Florida Republican Rick Scott wins a second term in the US Senate

NAPLES, Fla. — Republican U.S. Sen. Rick Scott defeated former Democratic U.S. Rep. Debbie Mucarsel-Powell on Tuesday to win a second term and will now seek to run for Leadership of the Senate.

Watch: Sen. Rick Scott speaks at watch party in Bonita Springs, Fla., after winning US Senate race

Scott hopes to succeed U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, who is retiring as GOP leader. His victory in Florida reaffirmed the Republican Party’s strength in the state, despite ballot measures abortion rights and recreational marijuana legalization that Democrats hoped would increase voter turnout.

Scott needed a recount to win his first Senate election, but then Democrats had an advantage in voter registration. This year, Republicans now outnumber Democrats by about a million voters, and Scott’s victory came two years after Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis and Republican U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio won in landslides.

Four in 10 Florida voters said the economy and jobs are the top issue facing the country, according to AP VoteCast, a broad survey of more than 110,000 voters nationwide, including more than 4,700 Florida voters. About 2 in 10 Florida voters said immigration was the most pressing issue, and about 1 in 10 named abortion.

Despite the fact that Florida is considered more solidly conservative, Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee insisted that Scott was vulnerable. But national Democrats have been slow to invest in Florida, one of the most expensive states to buy campaign ads.

Mucarsel-Powell was the first Ecuadorian-American and South American-born member of Congress when she was elected in 2018, but lost her bid for re-election in 2020 to U.S. Rep. Carlos Gimenez. He ran his campaign focused on abortion rights, gun safety and Latin American politics.

Scott won despite problems on his political resume, including failing to win a GOP majority two years ago after leading the National Republican Senatorial Committee. Scott also failed to oust McConnell from the Senate leadership in a 37-10 vote.

For months, Scott has criticized President Joe Biden’s handling of immigration and the national debt. He also criticized the president’s handling of the Israel-Hamas conflict.

Scott often met with Jewish leaders to discuss support for Israel. He also campaigned for former President Donald Trump.