Jolly captures District 13 Congressional seat

[ErikJ]

Source: St. Petersburg Tribune

Published: March 11, 2014 | Updated: March 11, 2014 at 07:44 PM
ST PETERSBURG — Republican David Jolly defeated Democrat Alex Sink and Libertarian Lucas Overby to capture the fiercely contested special election today for the U.S. District 13 Congressional race in Pinellas County.

Jolly had 48.5 percent to win the seat and replace his former boss, C.W. Bill Young, who held it for 43 years until his death in October created the need for this special election.

Sink, the former state Chief Financial Officer, got 47 percent of the vote, and Overby got 5 percent.

A race that normally would play a minor role on the national stage, if any, became a media focal point as political observers tried to divine what lies ahead in the upcoming midterm election in November.

Sink, 65, Jolly, 41, and Overby, 27, often were overshadowed by outside political groups and the millions in advertisements they bought in what was the most expensive Congressional race in history.

Republicans largely targeted Sink on the Affordable Care Act, given that she supports changing the law instead of a full repeal - which Jolly and many Republicans say they prefer. Democrats, meanwhile, hit Jolly for his job as a lobbyist and for his support from ultra-conservative groups, and accused him of wanting to privatize Social Security.
...................

Read more: http://tbo.com/pinellas-county/polls-close-in-contentious-congressional-race-20140311/

[hrmjustin]

3. bye!

[kentauros]

6. That was fast!

Y'all nabbed him even as I was joining the jury!

[hrmjustin]

7. Mirt got him fast.

I just caught in time before they nuked him.

[ErikJ]

23. Missed it. What did he/she say?

[hrmjustin]

24. The poster was happy that the republican won.

[Cha]

43. Dead give away for being brainwashed.

[Flying Squirrel]

61. It started with "Do dummies(Democrats) know what Boycott means?"

6-0 jury decision but I guess MIRT beat us to it

[yeoman6987]

5. I don't understand your post

You do know that the Democrat lost, right?

[Vogon_Glory]

9. You Get The Government You Deserve

Right-wingers and non-voters get the government they deserve--foul water, filthy air, contaminated food caused by special interest-inspired budget cuts to food-safety programs, financial ruin caused by securities fraud committed by unregulated financial speculators, massive student debt hobbling economic recovery, and federal courts packed with corporation-friendly judges more than willing to hand both consumers and small investors the s#!t end of the stick when they see redress.

Right-wing voters remind me of American folk-myths about live lobsters dropped into a cold pot of water slowly brought to a boil. Right-wingers will stay in the water 'til they're plucked out and served with trimmings; in real life (not in folk-myth), lobsters, at least, have the good sense to climb out from under the cooking-pot's lid and make a break for freedom.

[PearliePoo2]

22. Good post... ignorant is thy name.

The stupid runs deep here.

[Vogon_Glory]

45. Some Right-Wingers May Wise Up

Some right-wingers and non-voters may ultimately wise up. But their getting of wisdom is likely to be painful, expensive, and in some cases heart-rending.

Unfortunately, we Democrats and progressives will get to suffer some of the consequences of their being fools right along with them.

[Cha]

44. Brilliant post..thank you Vogon.

[ErikJ]

56. But right now its about Jesus, "freedom" and guns and stuff.

They dont think too much past that.

[AndyTiedye]

63. Blaming the Victim

This is FLORIDA we're talking about here. Remember?
Any election that isn't a total blowout gets stolen by the repiglicans.

[yeoman6987]

71. Great excuse

Let's just blame the Republicans and not the Democratic voters who decided to sit this election out. We need to emphasize that voting is important and when we win we won't use the lame excuse of cheating. We lost because of the voters not voting. No other explanation. However if it makes you feel better saying it was the Republicans fault then that is cool. I hope you have better material in November. We need voters to vote! When they do, we win as proof of 2008 and 2012.

