In Monroe County, state Rep. James “Jim” Mooney, a Republican, retained his seat in Florida House District 120, defeating his challenger, Michael Travis, a Democrat from Key West.
Mooney, 73, is an incumbent and former mayor of the Village of Islamorada. Travis, 35, is a well-known Key West tour guide and drag queen, but a political novice who raised little money for his campaign.
District 120 includes all of Monroe County and part of southern Miami-Dade County. Mooney led Travis by nearly 30 percentage points in Monroe and about 23 points in Miami-Dade County.
In a Keys race that recently made headlines, Democratic political veteran Ron Saunders, 70, lost to Sherri Hodies, 61, in the supervisor of the election race. The Republican newcomer had about a five-point lead over Saunders.
Hodies received a controversial $20,000 donation and endorsement from the Florida Keys Republican Executive Committee, where she serves as treasurer, in April before the August primary.
Many committee members criticized the endorsement, saying it did not comply with the committee’s rule that requires all 63 members to vote before approving a candidate. Only 38 members voted on the issue, and there were 20 votes in favor and 18 in favor.
Governor Ron DeSantis in September ordered the state attorney for Florida’s 20th Judicial Circuit, which includes Charlotte, Collier, Glades, Hendry and Lee counties, to investigate the donation. That investigation is pending.
Hodies will replace longtime elections supervisor Joyce Griffin, who is retiring.
In other Keys races:
Board of County Commissioners, District 3
James Scholl (Republican): Winner
Chris Massicotte (Democrat)
Key West City Commission, District 6
Aaron Castillo: Winner
Marci L. Rose
Marathon City Council
Jody Del Gaizo
Dustin Huff
Kenny Matlock: Winner
Mark Senmartin
Ray Wood
Islamorada Village Council, Seat 1
From Cadenhead
Jozef Pinder III: Winner
Seat of the Islamorada 2 Village Council
Steve Friedman: Winner
Anna Richards
Islamorada Village Council Seat 3
Mary Gerst
Deb Gillis: Winner
Islamorada Village Council Seat 4
Don Horton: Winner
Tom Raffanello
Key Largo Fire and Emergency District, Seat 3
Kenny Rand: Winner
Ron Mobley
Key Largo Fire and Emergency District, Seat 5
Michael Jenkins: Winner
Dan Powers
Monroe Utility Board, seat C
Rachel Oropeza: Winner
Timothy Root
