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US mid-terms: Rick Scott wins contested Florida Senate race | US mid-terms: Rick Scott wins contested Florida Senate race |
(about 11 hours later) | |
Florida's outgoing Republican Governor Rick Scott has declared victory in a contested Senate race in the state. | Florida's outgoing Republican Governor Rick Scott has declared victory in a contested Senate race in the state. |
The vote was subject to a recount after his lead in the 6 November ballot fell to less than 0.5%. | The vote was subject to a recount after his lead in the 6 November ballot fell to less than 0.5%. |
The final result showed Mr Scott beat three-term incumbent Democrat Senator Bill Nelson by just more than 10,000 votes from the 8.19m cast state-wide. | The final result showed Mr Scott beat three-term incumbent Democrat Senator Bill Nelson by just more than 10,000 votes from the 8.19m cast state-wide. |
Republicans, including the president, had alleged voter fraud in the race and Democrats alleged voter suppression. | Republicans, including the president, had alleged voter fraud in the race and Democrats alleged voter suppression. |
Lawyers representing Senator Nelson's campaign also launched legal challenges to support the recount effort, but he eventually conceded on Sunday afternoon. | Lawyers representing Senator Nelson's campaign also launched legal challenges to support the recount effort, but he eventually conceded on Sunday afternoon. |
Florida is a important US swing state and has a history of marginal election victories, so the knife-edge result was not a major surprise. | |
The tight and well-publicised race evoked memories of Florida's infamous 2000 presidential recount, which ended only after intervention from the US Supreme Court. | The tight and well-publicised race evoked memories of Florida's infamous 2000 presidential recount, which ended only after intervention from the US Supreme Court. |
In a statement on his Facebook page on Sunday almost two weeks on, Mr Scott confirmed his opponent had conceded. | In a statement on his Facebook page on Sunday almost two weeks on, Mr Scott confirmed his opponent had conceded. |
"I just spoke with Senator Bill Nelson, who graciously conceded, and I thanked him for his years of public service," the statement said. | "I just spoke with Senator Bill Nelson, who graciously conceded, and I thanked him for his years of public service," the statement said. |
He concluded the message, following the protracted counting process, with: "Let's get to work." | He concluded the message, following the protracted counting process, with: "Let's get to work." |
In a tweet, President Trump congratulated Senator-elect Scott on his victory. | In a tweet, President Trump congratulated Senator-elect Scott on his victory. |
How did the recount come about? | How did the recount come about? |
In the Senate race, unofficial results revealed Mr Scott was leading Mr Nelson by just 0.15%. | In the Senate race, unofficial results revealed Mr Scott was leading Mr Nelson by just 0.15%. |
Mr Scott, who claimed victory on election night, had reacted angrily to the recount, hitting out at "unethical liberals" who were trying to "steal" the election. | Mr Scott, who claimed victory on election night, had reacted angrily to the recount, hitting out at "unethical liberals" who were trying to "steal" the election. |
Mr Nelson accused Mr Scott of making "false claims" about voter fraud because he was "afraid of losing". | Mr Nelson accused Mr Scott of making "false claims" about voter fraud because he was "afraid of losing". |
Florida's governor race was also subject to a recount. | Florida's governor race was also subject to a recount. |
Democrat Andrew Gillum conceded - and then withdrew his concession - after Ron DeSantis' lead for the Republicans narrowed to 0.41% in that race. | Democrat Andrew Gillum conceded - and then withdrew his concession - after Ron DeSantis' lead for the Republicans narrowed to 0.41% in that race. |
Gillum, who hoped to be Florida's first black governor, eventually conceded defeat for the second time on Saturday. | Gillum, who hoped to be Florida's first black governor, eventually conceded defeat for the second time on Saturday. |
Much like in the Senate race, both candidates disagreed strongly about the need for a recount and there were protests on both sides. | Much like in the Senate race, both candidates disagreed strongly about the need for a recount and there were protests on both sides. |
What does the result mean? | What does the result mean? |
Mr Scott's victory does not change things substantially, but consolidates the Republican Senate majority. They have 52 seats to the Democrats' 47 seats with only a Mississippi run-off still to go. | Mr Scott's victory does not change things substantially, but consolidates the Republican Senate majority. They have 52 seats to the Democrats' 47 seats with only a Mississippi run-off still to go. |
Mr Scott's election will be a stark change for Florida where Mr Nelson, 72, has been a fixture in politics since he was first elected to the state legislature in 1972 and then to the US Senate in 2000. | Mr Scott's election will be a stark change for Florida where Mr Nelson, 72, has been a fixture in politics since he was first elected to the state legislature in 1972 and then to the US Senate in 2000. |
Mr Scott has already served two terms as Florida's governor - the maximum allowed by state law. | Mr Scott has already served two terms as Florida's governor - the maximum allowed by state law. |
He was elected in 2010 and 2014, and before that worked in business within the US healthcare sector. | He was elected in 2010 and 2014, and before that worked in business within the US healthcare sector. |
He invested $40m of his own fortune into the contest, making it one of the most expensive Senate races in US history. | He invested $40m of his own fortune into the contest, making it one of the most expensive Senate races in US history. |
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