TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WCTV) – Florida and Georgia saw historic voter turnouts Tuesday on one of the biggest Election Days in American history.
Both presidential nominees would bring firsts to the role.
Democratic nominee Vice President Kamala Harris would be the first woman elected U.S. president and only the second Black person to lead the nation.
And if GOP nominee Donald Trump makes a comeback, he would be the first convicted felon to win the highest elected seat in the country.
Many voters may have a long night — or even couple of days — ahead of them as they wait for results. It’s unlikely that Americans will know the outcome of this year’s presidential race on November 5, Election Day.
Regardless of the timeline, WCTV will be with you every step of the way. Our team will be covering races from the local level up to the U.S. presidential race.
- Cody Butler will be following the outcomes of Florida Amendment 3 and Amendment 4.
- Brianna Shaw will be monitoring the race for Leon County Schools Superintendent. Incumbent Rocky Hanna (D) is facing challenger Joe Burgess (NPA), the principal at Chiles High School.
- Savannah Kelley is reporting on one of the most contested and highly advertised races: the run for Florida Senate District 3 between incumbent Republican Corey Simon and Democratic challenger Daryl Parks.
- Zak Dahlheimer will be providing non-stop coverage of voter turnout and election results across the nation. He’ll also speak with WCTV political analyst Dr. Lonna Atkeson, a political science professor at Florida State University.
- Matthew Hoffmann is reporting on the race between Tallahassee’s Mayor Pro Tem Curtis Richardson and former Mayor Dot Inman-Johnson for the City Commission, Seat 2.
- And Staci Inez is reporting on the race for the Leon County Board of County Commission, District 4 Seat between incumbent Brian Welch and Isaac Montilla.
This live blog will be updated constantly throughout the evening with reports on local and national elections.
Why the wait?
Elections in the U.S. are complex. While uncontested or landslide races may be called right after polls close, competitive races may take days, or even weeks to call.
The reasons are mostly procedural, so election officials caution Americans to be patient.
What might look like delays are part of the normal process and not a sign of something nefarious. They warn that simply because a candidate declares victory does not make it true.
In fact, the U.S. doesn’t have a nationwide body that collects and releases election results. Instead, journalists gather data from local and state agencies that report election results publicly. Learn more about that process here.
Wednesday, 5:40 a.m.: Trump wins the White House
In a political comeback, Donald Trump was elected the 47th president of the United States.
Wednesday, 1:13 a.m.: Republicans win the U.S. Senate
In a major victory, the GOP has secured control of the U.S. Senate after once again winning the majority.
It comes after Democrats clung to a narrow majority for the last two elections.
The race for the U.S. House is ongoing. As of 1:15 a.m., the GOP is in the lead, but neither party has claimed control over the body.
Wednesday, 1 a.m.: Trump wins Georgia
After a tight race with opponent Kamala Harris, former President Donald Trump has won Georiga, a key swing state, per the AP.
It comes after he won North Carolina, another crucial swing state. However, he lost the battle for Nebraska to Harris.
Wednesday, 12:34 a.m.: WATCH our interviews with local candidates
Tuesday, 11:30 p.m. from the newsroom: Live election updates with Zak
Tuesday, 11:05 p.m. from the newsroom: Allison Tant celebrates victory after what she describes as a “difficult election”
Incumbent candidate Allison Tant said she is grateful for continued community support after her projected re-election to another term as the representative for Florida House District 9.
“I think what we saw tonight was a belief in service, and public service and the fact that we want our elected officials to be there when we need them,” she said.
Tant said regardless of the divisive nature of the hotly contested race between challenger Spencer Brass, she wants to bring people together.
“I know that you’re never going to have 100% agreement on any issue, there’s never going to be that because the issues are so different and our communities are so different, but I think that I want to bring us together,” Tant said Tuesday night.
Tuesday, 10:43 p.m. from the newsroom: Joe Burgess thanks family and community after loss
Joe Burgess released a statement to Brianna Shaw after his loss to Leon County Schools superintendent incumbent candidate Rocky Hanna. The Chiles High School principal said he called Superintendent Hanna Tuesday evening to concede the race and congratulate him on winning a third term.
Burgess went on to say he has not committed to running for office again.
“I will continue to advocate for Leon County Schools and do my Facebook Lives to discuss issues with the public. I’m proud to have been on the ballot and I’m grateful to all of the citizens in Leon County for allowing me the opportunity to run for office,” Burgess wrote in the statement.
Tuesday, 10:30 p.m. from the newsroom: Corey Simon releases statement on projected win
Corey Simon responded to his projected win against incumbent challenger Daryl Parks in a press release Tuesday night, saying he is grateful Big Bend voters re-elected him into another term.
