Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2022

Minca Davis // Alligator Staff

2 ALLIGATOR WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 24, 2022

The primary problem Between partisan politics and similar platforms, primary elections yield routinely low turnouts

By Heather Bushman Alligator Staff Writer

The primary election has 14 races on the ballot in Alachua County. But if precedent proves correct, most Gainesville residents won’t cast a vote in a single one.

Despite the key positions on primary ballots, only 25% of registered Alachua County voters cast their ballot in primary elections in the past 10 years on average — only slightly higher than the state average of 23% in the same timeline. Low turnout is a product of multiple factors, such as Florida’s closed primaries, candidates running on similar platforms and voter apathy.

Though not a deciding race for most nonpartisan races like the general election is, the primaries still hold significance.

Brian Marra, a 21-year-old UF history and English senior and president of UF College Democrats, said these elections give voters an in-depth look at every candidate on the ballot.

“In the primary, you really get to evaluate all of the candidates, their messages and what they stand for.”

- Brian Marra, UF College Democrats president

Some of Alachua County’s most critical races are on this year’s primary ballot.

Aaron Klein, an Alachua County Supervisor of Elections Office spokesperson, said

many major races on the ballot — like the Gainesville mayoral race and the Democratic primary for the U.S. Senate — makes this primary especially significant.

“There’s just so much for voters to vote on,” he said. “Whether you’re talking about those partisan races at the top of the ballot or several of the more local ones, participation in the primary is really key.”

Primary turnout in Alachua County for the 2020 presidential election was almost 33% — the highest since 1996, the first year listed on the Supervisor of Elections Office’s website. Only the 2002 and 2004 primaries had a turnout above 30%.

Meanwhile, turnout for the general election hasn’t slipped below 50% since 2010, and it exceeded 80% in 2006.

With no high-profile presidential election to draw voters to the polls, midterm elections post especially low numbers.

Turnout in Alachua County was just below 27% on average in the last three presidential general election cycles, but it only reached 23% on average in the last three midterm cycles.

Florida presents the barrier of closed primaries. In these elections, only voters registered with a party can vote in partisan elections, meaning voters with no party affiliation must sit out in key races.

Florida has about 3.9 million registered voters with no party affiliation as of Aug. 17; Chris Finley, a 53-year-old Boynton Beach resident, is one of them.

Though he votes in general elections,

Finley will not vote in Palm Beach County’s primary election. He’s always waited to vote in the general elections because he identifies as an independent.

“I look at each candidate when they come up, and I make a decision based on the candidate and not the party.”

- Chris Finley, Boynton Beach resident

Of the 179,389 registered voters in Alachua County, 42,093 of them are not registered with a party. For 23% of the county’s registered voters, voting in the primary isn’t a matter of whether they will — it’s a matter of whether they can.

Though Florida’s closed primaries prevent independent voters from voting in some races, the structure of primaries can also discourage those who do identify with a party from casting their ballots. Michael Martinez, a UF political science professor, said primaries don’t allow voters to vote along party lines like they’re used to.

In partisan races — like the elections for the 3rd Congressional District seat of the U.S. House of Representatives and the 22nd State House District seat on the Florida House of Representatives — voters still tend to vote for their party’s candidates. In the 2020 election, for instance, 95% of registered Democrats who voted in the election voted for President Joe Biden, the Democratic nominee, while 94% of registered Republicans who voted in the election voted for former President Donald Trump, the Republican nominee.

Though many attribute this to a spike in political polarization, a more rigid party system is at play, Martinez said. As parties become more defined in their ideologies, voters align themselves more securely with a single party and rarely vote outside party lines, he said.

“What looks like people being polarized is really people sorting themselves out into the ‘correct parties,’” Martinez said.

Primaries, then, present a dilemma to this strategy: Party-line voting is obsolete when the candidates are members of the same party.

Beyond independent voters, college students are another key demographic that might not deliver when it comes to primary voting. New students moving into Gainesville may not be prepared to vote in the primaries so soon after their arrival, Klein said.

“They may be used to those representatives and those office holders in the counties they’re from, and so they’re acclimating to Alachua County,” he said.

UF welcomed nearly 15,000 students to the class of 2026, and most moved to Gainesville just days ago. Many may still be registered in their home counties or not be registered to vote at all. Klein encourages them to register to vote in Alachua County, which they can do through the Supervisor of Elections website.

Despite a historically low turnout, candidates and campaigns are hopeful the significance of this year’s midterm election will drive voters to the polls. Early voting numbers already check in at more than 16% as of Monday.

