Republican Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Gimenez has beat a single-term Democrat in Florida’s 26th Congressional District, according to The Associated Press, flipping a seat that has frequently shifted between the two parties.
Gimenez, a retired firefighter and mayor since 2011, defeated Rep. Debbie Mucarsel-Powell (D-Fla.) in a district that stretches from the Miami suburbs to Key West.
“I wouldn’t be here without the people behind me,” Gimenez said in an acceptance speech outside his home on Tuesday night, referring to his family, friends, and volunteers who stood behind him.
“Today was a rejection of extremism, today was a rejection of partisanship and today was a rejection of socialism,” Gimenez said. “This country needs to start to work together because it has threats both inside and outside.”
He sought to link his first-term rival to Washington liberals and label her a socialist in the district, which includes a part of Miami-Dade County and Monroe County.
“When I first ran for mayor, they didn’t think I was going to win that, too,” Gimenez said in a statement. “I promise you I’ll be a much more effective congressperson and reach across the aisle.”
Mucarsel-Powell initially refused to concede, saying all votes should first be counted. The Associated Press called the race for Gimenez at 10:13 p.m.
“This election has seen historic levels of turnout in Florida and across the nation, and we are still waiting for all the votes to be counted,” Mucarsel-Powell said in a statement. “What we are seeing now is our democratic process at work. I look forward to a final result when the votes have been counted and everyone’s voice has been heard.”
“I’m going to work with Congress to bring solutions, to bring results,” Gimenez added, noting that he will work to prioritize the economy and protect health insurance.
