Rubio, Meek, Scott, Sink win

Rick Scott's narrow victory over Bill McCollum in the Republican Primary shows a well-funded outsider can win an election, but most incumbents managed to hold onto their seats in state and local elections around the Gulf Coast Aug. 24.

Incumbents who lost their seats include Hillsborough County Commissioner Kevin White, who was defeated by former State Sen. Les Miller, and Charlotte County Commissioner Dick Loftus lost to Stephen Deutsch. Collier County Commissioner Fred Coyle was re-elected and Sarasota County Commissioner Nora Patterson won the Republican Primary over architect Mark Smith.

In Lee County, Commissioner Brian Bigelow won the Republican Primary as did Commissioner John Manning. Gov. Charlie Crist appointed Manning, only this summer, to fill the seat previously held by Bob Janes, who died earlier this year.