Janet Heffner, a 65-year-old Gainesville resident, accounts for one of those early voting tallies. She submitted her mail-in ballot earlier last week.

Heffner said the issues in this election — particularly those in education — were too important to ignore.

“There are so many issues facing the school district and the city right now,” she said. “I think the future is very important.” @hmb_1013 hbushman@alligator.org

Namari Lock // Alligator Staff

A look at the turnout to primaries in comparison to general elections in Alachua County from 2000 to 2020.

www.alligator.org

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VOLUME 117 ISSUE 1

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 24, 2022

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Harvey Ward, Ed Bielarski head to run-off in mayoral race Arreola didn't make the cut

By Kyle Bumpers, Mickenzie Hannon & Jackson Reyes Alligator Staff Writers

Harvey Ward and Edward “Ed” Bielarski lead the mayoral race and are likely to face off in a runoff election for Gainesville mayor in November after pulling ahead of their opponents in the crowded nine-person pack.

Gainesville’s primary election will determine the city’s mayor if a candidate receives the majority of the votes cast. Because Ward and Bielarski didn’t secure at least 50% of votes as of midnight Wednesday, they will compete in a runoff for the general election slated for Nov. 8.

Ward, who previously served as the District 2 commissioner since 2017, received 27.94% of the votes and over 300 more votes than Bielarski, a former Gainesville Regional Utilities general manager. Bielarski secured 26.47% of the votes as of midnight Wednesday. David Arreola, who served as the District 3 commissioner since 2017, earned 15.36% of the vote.

The other candidates in the mayoral race — Ansaun Fisher, Gary Gordon, Gabriel Hillel, Adam Rosenthal, Donald Shepherd and July Thomas — received 30.23% of the vote in total.

One candidate will replace Lauren Poe, who previously held the seat since 2018 but reached his term limit this year.

Harvey Ward

Ward plans to spend the next few months knocking on residents’ doors in preparation for the runoff election.

Residents first elected Ward to the commission in 2017 and again in 2020.

He grew up and attended schools in East Gainesville. He later attended Santa Fe College and UF, where he received a bachelor's degree in public relations.

Ward received about $45,000 in campaign donations, according to Voter Focus. Donations came from sources such as UF’s former first lady Chris Machen and County Commissioners Anna Prizzia and Ken Cornell.

SEE MAYOR, PAGE 6

Alessandra Ayala // Alligator Staff

Harvey Ward, a candidate for Gainesville mayor, attends election watch party with supporters at Cypress & Grove Brewing Company Tuesday, August 23, 2022.

Danielle Hawk secures Democratic nomination for McGraw unseats DeSantis-appointed US House seat, will face incumbent Kat Cammack

By Melanie Peña & Fernando Figueroa Alligator Staff Writers

Two U.S. House primary winners celebrated their victories very differently Tuesday night — one at a bustling yoga studio and the other sick at home.

Kat Cammack and Danielle Hawk were declared the winners of their Florida’s 3rd Congressional District primaries, as reported by the Associated Press at 7:22 p.m and 8:39 p.m. respectively.

About an hour into Cammack’s Tuesday night watch party, her campaign team announced she would address the crowd via a prerecorded video. Her communications director Adeline Sandridge said Cammack was feeling “a little bit under the weather” and worried about the potential to infect attendees.

“This is an awesome win, not just for our team, but for our community and for our state. There's so many good things happening right now, and I think after all that we've been through, it is definitely a night to celebrate,” Cammack said.

SPORTS/SPECIAL/CUTBen Shelton goes pro OUTnational champion is leaving The Florida early to further his Story description finish with playing comma,career, pg# pg. 14

Throughout the day, Cammack visited multiple cities to campaign ahead of the polls closing, including at Ocala, Williston, Chiefland and Newberry, according to Sandridge.

She was meeting and talking to constituents all day, Sandridge added.

Cammack ran against two opponents: Justin Waters and Manuel Asensio. Asensio, who ran on an anti-corruption platform and vocally criticized Cammack throughout his campaign, withdrew from the race on Monday, saying in a letter to the Department of State the Republican Party of the Third Congressional District “silenced and canceled” him.

Back in Gainesville, tucked in a yoga studio filled with proud family members, colleagues and mountains of food, music and cheers welcomed Hawk’s victory as the Democratic primary nominee for the 3rd District.

