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Read our current and previous coverage of the 2018 election season as you prepare to cast your ballot. You'll find information on important races, explanations of constitutional amendments and details of local referendums.

Florida Matters: Understanding The Primary Election Results

Mark Schriener and Steve Newborn
/
WUSF Public Media
Following the August 18 primary, Democrat Andrew Gillum and Republican Ron DeSantis will now go head-to-head in the hotly contested race for Florida governor.

The 2018 Florida primary was one of the most surprising elections in modern memory. Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum surged from behind to become the Democratic nominee for governor and Donald Trump-backed Ron DeSantis took home a decisive win over Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam.

This week, Florida Matters host Robin Sussingham tries to make sense of the primary results with veteran political analyst William March and Sarasota Herald-Tribune Political Editor Zac Anderson.

In the first half of the show we'll talk about Tampa Bay area races where Democrats are hoping to take advantage of a "blue wave" to flip long-held GOP seats, while Republicans are defending their majority in the Florida House and Senate.

Later in the show we'll discuss how the pollsters got the Governor's race predictions so wrong, and how both parties are hedging their bets on populist, insurgent candidates.

What races are you watching closely as we head into the November general election? And what issues matter to you most when you're deciding who to vote for this year?  Share your comments on our Facebook page, tweet @FloridaMatters or by email FloridaMatters@wusf.org.

Roberto Roldan is a senior at the University of South Florida pursuing a degree in mass communications and a minor in international studies.
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