[Vogon_Glory]

74. Sorry, I Don't Buy That

Sorry, I don't buy that. I'm from Texas, where Democrats have been brutalized for decades. Voters in Florida's District 13 have brains and just as much potential to look around them and get angry as Venezuelans in Venezuela and Ukrainians in Ukraine.

Instead, the voters in the district chose to continue to buy into the Tea Party / Republican cr*p, and Independemts and too many Democratic voters stayed home.

Buying into a scam once is one thing. Continuing to buy into it years after uncomfortable, inconvenient evidence to the contrary is something else altogether.

That's why I'm short on sympathy.

Our Creator gave us brains. They're meant to be used--and not just as a food-source for zombies.

[villager]

2. The seat comes up again in November, yes? Will Sink run again?

If so, since Jolly won't really have a long incumbency, can Florida's heads-up-ass Democratic apparatus actually get out the vote this time?

[bigdarryl]

27. She doesn't need to run again

This is the second race in a row she's lost close.Plus she's not the most charismatic person in the world

[HooptieWagon]

31. Face to face, she is.

I've met her, she is a very charming woman. That doesn't seem to come across in her campaigns, though. Perhaps she should get out and press the flesh more.

[7962]

58. Wow, again in Nov? I think the Gov should just appoint if there's less than a year left.

Yes, I know that in this case that would mean Rick Scott would have made the same decision as what happened, but man, what a waste of money to have an election when the term has to be re-contested in 7 months. I guess the state law would have to be changed.

[littlewolf]

68. I am not sure what the FL constitution sez ... the govenor may not be able to do so. nt

[KamaAina]

90. House members must be directly elected

U.S. constitution, not state.

http://www.usconstitution.net/xconst_A1Sec2.html

Article 1 - The Legislative Branch
Section 2 - The House...

When vacancies happen in the Representation from any State, the Executive Authority thereof shall issue Writs of Election to fill such Vacancies.

[7962]

92. So even if it were June, they'd still have to have an election? Wow. Thanks for clearing it up.

I wonder what the closest one has ever been to a Nov election cycle.

[KamaAina]

93. Or the seat could remain vacant

until the next general election. This, too, has happened.

[CTyankee]

4. what the hell happened? I thought this was ours to win?

this is hard to take...

[tosh]

11. Hard to take indeed.

Big bummer!

[blm]

17. Why the shock? It's a Republican district. Media is playing it as a surprise win for GOP instead

of expressing shock that the race was so close.

The spin works in favor of the GOP.

[former9thward]

28. Obama took the district twice.

[blm]

73. Midterms always favor GOP in GOP districts. The spin overdrive is ridiculous.

.

[NCTraveler]

75. It is not simply a red district.

Did you even look at how close it was. Midterms do not always favor the GOP. That is simply in inaccurate excuse. This was Sinks to win. She had it all going in. Was beat down by outside influences. Once again, did you see how close it was in this "red" district? We voted Obama. Think we also voted Nelson last time he ran.

[blm]

79. Yes, it was close in a red district, and THAT should be the story that scares Republicans.

Midterms always favor the party with the most registered voters. Presidential elections are different.

[NCTraveler]

82. Didn't know Nelson ran for President? nt.

[blm]

88. I wasn't addressing that. You want to buy into the corpmedia's proGOP spin, go ahead.

I think they are being excessive.

[Mayflower1]

80. There was a 3rd party

taking 5% from the Republican.

It wouldn't have been close if the Libertarian wasn't in it.

This is very ugly news this morning.

[NCTraveler]

86. You are correct that the third party was involved.

Fact is, Libertarians no longer simply take votes from the republicans. Especially in Florida. We have a very frightening trend here in Florida where our youth are starting to support libertarians in small numbers. They are uneducated voters who want their marijuana legalized above all else and the libertarians are doing a good job of getting that message to them. I also believe it cannot be determined as to how many would have voted for the republican. Many in Florida who vote for the libertarian would never in their life even think of voting for a republican. They simply cannot stand the republican party.