“This is a testament to what happens when people come together, when they care about their community and they work hard to get somewhere,” Hawk said.

Hawk defeated Tom Wells in the Democratic primary, who ran on a platform that

SEE DISTRICT 3, PAGE 6

Russell, regains District 2 School Board seat McGraw will return after being removed by Gov. Ron DeSantis in 2021

By Sophia Bailly & Alexa Herrera Alligator Staff Writers

Donning a white silk pantsuit and neon green nails, District 2 School Board candidate Diyonne McGraw surrounded herself with loved ones to celebrate her election night win as precinct results slowly rolled in.

McGraw won the Alachua County District 2 School Board race with 56.92% of the vote, about 14 percentage points more than school board member Mildred Russell. Russell was appointed by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis after he removed McGraw in June 2021.

McGraw’s 2020 win ushered in a Black female majority for the first time in the school board’s history. Now, she will return to her seat as the District 2 School Board member despite her previous removal, which she said was politically motivated.

“I think a great message to the children

Magruder, Peters too close to call

here in Alachua County,” McGraw said.

“You never give up. They see me as a beacon of hope, and that’s what I want to be to the children.”

At Russell’s watch party, she said “it’s going to be a sad thing” if she didn’t win.

Russell said “the reporting of the precincts is a little suspect” because she heard precincts in Alachua County ran out of Republican ballots. However, she said she was successful because she “created a new conversation” about new ideas and issues.

McGraw’s campaign centered on workforce development, improved reading comprehension in public schools and transparency among elected officials.

During the campaign, Russell led the race for campaign contributions with about $40,700; McGraw followed behind with about $24,600.

As a registered Democrat, McGraw

SEE SCHOOL BOARD, PAGE 6

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The incumbent easily retained the Republican nomination, pg. 10

TikTok a candidate favorite for campaigning It offers a more personal approach, pg. 14

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4 ALLIGATOR WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 24, 2022

Republican politicians ‘voter suppression’ Today’ssuggest Weather during Alachua County primary election

VOLUME 117 ISSUE 1

A handful of Alachua County precincts temporarily ran out of Republican ballots Alligator Staff Report Several Republican politicians have spoken out about alleged voter suppression at select voting precincts in Alachua County during Tuesday’s primary election.

U.S. Rep. Kat Cammack posted an update to Facebook addressing Newberry area voters at 5:55 p.m. confirming a polling location at the Alachua County Agriculture and Equestrian Center ran out of Republican ballots just hours before she won her race.

She called the Alachua Supervisor of Elections, who confirmed additional ballots were delivered, she said.

Cammack urged voters to return to the polls and let their “voice be heard.”

State Sen. Keith Perry, R-Ocala, released a statement after polls closed “regarding Alachua County Voter Suppression.” Multiple Alachua County precincts in both Newberry and High Springs went without Republican ballots for several hours, the statement read.

Republican voters at these precincts were made to wait, according to Perry’s statement, and eventually left without being able to vote because Republican ballots were unavailable. This put local races at stake, the statement read.

“It is unconscionable that elections officials have put the integrity of these races in jeopardy, forcing voters to make a choice between waiting to cast their ballots and getting home to their families,” Perry wrote in the statement.

Perry told The Alligator he first heard word about the shortage of Republican ballots around 5:30 p.m. but waited to release a statement until he was able to verify the validity of the accusations. He said he received calls of complaint from several precincts “west of Gainesville” — including in High Springs — but could not recall the precise locations.

As for whether this ballot situation had any impact on results of the Florida primary elections, Perry said it was too soon to say.

“Mistakes happen, and the thing that you can hope for and expect is that lesson’s learned and not repeated in the general election. My guess is they won’t be.”

- State Sen. Keith Perry, R - Ocala

U.S. Rep. Joe Harding said the situation felt like a “direct target on Republican voters.”

A situation where people cannot vote is unacceptable, he said. Given the technology and time, he said the Supervisor of Elections Office has to prepare for the election — no excuses should be accepted.

Harding encouraged any voter who was unable to vote or turned away from a precinct due to a lack of ballots to reach out to his or Perry’s office with their story.

“I hope this is a wake up call to all voters, regardless of their party, to really wake up and hold their elected leaders and Alachua County accountable.”

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Aaron Klein, spokesperson for the Alachua County Supervisor of Elections Office, said there was a temporary shortage at select precincts, but he confirmed that election staff responded quickly to the issue and got ballots to the locations where they were needed.

He also denied allegations that any voter would have been refused the right to cast their ballot.

