Though the Governor’s race between Governor Rick Scott and Charlie Crist is going to come down to the wire, the outcome is likely to be historic regardless of what happens today, Election Day 2014.
Rick Scott (Republican) and Charlie Crist (Republican-turned-Democrat) have been locked in a tight race for weeks now. If Scott is able to escape with a victory tonight, the Associated Press reports that he will be just the second Republican governor in Florida’s history to win re-election. This is especially surprising since his approval ratings have never been over 50 percent.
Also if Crist wins, it would mean he is taking back his job four years after making an unsuccessful campaign for the U.S. Senate after switching parties.
Regardless of who wins, though, this year’s midterm elections will be a record-setting $200 million race for governor and a constitutional amendment to legalize medical marijuana in the state of Florida.
The final report shows Scott family donations totaling $12.8 million, and Scott’s Let’s Get to Work political fund also steering $19.5 million. The other biggest givers for the period include Las Vegas Sands owner Sheldon Adelson ($1.5 million); the Florida Chamber of Commerce ($2.4 million); the Seminole Tribe of Florida ($700,000); and U.S. Sugar Corp, ($510,00).
Crist himself has raised just over $40 million, with a majority coming from unions and law firms. The Florida Democratic Party reported raising $31.3 million.
