Sen. Rick Scott (R-FL) won reelection to a second term Tuesday night, prevailing over Democratic challenger and former Rep. Debbie Mucarsel-Powell.
Scott led Mucarsel-Powell 55%-43% when the Associated Press called the contest just one minute after polls closed statewide at 8:01 p.m. ET, with about 83% of the ballots counted.
In what was once a purple state, national Democrats exerted modest campaign spending in Florida late in the race with tempered expectations they could return the Sunshine State to its former battleground status. Florida and Texas were long-shot pickup opportunities for Democrats in a cycle that heavily favored Republicans.
“Democrats keep trying, but they can’t beat Rick Scott,” Sen. Steve Daines (R-MT), chairman of the Senate GOP’s campaign arm, said in a statement after his race was called.