“We do not turn voters away from polling places.”

- Aaron Klein, Alachua County Supervisor of Elections Office spokesperson

“We understand that there are some situations in which voters for whatever reason, will have to wait — whether it's a long line or a situation like this, but we don't turn voters away from the polling place.”

Klein was unable to tell The Alligator which precincts experienced a shortage and how many, but he said he would provide updates in the coming days.

Veronica Nocera, Lucilile Lannigan, Aurora Martinez, Lauren Brensel and Averi Kremposky contributed to this report.

- U.S. Rep. Joe Harding

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McGraw takes the win SCHOOL BOARD, from pg. 1

accrued various endorsements from groups including Democratic Public Education Caucus of Florida, UF College Democrats, Florida LGBTQ+ Democratic Caucus and Stonewall Democrats of Alachua County.

The 53-year-old business owner won the District 2 School Board seat in 2020 by a tight margin of 3,000 votes against her opponent, Khanh Lien Banko.

“It wasn’t easy for a lot of people to accept,” McGraw said. “Even people who were serving with me did not like that I had won.”

McGraw’s victory was short-lived as Banko and other community members began questioning whether she resided in the appropriate district.

Despite being verified twice by the Supervisor of Elections Office and owning property in District 2, her registered home was in District 4 — by just 384 feet, according to district maps. Following redistricting from the 2020 census, McGraw’s registered residence is now legally within District 2, allowing her to run against Russell.

Just seven months after her election, local attorney Jeff Childers filed an emergency ex parte injunctive relief — a court’s removal of an individual or party from a particular action or role — in August 2021.

McGraw fought this removal; however, state representatives told her if she didn’t step down, she may be tried for perjury.

“They waited seven and a half months,” McGraw said. “This is not about where

I lived, this was about a majority of the board being African American.”

DeSantis issued an executive order to officially remove McGraw from office June 17, 2021. He nominated Mildred Russell for the remainder of McGraw’s term.

Russell’s appointment was part of a larger statewide trend of DeSantis-backed nominations to local school boards, which includes appointments made in Columbia and Broward County.

Fourteen months after she was replaced

by Russell, McGraw returned to the campaign trail. An advocate and volunteer in the public school system since 1992, McGraw said her goal is to help all students find success, regardless of what path they wish to pursue.

Picking up where she left off, McGraw said she wants to finish what she started in her previous term. McGraw began the groundwork for raising $5 million for workforce development and education in 2020, and she said she hopes to apply for matching state funds.

As an alumna from Florida A&M University with a business degree and a master’s degree in education from Nova Southeastern University, McGraw said “no profession exists without education.”

“It’s about making sure we are diverse enough to provide options to all of our children to be successful,” McGraw said.

“I want to make sure by fifth grade our children know whether they’re going on the college track or a career in technical education.”

Bridging the gap between minority and white students is another priority.

Rae Riiska // Alligator Staff

Diyonne McGraw, the District 2 School Board member-elect, celebrates her win on Tuesday, Aug. 23. 2022. “I’m all about results when it comes to the children,” she said. ”I have children and that's who I serve. I want to see them become ambassadors and agents of change.”

Alachua County’s racial achievement gap, an educational disparity between groups of students based on race, is one of the widest in the state. There is a 47% gap between white and Black students for English Language Arts Achievement scores level 3 and above, according to The Florida Department of Education.

Reinforced by her previous removal from the board after she believed she had lawfully won the 2020 election, McGraw said transparency should be a countywide

priority.

Alongside her plan for including the community in discussion and decisions, she said she plans on prioritizing children and their education.

“We want children to be successful,” McGraw said. “We want children to be happy to go to school. We want to empower children to do more.” @sophia_bailly sbailly@alligator.org aherrera@alligator.org

Cammack phones into her own watch party Ward, Bielarski on the up-and-up DISTRICT 3, from pg. 1

addressed the climate crisis, the corporate welfare system and campaign financing.

The 3rd District covers north Central Florida, including Alachua, Bradford, Columbia and Union counties and part of Marion County.

Kat Cammack

Cammack’s current 2022 race has been endorsed by former President Trump, Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul, the Republican Liberty Caucus, the National Right to Life PAC, State Sen. Dennis Baxley and State Sen. Keith Perry. She has raised almost $1.5 million in campaign contributions, according to the Federal Election Commission.

Cammack was elected as congresswoman of the 3rd District in 2020 with 57.1% of the vote, defeating Democratic candidate Adam Christensen.