“When I was first elected two years ago, I made a promise to the people I serve to always put them first and fight for their seat at the table,” he said in the release. “Tomorrow, the work to expand access to opportunities for folks across Senate District 3 continues. We will tackle the challenges and seize the opportunities together.”
Corey Simon’s campaign manager, Ben Albritton, said he is proud to “return a super majority to the Florida Senate.”
“Corey is a world-class leader, whose tireless work to support every corner of his 13 county district resulted in tonight’s resounding victory. Florida’s future is better with him helping lead us through the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead,” he wrote.
Tuesday, 10 p.m. from the newsroom: Simon defeats Parks
Republican Corey Simon is the projected winner of the Florida Senate, District 3 race, per the AP, defeating Democratic opponent Daryl Parks 56% to 44% with 92.8% of votes in.
Tuesday, 9:55 p.m. from the newsroom: Richardson victory lap
Celebration is in the air at the TNL Performing Arts Center, where Curtis Richardson was delivering remarks after his projected win over former Tallahassee mayor Dot Inman-Johnson.
The longtime commissioner promised to remain dedicated and involved with the community.
“I will always be where you are,” he said. “You won’t have to come to city hall to find me.”
But he also acknowledged the marked divide in the Tallahassee City Commission.
The mayor pro-tem told party attendees he is looking forward to working with Mayor John Dailey, Commissioner Diane Williams-Cox and “others, if they want to come along.” It was a seeming jab at Commissioners Jack Porter and Jeremy Matlow, who endorsed Richardson’s opponent, Inman-Johnson.
Tuesday, 9:49 p.m. from the newsroom: Allison Tant re-elected
Incumbent Allison Tant (D) is the projected winner for the Florida House District 9, according to the AP.
Tuesday, 9:34 p.m. from Reporter Matt Hoffmann:
It was a quiet and somber scene at Dot Inman-Johnson’s watch party after it became clear the election was tipping in favor of Curtis Richardson.
One person quietly walked to their car with an uneaten “Congratulations Dot!” cake. City Commissioners Jeremy Matlow and Jack Porter endorsed Inman-Johnson and were at War Horse for her party.
They said it was a win that the race was so close.
Most of the group headed home after the projected loss.
Tuesday, 9:34 p.m. from the newsroom: Curtis Richardson wins projected re-election
WCTV has called incumbent Curtis Richardson as the projected winner for Tallahassee City Commission, Seat 2.
It comes after a very close race with challenger Dot Inmnan-Johnson, who is the former Tallahassee mayor.
Tuesday, 9:20 p.m. from Reporter Brianna Shaw: Rocky Hanna on projected win
WCTV’s Brianna Shaw spoke with Rocky Hanna after his projected win was declared.
The Leon County Superintendent of Schools said he was relieved.
Hanna has served two terms as the top administrator for the Capital County school district. He’s looking forward to continuing to lead LCS.
“With another four years in office, we can complete many of the tasks currently underway and position our school district well for continued success in the years to come,” he said. “I made this commitment eight years ago that I will not let our community down, and I will not let our children down and I validate that again today.”
Tuesday, 9:10 p.m. from the newsroom: Florida Amendment 4 fails
Florida Amendment 4 has failed, per the AP. The amendment aimed to make abortion a constitutional right.
It means that a near-total abortion ban will remain in place in the Sunshine State.
Tuesday, 8:48 p.m. from the newsroom: Tallahassee City Charter Projections
WCTV is calling the following City of Tallahassee Charter Amendments:
- Amendment 2: Pass
- Amendment 3: Pass
- Amendment 4: Pass
- Amendment 5: Pass
You can read more about those amendments here and here.
Tuesday, 8:44 p.m. from the newsroom: Welch wins
Incumbent Brian Welch is the projected winner of the race Leon County Board of County Commission, District 4 seat.
Tuesday, 8:40 p.m. from the newsroom: Florida Amendment 2 passes
Florida Amendment 2 has passed. The amendment creates a constitutional right to hunt and fish.
Tuesday, 8:35 p.m. from the newsroom: Florida Amendment 3 fails
Florida Amendment 3 — which aimed to legalize recreational marijuana — has failed, per the AP.
With 89.7% of votes in, Amendment 3 has only received 55.7% of “yes” votes. The amendment will be unable at this point to secure the necessary 60% of “yes” votes to pass.
Tuesday, 8:15 p.m. from Reporter Staci Inez:
Both Brian Welch and Isaac Montilla, who are running for Leon County Board of County Commission, District 4, are spending their Election Nights at home.
Tuesday, 8:15 p.m. from the newsroom: DUNN RE-ELECTED
Rep. Neal Dunn is the projected winner for U.S. House District 2, per the AP. He nabs the projection with 60.1% of the votes and 79.3% of votes counted.