[HooptieWagon]

33. Its a purple district.

Dems do well in presidential election years, but usually don't bother to vote in off-years. Plus, the south end of the county, heavily AA, was removed from the district and added to Tampa (already heavily Dem) last redistricting.

[Xithras]

95. Yep, The district has a PVI of R+1

That makes it "purple with a slight reddish hue".

[Wabbajack_]

50. Jolly was a lousy candidate

And didn't Sink lead in the polls?

[HooptieWagon]

53. As I recall, she trailed in all the polls.

Election was a bit closer. Still, she could have won with a better campaign and better turnout.

[AnalystInParadise]

54. Wrong most polls showed Sink leading

I wanted this one bad, it pisses me off, but let's be honest, we had the lead in the polls, we had the money advantage, we had demographics spilt evenly, we had a third party libertarian and we still lost.....GOTV!


http://www.sunshinestatenews.com/blog/alex-sink-slight-lead-over-david-jolly-ppp-poll

http://www.tampabay.com/blogs/the-buzz-florida-politics/ppp-poll-alex-sink-48-david-jolly45-lucas-overby-6/2169464

http://polls.saintleo.edu/new-poll-sink-leads-jolly-46-37-in-fl-13-special-election/

[SunSeeker]

59. Exactly. This was a Dem GOTV fail, typical of special elections.

I remember seeing those polls that showed her one or two points ahead, and thinking she'll need more of a cushion than that since Dems are notorious at not coming out unless it's a presidential election. Sucks.

On the other hand, the fact that the polls showed her ahead, even against the very popular Young's hand-picked successor, indicates that if the Dems actually did come out to vote, Jolly is toast. Of course, that is always the case. If all Dems came out to vote, we'd win every time. In every district. I've never missed voting in an election, any election, since I started voting at 18, and I am nearing retirement. Now granted, I live in CA where you don't need to stand in line to vote. So I guess I can't judge folks who live in voter suppression hell holes like Florida.

[Wabbajack_]

98. Do the Libertarians hurt the Republicans most?

I'd figure they take plenty from us too.

[Mayflower1]

81. I live in the district.

Alex Sink was ahead in all the polls (except one two weeks ago).

I was certain we were going to win this. Ugggg

[HooptieWagon]

85. I live here too.

I recall the recent poll. Didnt pay close attention earlier...only buy paper a few days a week. I thought she was close but trailing entire campaign except at the very beginning.

[littlewolf]

67. there was a PPP poll showing Sink winning WTH happened? nt

[Iliyah]

8. Florida, tis tis

another nut case goes to Washington even for a short period. I've read that Gerrymandering is part of this district. Someone needs to file suit and bring this to the courts.

[AnalystInParadise]

10. Unfortunately

The redistricting made this district less Repuke. We should have won this one. This is irritating and frustrating.

[HooptieWagon]

35. No, redistricting moved the AA community in S St Pete to Tampa district.

Its still a purple district, if Dems bother to vote.

[blkmusclmachine]

12. How many times has Sink lost in Florida???

And did Sink run as a "New DEM"/GOP-lite ???

[bagimin]

13. How many times has she run? n/t

[Fuddnik]

18. She is a "New Dem/GOP lite".

Former B of A executive.

I know her, and she's a very nice person, but a terrible campaigner. Probably the only person in Florida who could lose a race to Rick Scott.

[HooptieWagon]

37. Bingo.

Ive met her too. Face to face shes quite charming, but she doesn't take advantage of that when campaigning.

[Botany]

14. Please remember this a republican district

n/t

[AnalystInParadise]

26. Barely

A +1R district should be easy pickings...... GOTV in November or we are screwed.

[HooptieWagon]

38. That voted for Obama twice.

Its only republican when Dems dont show up at polls.

[Botany]

51. Sadly you are right

[calimary]

15. Fuck.

[Zorra]

16. ^this^

[L0oniX]

19. Fuck fucking fucked fuckers OFFS WTF

[AnalystInParadise]

20. The especially sucky part of this

is that PBO won this district both times and redistricting made it slightly more tilted towards our side. This should have been ours.....no idea WTF happened. An R+1 district should be ours for the taking with the current insanity from the Republicans, this is disheartening......GOTV in November fuck!