Tammy Ball, 59, attended Cammack’s watch party and voted for her in the primary election. Ball lives in O’Brien and was in the Navy for 18 years before becoming a licensed hair stylist.

“She's truthful. She's transparent. She cares about people. She's fighting for our country and for us that have no voice up there. She's our voice,” Ball said.

Cammack faced backlash within her first week in office when she supported former President Donald

Trump in the aftermath of the Jan. 6 Capitol riot and objected to the Electoral College vote certification of then President-elect Joe Biden.

In September of 2021, Cammack and other Florida Republicans supported a lawsuit against Gainesville’s vaccine mandate for city employees. The lawsuit was originally filed by more than 200 city employees.

Previously, Cammack voted against the COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act, Equality Act and a bill that proposed the prohibition of governmental restrictions on abortion services.

In 2022, Cammack voted for the Respect for Marriage Act and Emmett Till Antilynching Act. The marriage bill protects marriage between same-sex and interracial couples, and the antilynching bill makes lynching a federal crime.

Leading up to her career as a representative, Cammack joined the 3rd District’s former Rep. Ted Yoho’s campaign and served as his deputy chief of staff. She later studied international relations at the Metropolitan State University in 2015. In 2018, she earned a master's degree in national defense and strategic studies from the United States Naval War College.

Danielle Hawk

Hawk’s platform includes defending voting rights, reducing gun violence, protecting reproductive

rights, mitigating climate change and supporting the right to repair, which allows farmers, ranchers and business owners to fix their own equipment without requiring a third party to repair it.

Grace De La Mora, a 30-yearold campaign volunteer, said Hawk embodied all the values she is concerned about as an immigrant woman. Hawk’s stance on the right to repair resonated with De La Mora because it exemplifies Hawk's commitment to listening to the district’s rural demographic.

“Danielle is someone who can speak for them,” De La Mora said.

Hawk supports policies that combat the climate crisis, including banning offshore drilling while advocating for a rapid transition away from fossil fuels and towards renewable sources of energy.

“We have rising heat that causes all sorts of problems,” she said.

“We're having heat deaths; it's causing higher utility bills and those are things that affect the pocketbook of families.”

Read the rest online at alligator.org.

Heather Bushman contributed to this story. @fernfigue ffigueroa@alligator.org @MelanieBombino_ mpena@alligator.org

MAYOR, from pg. 1 Ward said he’s excited to build public trust, increase pedestrian safety, implement affordable renewable energy and focus on the arts community.

“It's really important that the community come along with the Commission,” he said. “We need to make sure that we are listening to the people.”

During his time on the commission, he fought for the removal of transit fares for youth and senior residents, worked with the Florida Department of Transportation to improve traffic safety and helped allocate $8 million of American Rescue Plan funds to affordable housing.

His campaign focuses on local responses to improve the national affordable housing crisis and for the city to use 100% renewable energy by 2045.

Ann Grooms, an 81-year-old Gainesville resident of 45 years, voted for Ward.

“Harvey is someone that is much more receptive to the community needs,” she said.

Ed Bierlarski

Edward “Ed” Bielarski knocked on 13,000 doors, walked more than 400 miles and went through three pairs of shoes. His efforts paid off as he’s headed to a runoff against Harvey Ward.

The 65-year-old former GRU general manager launched his mayoral campaign in January after the City Commission terminated his contract. He has never held a position in politics.

Bierlarski came to grips with the idea of a runoff for the first time Tuesday night, he said, although he’s still excited to go up against Ward on Nov. 8.

“I’m happy that my message seemed to resonate enough that I got to that runoff,” Bielarski said.

Armando Grundy-Gomes, a 43-year-old Gainesville resident who attended Bielarski’s intimate watch party at Ballyhoo Grill, said one of the biggest differences between Ward and Bielarski was their history in promoting diversity.

“I’ve watched the record of diversity that he has at GRU,” Grundy-Gomes said. “He has given opportunities to people that look different than him.”

He believes Bielarski is the right person to fix Gainesville’s financial woes.