Tuesday, 8:08 p.m. from the newsroom: SCOTT WINS
The AP has called the race for U.S. Senate in Florida, declaring incumbent Rick Scott the projected winner with about 87% of votes counted.
Tuesday, 8:04 p.m. from the newsroom: FLORIDA PRESIDENTIAL PROJECTION
The Associated Press has called the presidential race in Florida, declaring former President Donald Trump and running mate JD Vance the projected winners. The AP estimates that 87% of votes have been counted.
Tuesday, 7:54 p.m. from Reporter Matt Hoffmann:
Tuesday, 7:54 p.m. from the newsroom: Gadsden County Sheriff projection
WCTV is calling the race for Gadsden County Sheriff for incumbent Morris Young.
Tuesday, 7:50 p.m. from the newsroom: Leon County Commission At Large, Group 1 projection
WCTV is calling the race for Leon County Commission At Large, Group 1 for Carolyn Cummings.
Tuesday, 7:37 p.m. from the newsroom: LCS Superintendent projection
WCTV is declaring Rocky Hanna the projected winner of the Leon County Schools Superintendent race.
Based on the number of ballots remaining, opponent Joe Burgess cannot make up enough ground to nab the race.
Tuesday, 7 p.m. from Reporter Matt Hoffmann:
As 7 p.m. comes and goes, everything remains calm at the Leon County Supervisor of Elections headquarters.
Tuesday, 6:50 p.m. from Reporter Matt Hoffmann: ALL MAIL AND EARLY VOTES COUNTED
Leon County Supervisor of Elections Mark Earley says all mail and early votes have been counted and will be available for upload in the next six minutes. About 70 to 80% of the vote is expected to be uploaded by 7:15 p.m.
Earley also said there are Postal Service employees driving two ballots all that way from South Carolina.
He says they have a police escort to try to make the 7 p.m. deadline.
Also, the canvassing board is now in session. For this batch of ballots, two ballots had “overvotes” meaning more than one candidate voted for per race.
The board is also deciphering what some voters meant on some ballots when it wasn’t filled out properly.
Tuesday, 6:15 p.m. from Reporter Matt Hoffmann:
Tuesday, 5 p.m. from Reporter Brianna Shaw:
Brianna Shaw will be monitoring the race for Leon County Schools Superintendent. Incumbent Rocky Hanna (D) is facing challenger Joe Burgess (NPA).
Both candidates have focused on school safety, teacher retention and recruitment and student success during their campaigns.
And both bring decades of experience in the public school system to the table. Hanna is running for his third term as superintendent, and Burgess is the principal at Chiles High School.
Hannah says if re-elected, he’ll use his final four years to strategize on moving the needle on teacher pay to keep teachers in the district and bring more in. He also aims to continue the Capital Projects, which aim to improve Title One schools.
On the other side of the ticket, Burgess says if elected, he would advocate for higher teacher pay and overall pay for support staff.
Tuesday, 5 p.m. from Reporter Staci Inez:
Staci Inez is reporting on the race for the Leon County Board of County Commissioners, District 4 seat between Brian Welch and Isaac Montilla.
Montilla is running against Welch for his position while Welch currently serves as the Vice Chair of the Board of County Commissioners for 2023-2024. Welch was elected to the board in 2020.
Tuesday, 5 p.m. from Reporter Savannah Kelley:
Savannah Kelley is reporting on one of the most contested and highly advertised races between incumbent Republican Corey Simon and Democratic challenger Daryl Parks for Florida Senate District 3.
Simon is running for re-election after serving two years in office. Parks is a civil rights attorney based out of Tallahassee.
Republicans have a supermajority in the Florida Senate, which means at least two-thirds of senators are Republicans. If Parks wins this seat, it could pave the way for Democrats to shift that supermajority. They need to win at least two Senate seats to break that supermajority.
Tuesday, 5 p.m. from Reporter Matt Hoffmann:
Matthew Hoffmann is reporting on the race between Tallahassee’s Mayor Pro Tem Curtis Richardson and former Mayor Dot Inman-Johnson for the City Commission, seat 2.
For a local election, a vast amount of money has gone into this race as the more progressive Inman-Johnson is attempting to unseat the long-elected Curtis Richardson.
“It’s about the people of Tallahassee,” Inman-Johnson said. “It’s about refocusing what the city is doing so that they are really dealing with the issues of the people of Tallahassee.”
Currently, Richardson serves as the deputy behind Mayor John Dailey but if Inman-Johnson wins more votes by the end of Tuesday night, the faction led by Commissioner Jeremy Matlow will be in charge.
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Source: politics.einnews.com…
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