[whopis01]

32. Obama barely won this district one time - McCain won it clearly in 2008

And this is the area that Connie Mack and Katherine Harris come from - it hasn't had a Democrat since it was redistricted in 73.

[AnalystInParadise]

34. NO

PBO won it both times.

http://www.slate.com/blogs/weigel/2014/03/11/florida_s_13th_district_the_most_important_election_in_america_tonight.html

[AnalystInParadise]

36. Or you can look here

Pinellas county, the entire election tonight was in Pinellas county. PBO won Pinellas county in 2008 and 2012

http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/politics/election2008/fl.htm

If I post election data I am usually correct because i check my sources before hand.

[HooptieWagon]

39. South part of county was removed from district.

When the Fl Legislature gerrymandered it.Thats a heavily AA community, added to Tampa's district, which was already solid blue.

[HooptieWagon]

40. No.

Katherine Harris lives in Sarasota, and Connie Mack lived in Naples. Two entirely different districts, with far different demographics. Those districts are SOLID red, district 13 is purple.

[whopis01]

72. Harris and Mack were both elected from district 13. n/t

[HooptieWagon]

78. How could that happen when Bill Young held the seat for 43 years?

P.S. I've lived in district 13 for 27 years, and lived on FL left coast for 49. Harris and Mack are NOT from district 13.

[whopis01]

91. I'll defer to your knowledge since you live there but look at this:

In both of these articles (and elsewhere) Connie Mack III and Katherine Harris are listed as holding the house seat for the 13th district.

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Connie_Mack_III

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Katherine_Harris

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Florida's_13th_congressional_district

[HooptieWagon]

96. Your first link is to Connie Mack III, not the IV.

He is a former Senator, succeeded in the House seat by Porter Goss. When Goss resigned the House of Rep to become director of the CIA, he was succeeded by Mack IV. Further, the districts were renumbered, which is also causing you confusion. District 13 is most of Pinellas County...neither Harris nor Mack have EVER represented Pinellas Co.

[whopis01]

99. Ah well, Connie Mack III was the one I was referring to from 13

As far as the renumbering goes, that makes sense. I knew Harris was from district 13. Just didn't realize district 13 wasn't the same location anymore.

[Mayflower1]

83. Not Harris.

Connie Mack, yes, but not K. Harris.

[HooptieWagon]

87. Connie Mack was rep for district in Naples.

Thats about 120 miles south. Bill Young held the seat since early 70s.... neither Katherine Harris nor Connie Mack ever represented District 13. Harris represented district to the south, Sarasota area, now held by Vern Buchanan. Connie Mack still further south, district represented by the guy just busted for coke.

[TheNutcracker]

57. You all are incorrect here on PBO "winning the district" twice. PBO won the C O U N T Y

The district is within the county, and as it's more dem, the liberals in the S. were drawn out.
Obama won the entire county. Not Bill Young's district.

[RBInMaine]

21. The DEMOCRATS in that district who REFUSED to FUCKING VOTE deserved just what they got !

What the fuck is wrong with those people down there??? This is what happens when people don't VOTE. NO EXCUSES.

Too many Democrats, once again, refused to get off their asses and go and vote. Simple as that.

And maybe the Democratic Party of Florida is at fault too. They better get this figured the hell out and FAST. This is BULLSHIT !

[Fuddnik]

46. Well, when you realize the Democratic Party of Florida is run by a former ChoicePoint lobbyist,

And her husband was on the Bush legal team during Bush v Gore, it goes downhill from there.

They had a good candidate initially for that race, until Sink decided she wanted the job. Sink was perceived by many to be a carpet-bagger from a district 40 miles away, on the other side of Tampa.

The other Dem candidate had all the right endorsements and Emily's list support. But then they withdrew their support for some reason (Sink being a board member wouldn't have anything to do with it, would it?).

