Brian Hodgers has emerged victorious from a Republican Primary in House District 32. He will now advance to a June 10 Special Election that will decide who succeeds outgoing Rep. Debbie Mayfield.

The insurance company owner defeated dermatologist Dr. Terry Cronin and Republican Liberty Caucus leader Bob White.

With all votes in but a small amount of mail-in ballots, Hodgers led with just over 35% of the vote. White posted just above 33% while Cronin won just under 32% in a race where margins stayed tight through the evening.

The seat opened because Mayfield resigned to run in Senate District 19, which also held a Primary on Tuesday.

The heated GOP Primary saw all three candidates spend upward of six figures, which has contributed to an often personal battle of personalities.

The most financial support has gone to Hodgers, owner of Complete Choice Insurance and Complete Choice Realty. A leader of the Brevard County Trump Club, he said his business background will help Florida develop policy and handle its current growth patterns.

“With Florida’s great success, we’ve begun to experience some challenges associated with rapid population growth, rising housing and insurance costs, and pressure on our natural resources,” he said on his website.

“I believe we can deal with those challenges successfully without raising taxes, increasing the size and scope of government, or creating draconian regulations. Together, by maintaining our commitment to freedom and conservative principles, we will keep Florida affordable, safe, and prosperous for all.”

Hodgers spent nearly $180,000 through March 27, and still had more than $160,000 in cash at that point to spend in the final days before the Primary. All of that came via outside donations.

Cronin also has owned a business in the region for years, Cronin Skin Cancer Center. He hoped to bring health care policy expertise to the House.

“As a physician, I’ve witnessed the challenges our community faces with healthcare access firsthand,” he writes on his website. “I’m not just a doctor; I’m a husband, father, and conservative who understands the importance of family, faith, and freedom. Let me be your advocate in Tallahassee to bring real change to our healthcare system and champion the values we hold dear here in Brevard.”

Cronin actually spent the most to date, burning through more than $292,000 ahead of the Primary, after putting $235,000 out of pocket into the race through a candidate loan.

White, meanwhile, has long been politically active with the Republican Liberty Caucus, both in Brevard County and at the state level. He also ran for Governor in 2018 He spent a comparatively modest $141,000 on the race as of March 27. Much of that was from his own wallet after he put down a $110,000 loan to back up his candidacy.

“He has advanced policies that safeguard individual freedoms, limit government overreach, and empower communities. His leadership has inspired grassroots movements across the state that focus on putting We The People first,” White’s website reads.

Hodgers will face Juan Hinojosa, the Democrat whom Mayfield defeated in November.

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Stephanie Bruder and Molly Diallo just won four more years on the Bay Harbor Islands Council, outpacing a third candidate who hoped to pick one of them off Tuesday.

With the town’s lone precinct reporting at 7:15 p.m., Bruder had 45% of the vote and Diallo had 40%.

Political newcomer Dave Sanchez received the remaining 15%.

The election was at-large and nonpartisan, with voters choosing between all three candidates and the two candidates with the most votes winning seats. In the coming days, the Council will select from its members a new Mayor and Vice Mayor.

Heading into Election Day, Bruder, Diallo and Sanchez agreed that traffic congestion was the No. 1 issue for their two-island town, which borders Bal Harbour, Indian Creek Village and Surfside.

They also concurred that more local programming is needed for the town’s nearly 6,000 residents.

Bruder, a 60-year-old Democrat, has lived in Bal Harbor Islands since 1997 and manages several businesses with her husband. She has served at Town Hall for more than a decade, including as Mayor and Vice Mayor.

She vowed, if re-elected, to support lobbying efforts to secure state grants for local infrastructure projects, particularly for bridge improvements and a municipal complex, and to add more youth, family and senior programming.

“Bay Harbor Islands is the perfect blend of small-town charm and coastal beauty,” she said in a statement. “I love its sense of community, walkable streets, and peaceful, yet vibrant atmosphere.”

Bruder carried endorsements from the Fraternal Order of Police and the South Florida Police Benevolent Association. She also had the largest war chest in the contest: $47,000, of which $30,000 came from her bank account.

Her donors included numerous local businesses and frequent state-level givers such as Sunshine Gasoline Distributors and Akerman.

Diallo, a 50-year-old Democrat and award-winning education pro, has lived in Bay Harbor Islands since she moved to South Florida in 2004 and served on the Town Council since 2021, when she won unopposed.

She ran on a platform that prioritized public safety, expanding community services and recreation, enhancing the town’s infrastructure and strengthening communication between Town Hall and residents.

“My family and I have always been proud to call Bay Harbor Islands home,” she said in a statement. “It has been a tremendous honor to serve on the Town Council for the past four years, and I’ve deeply enjoyed connecting with residents in this role.”

Diallo raised $14,110 through March 14, $1,100 of which was her money. Her donors included The Dade County Police Benevolent Association, Sunshine Gasoline Distributors and Akerman.

Sanchez, a 20-year-old Bay Harbor Islands native, is a full-time student majoring in cybersecurity. State records show he registered as a Republican in 2022 and remained one for the next two years. He is now registered with no party affiliation.

His platform included preserving the town’s existing character while leveraging revenue from new development, including construction of a new Town Hall, to improve local infrastructure.

He said he also wanted to expand youth activities, improve civic engagement, enhance accessibility to online services, shore up the town’s resiliency and make it easier for residents to attain public records.

“I have lived for all my life in this town, and I won’t ever want to move away,” he said in a statement. “It’s an incredible location adding to the uniqueness of the town. I aim to keep and preserve such character which long-term residents have come to adore.”

Sanchez reported raising $2,172. But his contributions ledger shows $3,000 in donations from 1050 LLC, a company whose principal is Francis Neuhut, a past Town Council candidate.

Neuhut filed complaints with the Miami-Dade Commission on Ethics and Public Trust against Bruder, Mayor Joshua Fuller and Town Attorney Frank Simone. All were tossed for lack of legal sufficiency.

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