Voters went to the polls Tuesday to select a new U.S. president and decide races on the national, state and local levels. Floridians also weighed in on six constitutional amendments, each of which required a 60% supermajority to pass. St. Johns County voters were asked to decide two referenda related to taxes supporting the school district.
By early morning, it became clear that Republican Donald J. Trump would become the first president since Grover Cleveland to be elected to two nonconsecutive terms. Trump and running mate J.D. Vance defeated Democrats Kamala D. Harris and running mate Tim Walz both in Florida and nationally.
In the race for Florida’s open U.S. Senate seat, Republican incumbent Rick Scott beat Democrat Debbie Mucarsel-Powell, getting 55.61% of the vote to Mucarsel-Powell’s 42.75%.
Here’s a look at the other races:
U.S. House of Representatives
In District 5, Republican incumbent John H. Rutherford defeated Democrat Jay McGovern, 63.09% to 36.91%.
Congressional District 5 is all of St. Johns County north of County Road 214 and Wildwood Drive, including St. Augustine Beach on Anastasia Island. The district extends north to the state line and west to the St. Johns River in Jacksonville.
In District 6, Republican incumbent Michael Waltz defeated Democrat James David Stockton III, 66.55% to 33.45%.
Congressional District 6 is all of St. Johns County south of County Road 214, Wildwood Drive and St. Augustine Beach. The district extends into five other counties: Flagler, Lake, Marion, Putnam and Volusia.
State Senator, District 7
Republican Tom Leek defeated Democrat George Anthony “T” Hill II, 68.27% to 31.73%.
State Senate District 7 consists of all of St. Johns, Putnam and Flagler counties and the northern parts of Volusia County.
Florida House of Representatives
In District 18, Republican Kim Kendall strongly defeated Democrat Keith Matthews, 69.93% to 30.07%.
Florida House District 18 is all of St. Johns County north of State Road 16.
In District 19, Republican Sam Greco defeated Democrat Adam Morley, 60.96% to 39.04%.
Florida House District 19 consists of that portion of St. Johns County east of U.S. 1 and the city of St. Augustine south of District 18. It extends south to include all of Flagler County.
In District 20, Republican Judson Sapp trounced Democrat Tony Connolly, 75.42% to 24.58%.
Florida House District 20 consists of all of St. Johns County south of S.R. 16 and west of U.S. 1. It extends to include all of Putnam County and parts of Clay and Marion counties.
State Constitutional Amendments
Only two of the six amendments, 2 and 5, passed.
Sheriff
Republican incumbent Sheriff Robert Hardwick easily prevailed over write-in challenger Terri Schurman with 96.9% of the vote to Schurman’s 3.1%.
St. Johns County Commission
District 1 Republican incumbent Christian Whitehurst easily defeated write-in challenger Taylor Ohntrup with 95.36% of the vote to Ohntrup’s 4.64%.
Republican Clay Murphy easily defeated write-in challenger Fitch McGraw for the District 3 seat with 97.13% of the vote to McGraw’s 2.87%.
Republican Ann Taylor easily defeated challenger Merrill Paul Roland for the District 5 seat, 79.25% to Roland’s 20.75%.
School Board Member, District 5
Linda Thomson defeated Bethany Hilbert in a very close race, Thomson getting 50.74% of the vote to Hilbert’s 49.26%.
City of St. Augustine Commission, Seat 1
Jonathan DePreter prevailed over Billy Triay, 56.16% to 43.84%.
Anastasia Mosquito Control District
T.J. Mazzotta defeated Ed Slavin for Seat 1, 62.2% to 37.8%. Gayle Gardner defeated Tom Reynolds for Seat 3, 66.34% to 33.66%.
Gina LeBlanc narrowly defeated Gary Howell for Seat 5. LeBlanc received 44.17% of the vote to Howell’s 43.33%. The third candidate for that seat, Martin B. Miller, received 12.5% of the vote.
St. Augustine Port, Waterway and Beach Commission
In Group 2, Nicholas G. Binder defeated Doreen Duffy. In Group 4, Sandy Flowers defeated Christopher K. Way.
School Board Referenda
St. Johns County voters approved both the extension of the half-cent sales tax for capital projects and the one mill increase in property taxes to pay for salaries.
Other races
Shawna Berden won Durbin Crossing CDD Seat 4. Kevin Austin won Heritage Landing CDD Seat 1, and Michael C. Taylor won Seat 5. Aaron J. Clausen won Julington Creek Plantation CDD Seat 5. Brian Walsh won Marshall Creek CDD Seat 4, and David Ashworth won Seat 5. Jessica Brown won Meadow View at Twin Creeks CDD Seat 1. Al Myslicki won Parkland Preserve CDD Seat 3, and Clare Olsen won Seat 4. Heather Brofford won Six Mile Creek CDD Seat 1, and Mindy Gellman won Seat 5. Stephen Handler won Sweetwater Creek CDD Seat 5. Ronnie Murphy won Trout Creek CDD Seat 3, Heather Loffredo won Seat 4, and Bud Laudenslager won Seat 5. Jennifer Martin won Turnbull Creek CDD Seat 2, and Michael Gernhard won Seat 4.
