By Dale King
It was not quite a sweep, and certainly less than a mandate. But many Democratic office holders and hopefuls in Palm Beach County joined President Barack Obama in the victory column on Election Day.
The battle between incumbent Obama and Republican challenger Mitt Romney went down to the wire on Tuesday. Even by Wednesday, Florida election officials were still trying to determine which presidential candidate had won the pivotal Sunshine State’s 29 electoral votes. However, after Ohio went for Obama, the tight race was pretty much decided.
Locally, though, many Democrats seemed either to trounce or eke out wins against Republicans.
Perhaps the most surprising was Patrick Murphy’s victory over incumbent U.S. Rep. Allen West in District 18. This ultra-tight race wasn’t decided until early Wednesday morning.
Murphy issued a news release Wednesday saying: “I am humbled by the outpouring of support from the voters of the Treasure Coast and the Palm Beaches. I pledge to be a representative who will work across the aisle, listen to all points of views, and work to end the divisiveness in Congress. Our country faces many challenges, and by working together, we will continue to move our country forward.”
Another too-close-to-call race, for Florida Senate District 34, went to Maria Sachs. Because of redistricting, two incumbent senators – Sachs and Ellyn Bogdanoff – had to face each other. Democrat Sachs took about 53 percent of the vote to outdistance the Republican.
Also riding the Democrat crest was former West Palm Beach Mayor Lois Frankel, who defeated Republican Adam Hasner to take the congressional seat in District 22. Hasner, former state representative and House Majority Leader, jumped into the District 22 race when West moved to District 18 due to redistricting.
“Thank you to the voters of the 22nd District for giving me the honor of being your next United States congresswoman,” Frankel said.
“I ran for Congress for my 87-year-old mother, my son who served in war as a Marine, and your parents and your children. I can’t wait to get to Washington to fight for all of you. As a member of Congress, I have one promise that I will never break: I will always be on your side.”
Other Democrats on the winning side of the ledger were Joseph Abruzzo, who won the Florida Senate District 25 seat, upending Melanie Peterson; State Rep. Lori Berman now in District 90, which includes western Boynton Beach and Lake Worth, defeating Sean Michael Kasper and Ted Deutch defeating two unaffiliated challengers to win back the District 21 congressional seat.
In Congressional District 20, longtime incumbent Democrat Alcee Hastings defeated Randall Terry to keep the seat he has held since 1992.
One Republican who held on to his seat was Boca Raton resident and former Boca City Council member Bill Hager, who took a slim margin to victory over former House Speaker Tom Gustafson.
In the County Commission race, Democrat Mary Lou Berger will succeed 20-year incumbent Burt Aaronson in District 5, which includes West Boca, West Delray and West Boynton. The commission chairperson, Shelley Vana, was also returned to her seat in Commission District 3.
U.S. Senator Bill Nelson, a Democrat, won back his seat in Washington with a decisive win over challenger Connie Mack IV.