Republican Rick Scott wins second US Senate term in Florida

Rick Scott will return to the U.S. Senate for a second six-year term after defeating Democratic challenger Debbie Mucarsel-Powell in Florida.

In his fourth statewide general election campaign, Scott was able to win by a more comfortable margin than his previous bids, in which he won narrow victories for governor twice and for his Senate seat.

"THANK YOU, FLORIDA! I’m honored to serve as your Senator for another 6 years! Tomorrow, we begin the fight to Make Washington WORK Again!" Scott posted on X Tuesday night.

Mucarsel-Powell, a former U.S. House member from Miami, attacked Scott on a range of issues, including his refusal to accept climate change, ties to former President Donald Trump, high property insurance rates and his support for Florida’s six-week abortion ban.

But it was no match for the Republican Party’s advantage in the former swing state.

Tuesday's win further cements Florida’s status as a reliably Republican state, at least in statewide elections. In Scott’s previous campaigns, polls showed him trailing in the months before Election Day, and he put millions of dollars of his own money on ad blitzes that helped push him over the top.

Scott can now turn his attention to another heated race. He’s running to lead the Senate GOP caucus now that U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell, the longest serving Senate leader in history, is stepping down. U.S. Sens. John Cornyn of Texas and John Thune of South Dakota are vying with Scott for the leadership position.

Depending on results in the rest of the nation, Republicans, who are currently the minority in the Senate by two seats, could retake control of the chamber.

Scott previously challenged McConnell for the GOP leadership spot after the 2022 elections but lost the vote 37-10.

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Gray Rohrer is a reporter with the USA TODAY Network-Florida Capital Bureau. He can be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on X: @GrayRohrer.

This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Florida Republican Rick Scott wins second US Senate term