GOP looks to keep 3 seats in Tuesday voting

ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. – With huge fundraising advantages and years of dominance in the region, Republicans are looking to hold onto a Senate seat and two House seats Tuesday in special elections in St. Johns, Flagler, Putnam and Volusia counties.

Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. as ballots are cast in Senate District 6, House District 17 and House District 24. 

Former Sen. John Thrasher's resignation from the Senate in November to become president of Florida State University touched off a domino effect that led to the special elections.

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Rep. Travis Hutson, R-Elkton, defeated Rep. Ronald "Doc" Renuart, R-Ponte Vedra Beach, in a GOP primary in Thrasher's old Senate District 6, which includes St. Johns, Flagler and Putnam counties and part of Volusia. Hutson will take on Daytona Beach Democrat David Cox in the special general election.

In deciding to run for the Senate seat, Hutson and Renuart had to submit resignations from their House seats, causing the need for the other special elections.

In Hutson's House District 24, which includes Flagler County and parts of St. Johns and Volusia counties, Palm Coast Republican Paul Renner will face St. Augustine Democrat Adam Morley on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, in Renuart's House District 17, which includes the northern half of St. Johns County, Republican Cyndi Stevenson will face no-party candidate Judy Stevens and write-in Mary Anne Boczek.

Republicans have dominated most legislative races in the region for the past decade or longer, depending on the district. Also, Hutson, Renner and Stevenson have dwarfed their opponents in raising money for the special elections.