Wed. Nov 6th, 2024

State Sen. Corey Simon. Credit: Florida Senate.

Republican state Sen. Corey Simon defeated Democratic challenger Daryl Parks with 55% of the vote.

The former NFL player secured a second term in the Florida Senate and solidified the GOP’s influence in the North Florida district that was once a Democratic stronghold.

Despite Democrats’ advantage in registered voters in Senate District 3, Parks, a prominent civil rights attorney, couldn’t unseat Simon. The Republican first won the seat when he flipped the district in 2022.

This is the only Senate seat Democrats had targeted to flip, meaning that the party did not make gains in the upper chamber. Likewise, incoming Senate president Ben Albritton told the News Service of Florida that he was willing to spend whatever it took to keep SD 3 red.

Property insurance rose as a prominent issue in this race because the district includes the counties in the Big Bend where three hurricanes tore through in less than two years. Simon floated the idea of tackling the insurance problems by allowing companies to transfer some of their risk to a state-run fund. Meanwhile, Parks advocated for getting rid of the changes the Legislature enacted making it harder to sue insurance companies.

“Though we didn’t get the outcome we were working toward, this campaign was a testament to North Florida’s shared hope for a better future that puts culture wars aside,” Parks wrote in a press release. “I am immensely grateful to everyone who believed in our mission and our vision to put families over politics. Our work doesn’t end here—I am committed to continuing the fight for fair costs, accessible healthcare, and essential freedoms for every person in our community.”

By