We hope you got some rest! It was a long night and ultimately Republican Ron DeSantis was elected to serve as Florida’s next governor in a tight race with Democrat Andrew Gillum. And in a tight U.S. Senate race, Gov. Rick Scott defeated Sen. Bill Nelson.
Here are a few takeaways from Election Day:
- After a huge turnout in early voting, about 56 percent of Miami-Dade County’s registered voters voted in the Nov. 6 election. That total blew the 41 percent turnout from the 2014 midterm election out of the water.
- Democrats picked up two key U.S. congressional seats in previously Republican-led Districts 26 and 27. On the state level, Republicans will represent the three cabinet positions that were on the ballot (attorney general, CFO, and agriculture commissioner).
- All but one of the 12 state amendments (Amendment 1 didn’t get the needed 60 percent for approval) were approved including Amendment 4, an item that will restore voting rights to more than 1 million felons across the state.
- City of Miami voters approved lease agreements for David Beckham’s ownership group to bring a soccer stadium complex to the Melreese golf course and for a development on the Miami River and voted against a plan to create a strong mayor system.
- Over in Miami Beach voters approved all six referenda on their ballot including a general obligation bond to fund multiple capital improvements projects and the long-delayed plans for a convention center hotel.
- Voters also approved a property tax increase to help fund increased salaries for most of Miami-Dade’s school teachers and additional school security measures.
