Three legislative races on Florida's primary ballot remained so close Wednesday that they may be heading for automatic recounts – including one in north Miami-Dade.
In the District 107 House race between two incumbent Democratic representatives, Barbara Watson of Miami Gardens led John Patrick Julien of North Miami Beach by 56 votes.
The primary result should be decisive in that race as the only remaining candidates are a pair of write-ins. The two Democratic incumbents were pitted against each other as a result of redistricting.
The earliest that recounts could begin is Friday when county supervisors of elections must submit their official results, Department of State spokesman Chris Cate said. Recounts are automatic if the winning margin is less than 0.5 percent.
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With nearly all ballots counted from Tuesday's election, Jeff Clemens led Mack Bernard by only 35 votes for the Democratic nomination in Palm Beach County's Senate District 27. Both currently are House members.
The winner is virtually assured of a seat in the 40-member Senate because his only opposition in the Nov. 6 general election is from a write-in candidate.
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Clemens, a former Lake Worth mayor, had support from unions and ran as a progressive. Bernard, a lawyer and former Delray Beach city commissioner, stressed his ability to work with Republicans and drew support from business interests including the Florida Chamber of Commerce and Associated Industries of Florida.
Former Rep. Randy Johnson of Sebring trailed Dr. Cary Pigman, an Avon Park physician, by 26 votes in the Republican primary for House District 55 covering parts of St. Lucie, Okeechobee, Highlands and Glades counties.
The GOP nominee will face Democrat Crystal Drake of Moore Haven.
Supervisors were still counting a few provisional and late-arriving absentee ballots on Wednesday.
