Rick Scott significantly improves his margin of victory with first re-election to Senate
In addition to running for re-election, Scott has also been in the running to head the Senate after the exit of Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell. Scott will face other GOP members vying for the job, including Senate Minority Whip John Thune, R-S.D., and Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas.
'ILL-FATED EFFORT': MCCONNELL WAS 'FURIOUS'
Prior to joining Congress, Scott was the Sunshine State's 45th governor, an office he held from 2011-2018.
Scott's wider than expected margin of victory comes after Democrats in the state had hoped this election might be a chance for the Democratic Party to flip his seat.
"[Floridians] are so ready to retire [Scott] and send someone that's going to work for them in the U.S. Senate," Mucarsel-Powell said during her campaign, according to The Daily Beast.
"Rick Scott is the most wounded bird of all the birds," influential Florida Democratic donor John Morgan told The Daily Beast earlier this year. National Democrats, meanwhile, insisted Scott's Senate seat was "in play," Politico reported.
Mucarsel-Powell and Scott raised similar war chests, according to FEC records, but Scott did raise a few million more than his Democratic challenger. Scott, however, had a self-funding advantage, giving his campaign at least $24.5 million. Mucarsel-Powell reportedly raised more than Scott in donations alone.
