South Florida lawmakers automatically reelected Friday without a vote

Thirteen South Florida House candidates were automatically reelected on Friday when the state’s noon qualifying deadline passed with no opponents filing to run against them.

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The list includes eight incumbent Democrats, four incumbent Republicans and one Republican candidate seeking an open seat.

The GOP newcomer, Ashley Perez-Biliskov, is running unopposed for the District 116 seat representing west Dade neighborhoods and currently occupied by her brother, House Speaker Danny Perez.

Elsewhere in Miami-Dade County, incumbent Republican Reps. Demi Busatta of Coral Gables, Alex Rizo of Hialeah, David Borrero of Sweetwater and Tom Fabricio of Miami Lakes all qualified without opposition.

Democratic incumbents who avoided opposition include Reps. Felicia Simone Robinson of Miami Gardens, Wallace Aristide of Miami-Dade County and Daryl Campbell, whose district spans portions of Broward and Miami-Dade counties.

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Several Broward County Democrats also secured another term without having to appear on the November ballot. Those lawmakers include Reps. Lisa Dunkley of Sunrise, Dan Daley of Coral Springs and Christine Hunschofsky of Parkland.

Farther north, Democratic Reps. Kelly Skidmore of Boca Raton and Debra Tendrich of Lake Worth Beach also qualified unopposed in Palm Beach County districts.

Rep. Marie Woodson, a Hollywood Democrat whose district covers portions of Broward and Miami-Dade counties, likewise drew no challenger.

The unusually long list of uncontested races highlights the increasingly safe nature of many legislative districts in South Florida. Following redistricting and years of partisan realignment, many seats have become reliably Democratic or Republican, making it difficult for challengers to mount viable campaigns against incumbents.

Under Florida law, candidates who qualify without opposition are automatically elected and do not appear on the general-election ballot. For the 13 South Florida House candidates who emerged unopposed Friday, the campaign season effectively ended as soon as qualifying closed.

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