Read the rest online at alligator.org. @BumpersKyle kbumpers@alligator.org @MickenzieHannon mhannon@alligator.org @JacksnReyes jacksonreyes@alligator.org

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 24, 2022 ALLIGATOR 7

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 24, 2022 www.alligator.org/section/opinions

Column

Move-in and a welcome for the Fall

L

inda and I have a tradition of living in one of the residence halls as new students move to campus. Last week, we moved into East Hall. Our hallmates are usually pleased to see us move in and, I expect, they are grateful when we move out as classes begin. Having the president and his wife knock on your residence hall door while you are taking a nap is not the best way to start your college experience. My apologies to Miguel, our East Hall RA. We have the privilege of sharing first-day emotions, including roommates hugging each other as they meet for the first time, dads trying to act cool during move-in and then crying as they say goodbye and the sounds of the marching band practicing for the Sept. 3 home football game against Utah.

Linda and I personally greeted and helped move in hundreds of students like Sarah and Elizabeth, identical twins who are both premed, and Julia, an international exchange student from Poland, where she is an American Studies major. Julia was struggling to get her suitcases across campus when we offered her a ride and an invitation to experience an American football game in the UF President’s Suite this Fall. We also experienced the food in multiple dining halls (my compliments to the cooks and servers) and ping pong tournaments (thanks to the students who were kind to their aging president).

A shout-out of gratitude and admiration to all the staff and students who this past week wel-

comed our new students into residence and dining halls with cheerfulness and effectiveness, even in the heat and rain of August in Gainesville.

This past year, UF set dramatic new records in almost all the metrics we measure, including philanthropy (Top 3), research expenditures ($1 billion) and students applying to study at UF (10,000 more than ever before).

Later this Fall, we will be celebrating a number of these achievements by our faculty, staff, students, alumni and university friends. However, as we start the academic year, we want to celebrate something quite different: our university values.

Kent Fuchs UF in 2020 embraced six “core values” representing our understanding opinions@alligator.org of who we are, what we stand for and our aspirations for the future. Those values are excellence, discovery and innovation, inclusion, freedom and civility, community and stewardship. We have set aside next week — the week of Aug. 29 to Sept. 2 — as “UF Core Values Week” to celebrate and spread the word about the core values and their role as the shared touchstones of our UF community.

Colleges and various areas of UF are marking the week in many different ways, and you’re likely to see banners around campus and mentions in your social media feeds. You may learn more about the UF Core Values and how to make them a part of your time by visiting UF’s website.

Whether you are a new or returning student, or a new or current faculty member or staff, I offer my warmest welcome for the start of a truly wonderful new academic year. It is always Great to be a Florida Gator, particularly this new academic year.

The views expressed here are not necessarily those of The Alligator.

Kent Fuchs is the president of the University of Florida.

The Alligator encourages comments from readers. Letters to the editor should not exceed 600 words (about one letter-sized page). They must be typed, double-spaced and must include the author’s name, classification and phone number. Names will be withheld if the writer shows just cause. We reserve the right to edit for length, grammar, style and libel. Send letters to opinions@alligator.org, bring them to 2700 SW 13th St., or send them to P.O. Box 14257, Gainesville, FL 32604-2257.

Columns of about 450 words about original topics and editorial cartoons are also welcome. Questions? Call 352-376-4458.

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10 ALLIGATOR WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 24, 2022

Clemons takes District 22 Republican race, Democratic primary yet to be called THE RACE BETWEEN DEMOCRATS WAS NOT DECIDED EARLY WEDNESDAY MORNING

By Omar Ateyah & Jackson Castellano Alligator Staff Writers

In Tuesday night’s District 22 primary election, State Rep. Chuck Clemons comfortably secured victory in the Republican race, but Democrats Olysha Magruder and Brandon Scott Peters were considerably closer to one another, with no clear winner as of midnight Wednesday.

Clemons swept up over 70% of the vote defeating his opponent Ty Appiah. As of early Wednesday morning, Peters has 52% of the vote in the Democratic primary, with Magruder trailing at 48%. The race has not been called as of early Wednesday morning.

Alachua County didn’t report the results of all 64 precincts as of early Wednesday morning.

Chuck Clemons

Clemons has held office since 2016 and was originally elected to Florida’s 21st State House District before redistricting took place. He still holds office in the 21st District. But, if re-elected, he’ll occupy the seat in the redrawn 22nd

District, which includes Archer, Newberry and western and central Gainesville, as well as Levy County and Gilchrist County.

Clemons was first elected in 2016 when he defeated his Democratic opponent Marihelen Wheeler with more than 53% of the vote. He was re-elected in 2018 and 2020, receiving about 51% of the vote each time.

Clemons, a north central Florida native, graduated from the UF’s College of Journalism and Communications and previously served as a vice president at Santa Fe College. He was also an Alachua County Commissioner from 1996 to 2000.

