Honestly, if you were watching the broward elections results 2024 on night one, it felt like a marathon that nobody quite finished at the same time. Broward County has always been that blue powerhouse in a state that's rapidly turning bright red. This year? The vibes were different. While the rest of Florida was swinging hard toward the GOP, Broward held its ground, mostly. But even here, the margins tell a story of a shifting landscape.
People expected a blowout. What they got was a complicated mess of high-turnout precincts and surprising pockets of conservative growth. It wasn’t just about who won the big chairs; it was about how the local power structure shifted under our feet.
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The Top of the Ticket: A Blue Stronghold in a Red Sea
Let’s talk about the big one first. Kamala Harris took Broward County, which surprised exactly zero people. She pulled in 507,328 votes, sitting at roughly 57.8% of the total. Donald Trump, however, made notable gains compared to previous cycles, snagging 358,952 votes or about 40.9%.
That’s a big deal. For a Republican to cross the 40% mark in Broward is like a blizzard hitting Fort Lauderdale—rare, and it makes everyone talk.
In the U.S. Senate race, Debbie Mucarsel-Powell outperformed the top of the ticket slightly in terms of percentage, hitting 59.3% in Broward. But statewide, Rick Scott cruised to victory. It highlights the "Broward Island" effect. You have this massive block of Democratic voters, yet their influence is being diluted by the massive GOP surges in the center and north of the state.
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Sheriff Gregory Tony and the Power of Incumbency
The Sheriff's race was basically over before it started. Gregory Tony is a fundraising juggernaut. He didn’t even bother with a watch party on election night. Why would you when you’re winning with 67% of the vote?
His opponent, independent Charles Whatley, tried to make it a race about character and BSO management. It didn't stick. Tony’s ability to navigate controversies—and he’s had a few, like the issues surrounding his 2019 appointment and past disclosures—seems to be his superpower. Voters in Broward seem to value the stability he’s projected since the Parkland fallout over the noise of the campaign trail.
The School Board Shakeup
This is where things got kind of spicy. If you’ve been following the Broward School Board, you know it’s been a battlefield. Governor DeSantis had previously appointed members like Daniel Foganholi and Torey Alston to fill vacancies.
Voters sent a clear message: We want our own people.
Maura McCarthy Bulman took down Foganholi in District 1 with 51.3% of the vote. Over in District 2, Rebecca Thompson soundly defeated Torey Alston, pulling in 66.3%. This wasn't just a win for the individuals; it was a rejection of the Governor's direct influence on the local school system. People want local control. They want names they recognize from their own communities, not names sent down from Tallahassee.
- District 3: Sarah Leonardi cruised with 70.4%.
- District 5: Jeff Holness dominated at 75.8%.
- At-Large Seat 9: Debra Hixon secured her spot with 71.1%.
Voter Turnout: The 64% Reality Check
Joe Scott, the Supervisor of Elections, had his work cut out for him. We saw a voter turnout of about 64.88%. Out of 1.36 million eligible voters, about 882,000 actually showed up or sent in a ballot.
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It’s a solid number, but honestly, it’s a bit of a dip from the high-octane energy of 2020. The way people voted changed, too. Early voting was massive—431,754 people went to the polls before Election Day. Vote-by-mail sat at 271,632. Only about 180,000 people actually waited until the final Tuesday to cast their ballot.
Local Races and Charter Games
Down-ballot, the results for the broward elections results 2024 showed that incumbency is still king.
- Jared Moskowitz: Held onto District 23 with 54.5% against Joseph Kaufman.
- Frederica Wilson: Smashed it in District 24 with nearly 79%.
- Debbie Wasserman Schultz: Won District 25 with 54.3%.
- Chip LaMarca: In a rare GOP win for the area, he held State House District 100 with 57.4%.
In Hollywood, voters had to deal with a bunch of charter amendments. Most passed, like the ones cleaning up the language for initiative petitions and clarifying the City Manager's role. But one failed—the attempt to change the Charter Review Committee's appointment frequency from six years to ten years. Voters basically said, "No thanks, keep it the way it is."
Why These Results Matter for 2026
We’re already looking at the next cycle. The 2024 results suggest that while Broward is a Democratic fortress, the walls are being chipped at. The GOP gain to 40% is a warning shot.
If you're a local politician, you've gotta realize that the old playbook of just "being a Democrat" in Broward might not be enough forever. You have to deliver. The School Board results prove that when people feel like their local institutions are being messed with, they will turn out to flip the script.
Actionable Steps for Broward Residents
Don't let the end of the election be the end of your involvement. The broward elections results 2024 are just the starting line for the next four years.
- Monitor the School Board: With the new members (Bulman and Thompson) taking their seats, watch how the board handles the current budget deficits and school closure discussions.
- Check Your Registration: Florida law regarding vote-by-mail requests changed. You likely need to renew your request for the 2026 cycle now. Visit BrowardVotes.gov to stay current.
- Attend Commission Meetings: Many municipal seats and commission spots are where the actual day-to-day decisions about your property taxes and zoning happen.
- Engage with the SOE: Joe Scott’s office frequently holds workshops on election security and poll worker training. If you’re worried about how the 64% turnout affects your area, get involved in the process.
The data is in. The winners are sworn in. Now, the real work of holding these folks to their campaign promises begins. Keep an eye on the School Board's first 100 days; that's where the most immediate friction—and opportunity for change—is going to happen.