David Jolly wins race for U.S. House District 13 seat

Bay News9 ^ | 3/11/14 | Trevor Pettiford

[Impala64ssa]

Republican David Jolly has defeated Democrat Alex Sink and Libertarian Lucas Overby for the U.S. House District 13 seat.

With all precincts reporting, Jolly received 48.43 percent of the vote, while Sink received 46.56 percent of the vote. Overby received 4.83 percent of the vote, with 8,799 votes cast for him.

The candidates were vying for the House seat previously held by Congressman C.W. Bill Young. Young, who died in October, served from 1971 to 2013.

The Pinellas County Supervisor of Elections said voter turnout for the special election was just about 39 percent. Most of those - about 26 percent - were from voters who had cast ballots by mail and through early voting.

More than 112,000 people had already voted by mail and another 5,000 had voted early, according to the Pinellas County Supervisor of Elections office.

A crowd of Jolly's supporters gathered at the Sheraton Sand Key on Clearwater Beach. He was introduced first by former St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Baker, then by a special surprise guest, "The Price is Right" host Bob Barker. Barker had appeared in a campaign ad for Jolly.-snip-

Democratic National Committee Chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz

"Republican special interest groups poured in millions to hold onto a Republican congressional district that they've comfortably held for nearly 60 years.

"Tonight, Republicans fell short of their normal margin in this district because the agenda they are offering voters has a singular focus - that a majority of voters oppose - repealing the Affordable Care Act that would return us to the same old broken health care system.

"While tonight Democrats didn't wine, we are proud of Alex and the race she ran based on a vision of opportunity for all and an agenda that would grow the middle class and protect Florida's families."

[GOPJ]

Sink’s 65 - She’s lost the last two races - I suspect she’s finished running.

[GOPJ]

Sink’s 65 - She’s lost the last two races - I suspect she’s finished running. Also she outspent him something like 3 to 1... and still lost.

[Lazamataz]

Democratic National Committee Chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz "Republican special interest groups poured in millions to hold onto a Republican congressional district that they've comfortably held for nearly 60 years."

And Democrats STILL outspent them 4-to-1.

And lost.

Suck it, Deb.

[generally]

“Republicans fell short of their normal margin”

See the spin? They still try to make it sound like a negative for the Republicans even when they win. If the situation were reversed, they would be crowing about the Dem victory. They would probably throw in something about R dirty tricks or R spending. They would call it a mandate on whatever issues were prominent in the campaign. They would definitely use it as an opportunity to propagandize on their pet issues.

[OPS4]

Sink and the Democrats (Socialists) have sunk.

[Liz]

We can play that third party spoiler game, also. There have to be some ditzy liberals out there who would love to run against a RAT who doesn't understand the true relationship between global warming, abortion, meditation.....and health food.

A ditzy vegan liberal who understands the true relationship between global warming, abortion and meditation....and health food?

Don't ask me why---but my mind flashed on Michele Obama .....

[ozzymandus]

The self-identified Libertarians I see on TV seem very condescending towards actual conservatives. A lot of “Libertarians” (like TV’s Andy levy) seem to actually be leftists who don't want to admit they're leftists and think calling yourself a Libertarian makes you look cool. (See also “hipsters”)

[jcon40]

Agreed, I hate that TV and news shows get to pick the “so called” expert for whatever subject, then parade the nut case out front then poke him with extreme questions designed to further erode the actual ideas he purportedly represents.

You nailed it with the “Hipster” reference. People will almost do anything to be cool when they’re young. I must confess I was an over the left cliff liberal when I was young and is probably why I tend to cut slack to the young libertarians.

Though they have maybe found fiscal conservatism they can’t quite drag themselves to the full conservative trough yet. It’s tough to give them a big hug like I fully agree with their developing points of view but I am willing to give them time and patience especially if we can keep people like our current president out of office.

I hate to sacrifice my core beliefs but I do want to elect better leaders. Sometimes I hate the color gray but...