Duval County has nearly equal numbers of registered Democrats and Republicans, making it a key battleground district in the U.S. Senate race.
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The U.S. Senate race was held in Jacksonville this week.
Republican incumbent Rick Scott stopped by his ranch on Jacksonville’s West Side Saturday afternoon.
His challenger, Democrat Debbie Mucarsel Powell, visited bus stops in Jacksonville and Fernandina Beach on Tuesday.
Duval County is the swing county of all swing counties.
Democrats have about 11,000 more registered voters than Republicans, but more than a fifth of registered voters are independents, leaving them with a large number of votes to win.
“What happens in Duval County will determine whether we win the entire state,” Scott said.
Scott said Duval County has played a pivotal role in each election since his time as governor and now as a senator.
That’s why, as Election Day approaches, I felt it necessary to pause and help undecided voters know why I’m a strong candidate.
“When you talk about the issues that people care about, they want jobs, they want their kids to get a great education, they want safety. They’re Republicans,” Scott said. spoke.
Mucarsel-Powell, who served one term in the House, also made Duval County a priority.
“Duval County is a dynamic state,” Mucarsel-Powell said Tuesday. “A lot of young people live here in Duval. We elected a Democratic mayor for the first time in a while.”
Mucarsel-Powell feels that by focusing on Florida-specific issues, she can appeal to voters who are still undecided.
“I put politics aside and worked with Republicans to raise money for Everglades restoration, protect our state from the effects of climate change, and bring in investments for resiliency,” Mucarsel-Powell said. Ta.
Both candidates had one thing in common: they wanted to get as many votes as possible.
“I just want everyone to vote. If everyone votes, I think we’ll have a big win,” Scott said.
“We need everyone to come vote and understand the power of their voice,” Mucarsel-Powell said.
Another thing these candidates had in common was that they were going to fall all over the place over the next week and a half.
Mucarsel-Powell said she plans to tour the state in front of as many people as possible, including a stop in Jacksonville this week.
Scott said she plans to head to Miami tomorrow and then to the West Coast, where people are still recovering from Hurricane Milton.