Clemons heralds himself as a champion of education and notes his efforts to increase pay for teachers, according to his website.

On Tuesday night, Clemons said he was running on a record cultivated over his years of service in the State House.

“Florida is doing exceptionally well in many aspects of government,” he said. “We’ve got a record surplus. We have supported our first responders and law enforcement officers.”

Clemons recently opposed the Gainesville City Commission’s decision to eliminate exclusionary zoning, which established single-family zoning in some areas. He sent a letter to the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity asking to hold the decision until state legislators could address it.

Clemons has raised more than $230,000 in

campaign contributions, according to Transparency USA. His campaign’s top donors leading up to the primaries were the Florida House Republican Campaign Committee and the Republican Party of Florida, totalling about $70,000.

His Republican opponent in the primary was Ty Appiah, a nurse and Air Force veteran originally from Brooklyn. He ran on a conservative platform, advocating for a protection of Second Amendment rights and limiting government overreach in social welfare programs.

Olysha Magruder

Magruder’s 2018 run at a Florida representative seat ended with a defeat in the primary for the 8th State Congressional District to Kayser Enneking, an anesthesiologist at Shands Hospital in Gainesville. Enneking later lost to Clemons in the general election.

The 44-year-old Democratic candidate earned a PhD in educational technology from UF in 2015. She’s been a resident of Gainesville for more than two decades and now works as the director of learning design and faculty development at Johns Hopkins University.

Magruder is an advocate for LGBTQ equality, reproductive rights, public education reform and renewable energy.

“I think these common sense issues are things that the people in this district want and need,” Magruder said. “My vision for the district is to bring that common sense back to legislation.”

Jenn Powell, a 44-year-old Gainesville resident and Communications Workers of America union organizer, said she’s supported Magruder since her 2018 campaign. She said she was drawn to Magruder’s stance on protecting unions from decertification and reproductive rights.

Contributions for Magruder’s campaign total more than $36,000, according to Transparency USA. One of Magruder’s top donors is Gainesville Bread and Roses Women’s Health Center, which is a clinic that provides abortion services.

Brandon Scott Peters

Sophia Abolfathi // Alligator Staff

Olysha Magruder discusses polling reports with watch party attendees at the Blue Agave Mexican Restaurant Tuesday, August 23, 2022.

Brandon Scott Peters is a Jacksonville native who now lives in Levy County. He graduated from Princeton University in 1989 and attended law school at the University of Virginia. After working as a lawyer for 30 years, he became a professor at Florida A&M University.

Peters ran for the Florida House 2nd District seat in 2018, failing to best fellow Democratic candidate Bob Rackleff in the primary. His most recent political experience came working as the director of voter protection for the

Namari Lock // Alligator Staff

Breakdown of the Florida primary election results as reported Tuesday, Aug. 23, 2022 by The New York Times.

Florida Democratic Party and the Biden-Harris campaign.

“This is an important election,” Peters wrote in a statement. “Our democracy is very much at stake this year.”

Peters’ platform is progressive with a focus on improving infrastructure in the district. He emphasized the importance of infrastructure in Gainesville and supported the development of UF and Santa Fe College on his campaign website. Women’s rights, civil rights and promoting cryptocurrency are also listed as key issues on his platform.

Peters received about $116,600 in campaign donations according to Transparency USA. Notable contributions to his campaign come from Viviana Gray-Woodmore, the CEO of Exelon and Democratic Miami candidate for U.S. House Ken Russell.

Voting for the Florida House 22nd District general election begins Nov. 8. @OAteyah oateyah@alligator.org @Jaxacastellano jcastellano@alligator.org

TOWN AND GOWN TOGETHER AT LAST Let’s make Gainesville ground zero for

FLORIDA FREEDOM SUMMER OF 2024 Register Voters; Teach Young People Truth; Demand Divestment from Fossil Fuel Businesses; Protect Women’s Right to Choose

This summer, at City Hall, students, homeowners, renters, workers, citizens, immigrants at last were talking about the same issues—affordable housing and rational utility rates. We disagreed, about the solutions but we knew what the problems are.

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WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 24, 2022 ALLIGATOR 11

Housing, academic freedom, abortion: What issues matter most to UF students this election cycle?

Students agree that voting is imperative to democracy

By Siena Duncan Alligator Staff Writer

On top of new classes and new people, many UF students are paying close attention to something else: the 2022 midterm elections.

