In a race that was too close to call for most of the night, Republican Rick Scott has won the 2014 gubernatorial election.
The election results were called by the Associated Press at 10:24 p.m, with Scott winning a little more than 48 percent of the vote compared to Democratic challenger and former Florida governor Charlie Crist’s 47 percent. Libertarian candidate Adrian Wyllie earned 4 percent of the vote.
Crist petitioned the Broward County Circuit Court less than an hour before polls closed to extend the Broward voting deadline from 7 to 9 p.m. A press release from the Crist campaign cited “several individual and systemic breakdowns that made it difficult for voters to cast regular ballots.” The extension was denied by Judge Jack Tuter, who questioned why Crist waited so late in the day to file for the extension.
Scott’s campaign focused on the claim that state unemployment dropped while he was governor. The election results were decided by only about 80,000 votes out of approximately 5.6 million votes cast.
 
Amendment 1: Water and Land Conservation – PASS
 
“Funds the Land Acquisition Trust Fund to acquire, restore, improve, and manage conservation lands including wetlands and forests; fish and wildlife habitat; lands protecting water resources and drinking water sources, including the Everglades, and the water quality of rivers, lakes, and streams; beaches and shores; outdoor recreational lands; working farms and ranches; and historic or geologic sites, by dedicating 33 percent of net revenues from the existing excise tax on documents for 20 years.”
 
 

Amendment 2: Use of Marijuana for Certain Medical Conditions
“Allows the medical use of marijuana for individuals with debilitating diseases as determined by a licensed Florida physician. Allows caregivers to assist patients’ medical use of marijuana. The Department of Health shall register and regulate centers that produce and distribute marijuana for medical purposes and shall issue identification cards to patients and caregivers. Applies only to Florida law. Does not authorize violations of federal law or any non-medical use, possession or production of marijuana.”


Amendment 3: Prospective Appointment of Certain Judicial Vacancies
“Proposing an amendment to the State Constitution authorizing the Governor to prospectively fill a vacancy in a judicial office to which election for retention applies that results from a justice’s or judge’s reaching the mandatory retirement age, failure to qualify for a retention election, or failure to be retained through election. Under current law, the Governor may not act to fill such vacancies until after the current justice or judge completes his or her term.”