to be on the ballot. The 33-year-old Cape Coral Republican was first elected to the Florida House in 2012. Despite running unopposed, Eagle built up a substantial war chest in preparation for the election. State records show he raised $113,461 and had nearly $38,000 cash on hand at the…

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Irv Slosberg challenges Jeff Clemens in SD 31

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Irv Slosberg made it official Friday. The Boca Raton Democrat qualified to run in Senate District 31. Slosberg will challenge Jeff Clemens in the Aug. 30 primary. The decision marks the second time Slosberg has switched districts this month. Last week, Slosberg announced he was dropping his re-election bid to run in Senate District 29. But that decision was short-lived, and Slosberg made a last minute switch to nearby Senate District 31. First elected to the Florida House in 2000,…

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Write-in candidates qualify in two Southwest Florida state Senate races

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Southwest Florida will have closed primaries in two state Senate races, after write-in candidates filed to run for office in the waning days of the qualifying period. Lizbeth Benacquisto will face Jason Maughan in the Senate District 27 Republican primary. On Tuesday, Cape Coral resident Dakota Austin Eads filed and qualified to run for the seat as a write-in candidate. That decision closes the Aug. 30 primary, meaning only registered Republicans can vote in the primary. Benacquisto is well-liked in…

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George Gainer becomes instant winner in SD 2

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George Gainer is on his way to the Florida Senate. The Bay County Republican won the Senate District 2 seat Friday after no other candidate qualified for the race. “I am humbled and honored to have been elected without drawing another candidate to run against me,” Gainer said in a statement. “From the first day I announced my candidacy, I have worked to visit with as many voters as possible throughout the district. They have my pledge that my door is…

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