Republican Rick Scott declares victory in too-close-to-call Florida Senate race

(Image credit: Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

published 7 November 2018

The Florida Senate race is too close to call.

Republican Rick Scott, the sitting governor of Florida, declared victory late Tuesday night. The Democratic incumbent, Sen. Bill Nelson, did not publicly concede. His chief of staff announced that Nelson, the only Democrat to hold a statewide office in Florida, will make a statement about the election on Wednesday.

The campaign focused on national issues like immigration and health care, and local concerns, including red tide, a toxic algae that is devastating marine life in Florida. Nelson, who was first elected to the Senate in 2000, promised voters he would expand Medicaid, protect the Affordable Care Act, and support comprehensive immigration reform that includes granting visas to some undocumented immigrants while increasing border security. Scott in turn has called for a repeal of the ACA, while keeping provisions that help those with pre-existing conditions. He also supported the Republicans' 2017 tax bill. A multimillionaire, Scott spent at least $60 million of his own money on the campaign.

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Catherine Garcia has worked as a senior writer at The Week since 2014. Her writing and reporting have appeared in Entertainment Weekly, The New York Times, Wirecutter, NBC News and "The Book of Jezebel," among others. She's a graduate of the University of Redlands and the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.

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