The chaos of the 2018 midterm elections is over, and some are happy, some are disappointed, and some are just content knowing that they can go back to watching cat videos on Facebook without seeing political ads. Regardless of your stance on the election, there will come some changes that you, as a Central Floridian and American, should be aware of.
Florida Governor: Ron DeSantis
In a very tight gubernatorial election, Ron DeSantis (R) narrowly defeated his Democratic opponent, Andrew Gillum, by a mere 55,000 votes. So, what does this mean for Floridians? Well for one, DeSantis has stated that he wishes to veto gun control legislation that was signed by Rick Scott after the Parkland shooting, including legislation that would raise the minimum age to purchase a rifle from 18 to 21. DeSantis has also vowed to keep corporate tax rates low, as he believes that this will help to stimulate the economy. Environmentally speaking, DeSantis has stated that he wishes to prevent further toxic algae blooms and that he endorses restoration of the Everglades, but his exact plan for this is unclear at this time. Perhaps the biggest impact that DeSantis will have will be on the Florida Supreme Court. DeSantis will have the ability to fill three vacancies in the court, so Floridians can expect a conservative-dominated supreme court for the coming years.
Florida U.S. Senate: Rick Scott
Current Florida governor Rick Scott (R) defeated his opponent, incumbent senator Bill Nelson, in the race for the U.S. Senate. Governor Scott has taken a conservative position on healthcare, the economy, immigration and most other issues. Governor Scott has openly disapproved of the Affordable Care Act, as he believes that is will lead to rising costs of healthcare. Governor Scott is also a fan of “trickle-down” economics and believes that lower taxes will help the economy. In the past, Scott has supported stringent border control measures, but he has also claimed that he is in favor of giving some legal protection to DACA recipients. Overall, Scott’s election to the U.S. Senate helped to ensure that the Senate will remain controlled by Republicans, at least until the next midterm.
U.S. House of Representatives District 7: Stephanie Murphy
Incumbent Stephanie Murphy (D) was able to defeat Mike Miller (R) in the race for District 7, which encompasses Seminole and some of Orange Counties. Murphy has said before that she is most concerned about jobs, security, and equality of opportunity. She believes that higher wages, funding for the research of gun violence, and better access to education for the average American are all important for the betterment American people. Murphy is also a moderate Democrat and has stated that she would stand up to both parties to advocate for what is right for the country.
Overall, the 2018 midterm elections have yielded a variety of results. Florida will remain with a Republican governor, but the incredibly close race between DeSantis and Gillum has given Florida Democrats hope for the next gubernatorial election. The U.S. House of Representatives is now controlled by Democrats while the Senate remains controlled by Republicans. Florida voted to pass 11 out of the 12 proposed constitutional amendments, including Amendment Four, which will restore voting rights to 1.4 million non-violent felons, and Amendment 13, which will put an end to dog racing by the end of 2020. Regardless of how you feel about the outcome of the election, remember to continue to advocate for what is right by reaching out to your representatives, and be sure to get out to vote in 2020!