And $11 million in negative ads turned a lot of people off.

[lostincalifornia]

47. I am not sure about the Democratic Party, but those So-called democrats who didn't vote, how do you

Inspire a mindset like that to vote. Wasn't the 2000 election enough for them. Wasn't the strangle hold the house has on the government doing that? If they cannot understand that, then that district is getting what it asked for by its actions

[JCMach1]

25. Unless the ground shifts, this is a very bad omen for next Fall

[radiclib]

29. Forget it, Jake….

…it's Florida.

[Historic NY]

30. Welcome to reality of 2014 midterms....

get out and f--king vote or lose badly.

[ErikJ]

42. Depends on Obamacare

It looks like Jolly won on the ACA bashing. If that can be turned around by Nov then things will be looking sweet.

[packman]

41. This is sad news

Hard to believe - Florida is indeed the pits. THinking of moving to Arizona

[book_worm]

48. A republican held it for 43-years and dems came within 2-points of winning, not bad

[Cha]

49. That's too bad.. it was kind of close. I don't know how many Dems

didn't get out and vote today? But, another asshole who brainwases for living is going to the House.

[TheNutcracker]

55. This is the closest race this seat has come in 40 years. Only 1 1/2 percent, we do have a chance now

But Alex is a flawed candidate, and the Florida party does not raise them you know. Interesting current state of the FDP. Especially in Pinellas County.

It is a republican district that we almost won. It can be done. This is the real story.

[Keefer]

66. It was more than 1.5% if

you count the libertarian vote of 4.8%. That makes it 6.3%. Most, if not ALL, Libertarians identify with repukes.

[mikekohr]

60. Very Simple Message here. Low voter turnout hurts Democrats.

Republicans in this country are a shrinking minority. But they are consistantly more motivated than us. Especially in non-presidential years.

The Tea Party rose in 2010. An off year election. In spite of gerrymandering they took a hit in 2012.

They'll rebound in 2014 if we do not GOTV.

GOTV
GOTV
GOTV
GOTV
GOTV

[HooptieWagon]

62. Id be surprised if voter turnout in this exceeded 35%.

[AnalystInParadise]

89. Voter turnout 40%

Well 39%, but that is 40% to me

http://www.baynews9.com/content/news/baynews9/news/article.html/content/news/articles/bn9/2014/3/11/with_voter_turnout_a.html

I paid attention because I am moving from El Paso to the Tampa/Orlando corridor this summer.

[Redfairen]

64. Dems are lazy in any election where the presidency is not at stake.

Same as it ever was........*SIGH*

[riversedge]

65. I get the impression that Sink volunteer/camp really

got out the vote--calls and mailings--almost to the point of being a pain in the butt--too many calls to vote for Sink. Read the last few paragraphs.


But it is sad. And scary

[davidn3600]

69. This is what's going to happen in November....

The party that is in the White House usually does quite terrible in turnout during the mid-term elections.

And Democrats especially struggle in elections where the presidency is not at stake.

[HockeyMom]

76. Not Florida's Governor's Race in November

Rick Scott up for re-election. That will bring out a LOT of Democrats. The man is detested here, even by a lot of Repukes. It looks like Crist will be running against him. That too will be a factor in a big turnout.

[HockeyMom]

77. At least Pinellas had a Dem

In Collier my choices are Republican A, Republican B, or Independent C. I don't vote in local elections with choices that that. Unless there is proposal (like Medical MJ), I only vote for President, Senator, or Governor. At least those have a Democrat running.

[davidn3600]

94. Crist is a former Republican

And he only changed to a Democrats because the GOP essentially kicked him out. But with a Republican legislature, he'll be pulled to the right again to get anything done.

Although he's better than Scott, no doubt. Don't expect any progressive shift in Florida's politics no matter who wins.

[HockeyMom]

97. Locally, I know, everthing is controlled by Republicans

[SkatmanRoth]

70. On the bright side, we still have Alan Grayson

He will just have to kick double butt now.