Free Republic

In a notable victory for Florida’s minority party, Democrat Tom Keen was elected to the Republican-dominated Florida House in a special election held Tuesday. Facing off against “conservative patriot” Erika Booth, Keen won 51.3% of the vote in District 35, which covers parts of eastern Orange and Osceola County. The District 35 seat has been vacant since former state Rep. Fred Hawkins, resigned from the seat last year to take a job as president of South Florida State College.