Four things have been described for this year’s 2024 primary: the most expensive state senate race, low voter turnout, fake election guides, and DeSantis endorsements.
DeSantis School Board Endorsements.
In 2022, over 75% of school board candidates endorsed by Gov. DeSantis went on to election victory. Can he do it again this year?
This election cycle, DeSantis has endorsed 23 school board candidates across the state14.
Most Expensive Local State Senate Race In Florida History
This year’s most-watched race is the republican primary in Senate District 7, which covers Putnam, Flagler, Volusia, and portions of St. Johns counties.
The top two candidates are State Rep. Tom Leak, who has been endorsed by Gov. DeSantis, Florida AG Ashley Moody, and all the sheriffs from the surrounding counties. His opponent is former sheriff David Shoar of St. Johns County, who has the backing of trial lawyers and former President Trump.
Sources familiar with race told Florida Daily that Leak was up by double digits until the Trump endorsement just a few weeks ago. The Shoar campaign claims they are up in the polls. Analysts say this race may be too close to call. Over $10 million has been spent on this primary.
Fake Election Voter Guides
“I have never seen anything like this,” Jacksonville City Councilman Rory Diamond told WBOB talk radio.
Diamond says the bogus election guides are confusing voters. Several
Bogus voter guides have been popping up in several local GOP primaries in counties like Brevard, Duval, and St. Johns.
A voter guide, either mailed or handed out to a voter, shows certain candidates being “endorsed” by Trump or DeSantis. Just one problem: They are fake. A member of the St. John’s County GOP said he was shocked when he saw the slate of candidates. “I’m dealing with one of probably the most flagrant frauds on voters—the day before early voting. It became an instant train wreck,” said local GOP board member Denver Cook.
The local GOP party already listed its endorsements for the primary, but a fake voter guide sent out to voters portrayed the party endorsing other candidates who weren’t on its list.
Election Turnout
Going into the primary, absentee returns and early voting turnout have been mixed. Countries like Brevard and Duval, where there are some hotly contested state house seats and local school board seats, barely have seen an 11% response from voters.
Around the state’s Big Bend area, more rural counties just outside Tallahassee are seeing a much larger voter turnout, from some around 20% to others at 33%.
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