Primary Election Shakes Up Central Fla.
POSTED: Wednesday, August 27, 2008
UPDATED: 8:58 am EDT August 27,
2008
ORLANDO, Fla. -- Tuesday's primary election will shake up Central Florida.
One of the biggest surprises of the election was that incumbent Rep. Ric Keller narrowly won the chance to fight for a fifth term. Keller defeated self-funded opponent Todd Long by about 2,500 votes.
Keller will face Democrat Alan Grayson in November. Grayson poured in more than $1 million of his own money to win.
Grayson came up with 48 percent of the vote to Charlie Stuart's 28 percent.
Also, Jerry Demings will face off against John Tegg in the race for Orange County sheriff.
Demings defeated Malone Stewart by a 73 percent to a 27 percent margin.
Tegg took 77 percent of the vote against Bill Armstrong.
A big upset Tuesday involved longtime state attorney John Tanner.
Political newcomer and St. Augustine attorney R.J. Larizza defeated Tanner by about 2,600 votes.
Meanwhile, scandal did not stop Sen. Gary Siplin on Tuesday. Siplin defeated Marice "Doc" Woodard by a 57 percent to 43 percent margin.
Siplin was convicted of grand theft for using state employees to work on his campaign but that conviction was recently overturned.
Siplin will face Republican Belinda Ortiz in November.
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