Libertarians come up empty in Florida elections
While Floridians were watching the big national elections, 3 key Florida races for State seats have a third party hanging in the balance.
Libertarians turned out to support Gary Johnson for President, but the end results were negative for some key Libertarian candidates in Florida.
photo/Gage Skidmore
District 14, Jonathan Loesche represented the Libertarians in the sole opposition to Mia Jones, but lost 79-21. The Jacksonville area turned out in a big way to support President Obama and the Democratic Party and Loesche failed to carve out a big enough niche to make a dent in the Jones turnout.
“Thanks to everyone who voted for me,” Loesche sent out to his Twitter followers. “Not sure if I’ll run for State House in 2014 because it gets alot tougher to get on the ballot. Might run for Soil & Water board.”
Peter Richter in the Naples area, District 16, lost by the same margin to Kathleen Passidomo. Some polls reflect increasing discontent with the south Florida rep, but the end result was a disaster for the Libertarian candidate.
Lastly, Jason Brodeur, a Sanford Republican, staved off the closest race by defeating the Libertarian Franklin Perez 66-34.
John Iler, listed on the ballot as NPA, was a Libertarian running for Florida State Senate. He suffered defeat as well to Republican Alan Hays of North Orlando.
The Florida Libertarian Party presses on, many supporters looking at the 44,000 votes cast (approx. 0.53%) for Gary Johnson as solace (more than double of the Bob Barr turnout in 2008), as they regroup and set their eyes on 2014.
