Increased Voter Turnout Helps Fuel Primary Victories for 1199SEIU Endorsed Candidates

August 25, 2020

Florida's August 18 primary was notable for several reasons. Despite the pandemic, nearly 4 million Floridians voted in the primary -- the highest turnout since the 2002 primary. More than 2 million people voted by mail - an increase of nearly 72% since 2016. 1199SEIU endorsed candidates did extremely well. A whopping 92% of 1199SEIU endorsed candidates won! About half of these candidates ran unopposed so they have already won their seats. The other half will move on to the general election on November 3, 2020.

1199SEIU Florida Member Political Organizers (MPOS) played a big part in this success: Blanche Norwood, Ann Mercie Blot, Francoise Paul and Sophia Colley. These dedicated CNAs and member leaders worked tirelessly to help get out the vote by making thousands of calls to voters to encourage them to register to vote and vote by mail. It's this kind of member driven work that ensures worker voices are heard at the polls.

From Congress, to the statehouse, to county and local races, 1199SEIU endorsed candidates will be champions for working people.

Here's a list of the endorsed candidates and outcomes.

Candidate

Office

District

W

L

         

Alachua/Dixie/Gilchrist

       

Clovis Watson

Sheriff

 

W

 
         

Broward

       

Debbie Wasserman Schultz

U.S. House of Representatives

23

W

 

Perry Thurston

FL Senate

33

W

 

Shevrin Jones

FL Senate

35

W

 

Bobby DuBose

FL House of Representatives

94

W

 

Jasmen Rogers-Shaw

FL House of Representatives

95

 

L

Christine Hunschofsky

FL House of Representatives

96

W

 

Marie Woodson

FL House of Representatives

101

W

 

Robin Bartleman

FL House of Representatives

104

W

 

Dale Holness

Broward County Commission

9

W

 

Mitch Ceasar

Broward County Supervisor of Elections

   

L

George Odom, Jr.

Circuit Court Judge

Group 16

W

 
         

Duval

       

Tracie Davis

FL House of Representatives

13

W

 

Angie Nixon

FL House of Representatives

14

W

 
         

Hillsborough

       

Steven Scott Stephens

Circuit Court Judge

Group 39

   
         

Leon

       

Allison Tant

FL House of Representatives

9

W

 
         

Miami-Dade

       

Frederica Wilson

U.S. House of Representatives

24

W

 

Javier Fernadez

Florida Senate

39

W

 

Felicia Robinson

FL House of Representatives

102

W

 

Christopher Benjamin 

FL House of Representatives

107

W

 

Dotie Joseph

FL House of Representatives

108

W

 

Jean-Pierre Bado

FL House of Representatives

114

W

 

Kevin Chambliss

FL House of Representatives

117

W

 

Daniella Levine-Cava

Miami-Dade County Mayor

 

Run off

 

Oliver Gilbert

Miami-Dade County Commission

1

W

 

Eileen Higgins

Miami-Dade County Commission

5

Run off

 

Kionne McGhee

Miami-Dade County Commission

9

Run off

 

Rene Garcia

Miami-Dade County Commission

13

W

 

Olanike 'Nike' Adebayo

Circuit Court Judge

Group 55

 

L

Roderick 'Rod' Vereen

Circuit Court Judge

Group 57

 

L

Thomas J. Rebull

Circuit Court Judge

Group 65

 

L

Mavel Ruiz

Circuit Court Judge

Group 67

W

 

Dava J. Tunis

Circuit Court Judge

Group 75

 

L

Joseph Mansfield

County Court Judge

Group 9

 

L

Christine Bandin

County Court Judge

Group 24

W

 
         
         
         

Orange/Osceola/Seminole

       

Patricia Sigman

Florida Senate

9

W

 

Alex Barrio

FL House of Representatives

43

 

L

Geraldine Thompson

FL House of Representatives

44

W

 

Samuel Vilchez Santiago

FL House of Representatives

48

 

L

Mayra Mercedes Uribe

Orange County Commission

3

W

 

Emily Bonilla

Orange County Commission

5

W

 

Amy Mercado

Orange County Property Appraiser

 

W

 

Monique Worrell

State Attorney

 

W

 

Andrew Darling

Orange County Sheriff

   

L

         

Palm Beach

       

Alcee Hastings

U.S. House of Representatives

20

W

 

Lois Frankel

U.S. House of Representatives

21

W

 

Tina Polsky

Florida Senate

29

W

 

Omari Hardy

FL House of Representatives

88

W

 

Frank Barbieri

Palm Beach County School Board

5

W

 
         

Pinellas

       

Michele Rayner

FL House of Representatives

70

W

 

Rene Flowers

Pinellas County Commission

7

W

 

Laura Hine

Pinellas County School Board

1

RUN OFF

 

Eileen Long

Pinellas County School Board

4

W

 

Caprice Edmond

Pinellas County School Board

7

RUN OFF

 

Eva Vergos

Circuit Court Judge

Group 28

 

L

Ashley Ward-Singleton

Circuit Court Judge

Group 44

 

L

Eliseo Santana

Sherriff

 

W