Shaw, Moody to face off for attorney general Nov. 6 FLORIDA CABINET
TALLAHASSEE — State Rep. Sean Shaw of Tampa won the Democratic nomination for attorney general on Tuesday night, setting up a November battle with Republican Ashley Moody.
He claimed 73 percent of the vote to Ryan Torrens’ 27 percent, with 77 percent of votes returned.
“This election we’re going to offer a clear choice, and I won’t back down,” Shaw said in a video posted on Twitter after his victory Tuesday night. “We’ve got to do more to protect the people of this state from gun violence, and I won’t let the gun lobby stand in the way.”
Shaw sued Torrens a month before the primary, attempting to have him thrown off the ballot for allegedly using an illegal campaign donation to pay his qualifying fee. A circuit court judge ordered Torrens removed from the race four days before Election Day, but an appeals court Monday temporarily blocked the order, allowing votes for Torrens to count.
The legal antics were just a part of a bitter primary season. Shaw will take on Moody, a Tampa judge who won the Republican attorney general primary, in the general election Nov. 6.
With 75 percent of the vote reported, Moody held a 57 percent to 43 percent lead over state Rep. Frank White of Pensacola.
White, an executive for a chain of car dealerships owned by his in-laws, welded his campaign to President Donald Trump’s agenda of strict enforcement of immigration laws. He used much of the $3.5 million he gave to his campaign on attack ads bashing Moody, who was endorsed by term-limited Attorney General Pam Bondi, as a liberal ex-Democrat.
Despite the rancor, White called Moody to concede and encouraged his supporters to back her in the general election.
“I told her that I am amazed by her work ethic and her resiliency,” White said in a released statement. “While we had our differences, we agree on the vast majority of issues. She has my full support going forward, and she should have your support too.”
In the race for agriculture commissioner, Democrat Nikki Fried will take on Republican Matt Caldwell, a state representative from North Fort Myers, after they won their respective primaries.
Fried, who ran on a platform of expanding access to medical marijuana and increasing consumer protections, received 58 percent to South Florida environmentalist Roy David Walker’s 26 percent. A third Democrat, Jeff Porter, mayor of Homestead, garnered 16 percent.
Caldwell beat out three other Republicans, winning the nomination with 34 percent of the vote. State Sen. Denise Grimsley and former state Rep. Baxter Troutman each claimed 27 percent, followed by Mike McCalister with 13 percent.
Shaw and Fried are hoping to buck recent trends in the general
election. Democrats have won one Cabinet race in 20 years.
There was no primary in either party for Chief Financial Officer. Incumbent Republican CFO Jimmy Patronis will take on Jeremy Ring, a former Democratic state senator, in November.
Democrats also envision a “blue wave” powered by anger at President Trump this November, which will result in gains in the Legislature, including races in Central Florida.
Tracey Kagan will be on the front lines in that battle after winning the Democratic nomination for House District 29, beating Darryl Block 67 percent to 33 percent. Kagan will take on GOP incumbent Rep. Scott Plakon of Longwood in the general election.
In House District 30, Joy GoffMarcil beat out two other Democrats for the right to challenge Rep. Bob Cortes, R-Altamonte Springs, in November. She took 48 percent of the vote to 29 percent for Brendan Ramirez and 23 percent for Clark Anderson.
Another seat Democrats seek to switch is House District 44 in west Orange County. Geraldine Thompson will take on incumbent Rep. Bobby Olszewski, R-Winter Garden. Thompson, a former legislator, won the primary 60 percent to 40 percent over Margaret Gold.
The race for House District 47, which covers downtown Orlando, will feature Republican Stockton Reeves versus Democrat Anna Eskamani. Reeves beat Mikaela Nix in the GOP primary, 55 percent to 45 percent. Eskamani didn’t have a primary challenger. The winner in November will replace Rep. Mike Miller, R-Orlando, who ran for Congress.
In House District 50, which stretches from east Orange into Brevard County, incumbent Rep. Rene Plasencia, R-Orlando, fended off a primary challenge from George Collins, 64 percent to 36 percent.