There were great expectations a year ago when USFSP political science professor Judithanne McLauchlan announced that, disgusted by some of state Senator Jeff Brandes' votes, particularly the one against Medicaid expansion, she would run against him. And in a Senate district seat that was controlled by Democrat Charlie Justice from 2006-2010, it wasn't an absurd thought to believe that she might have a chance against the St. Petersburg Republican.
But it was apparently never meant to be, as Brandes easily defeated McLauchlan on Tuesday night, 57-43 percent in the district that encompasses portions of Pinellas County and South Tampa.
“I am humbled by this strong support and vote of confidence from our community,” Brandes said in a press release. “Together we have championed innovative public policy that will improve the State of Florida. I am excited to get back to work so that Florida will be the number one state for job creation, and the best to raise a family.”
Brandes, a millionaire, enjoyed a substantial fundraising advantage over the college professor, and never was seriously threatened in polls published in the weeks leading up to tonight.
For McLauchlan, it was a very tough and at times intensely personal race. A bankruptcy that occurred back in the 1990s due to a health concern became cannon fodder in the campaign, as did the controversial charge that she was part of a group that once supported a state income tax in Florida — as dangerous a third rail as there is in this state with no state income taxes. (The group in question was the League of Women Voters.)
"I guess I had joked about how I needed to have some thick skin because if it was as close as we expected it to be, they would really come after me," she told CL over the weekend. "But it’s been strange — this whole League of Women Voters thing income tax thing, that came out of nowhere," she said, adding that she was disappointed by that part of the campaign.
Brandes carries on. Originally elected to the state House in 2010 and then to the Senate in 2012, he'll continue his role as the chairman of the Transportation Committee in Tallahassee, where he can shepherd new legislation, undoubtedly to continue to advocate on behalf of share-riding services like Uber in 2015.