Several student groups have geared up to throw their support behind candidates who come out of the primaries victorious.

Due to internal policies, most groups don’t endorse partisan state-level candidates early in an election cycle to avoid putting stock behind a candidate that might not make it through to the next stage.

But during primary season, specific political issues that could affect students are at the forefront of their mind.

Other political groups like UF College Democrats, a local college chapter of the Democratic Party, haven’t shied away from supporting primary candidates. Nonpartisan school board candidates such as Tina Certain, Diyonne McGraw, Sarah Rockwell and Prescott Cowles garnered endorsements from UFCD leading up to the election.

Lily Kalandjian, a 20-year-old political science junior and UFCD member, said issues surrounding free speech and First Amendment rights in schools are key to this primary cycle.

“Electing candidates that are for academic freedom is something I think is very important,” she said. “I think all students should think it’s important.”

Kalandjian said she worries about legislation such as the Parental Rights in Education Act, dubbed the ”Don’t Say Gay“ law, and the Stop WOKE Act. The Parental Rights in Education Act prohibits discussion of sexual orientation and gender identity in state schools from kindergarten to third grade. The Stop WOKE Act prohibits discussion of critical race theory, a higher education concept that asserts that race is a social construct and systemic racism is prevalent in society, from kindergarten to 12th grade in state schools. Both bills were passed in March.

UF has also experienced recent pushback with issues of academic freedom this past year. In November, three professors filed a lawsuit against UF, claiming university administration tried to bar them from testifying in a case against the state.

On a local level, the issue of affordable and available student housing in Gainesville is also a critical issue among college voters. The Gainesville City Commission made the city the first in Florida to eliminate single-family zoning Aug. 5, an action expected to free up more housing for college students and staff closer to campus.

Gainesville has faced the rising inflation rates felt across the nation over the past year. Housing prices have increased in the South by 8.6% since July 2021, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor.

Matthew Spata, a 22-year-old UF agricultural education and communications senior, said he’s lived in Gainesville for four years and has witnessed the affordable housing debate go on since he arrived.

The issue of affordable housing has haunted Gainesville for almost a decade.

A 2021 U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development study estimated that 21% of all renter households in Gainesville from 2013 to 2017 were cost burdened, which is when a household pays more than 30% of its income toward housing costs.

About 30% of all renter households in Gainesville were severely cost burdened, paying more than 50% of its income toward housing costs.

However, after an improvement in the economy, affordability slightly bettered from 2017 to 2019. The growth of average income in Gainesville outpaced the growth of rent rates. Then the COVID-19 pandemic hit, and residents struggled to pay rent again.

As more high-rise apartments are built to accommodate the demand for student housing, residents have become concerned about what luxury living will do to their rent costs.

“It ended up becoming a residents against students issue,” Spata said.

Other right-leaning organizations such as the UF chapter of Turning Point USA and UF College Republicans haven’t publicly endorsed any primary candidates, but conservative students are still following the elections closely.

Roberto Zaldaña-Argüello, a 22-yearold UF computer engineering junior, said he’s voting for Ron DeSantis this year because he said DeSantis is trustworthy.

“There’s so many politicians that we’ve had over the decades that promise to do everything under the sun but never delivered,” Zaldaña-Argüello said. “With Ron DeSantis, he actually has delivered.”

Zaldaña-Argüello, a registered Republican who plans to join Turning Point this Fall, also said he’s tracking which candidates up for election are part of the House Freedom Caucus. Established in 2015, the conservative group is made up of 36 confirmed members of the U.S. House of Representatives, one of them being DeSantis.

I generally support that caucus,” Zaldana-Argüello said. “They focus on the freedoms and liberties of the people.”

National politics continue to have a large influence on what students care about in their own local towns. Following the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, for instance, Kalandjian said that she is paying close attention to candidates with promises of expanding protections for abortion rights.

Around 1,000 protestors marched the streets of Gainesville on June 25, a day after Roe v. Wade was overturned.

Zaldaña-Argüello said he’s against abortion, but he supports exceptions for rape at all times. He also said he agrees with Florida’s current 15-week abortion ban, which is being fought in state courts.

He doesn’t mind opposing opinions, but he doesn’t want his taxes funneled into organizations that actively support abortion, such as Planned Parenthood, he added.

“Imagine if you’re vegan and imagine you’re paying taxes, and the taxes are basically indirectly supporting all the slaughterhouses,” Zaldaña-Argüello said. “You would be very upset.”

Conversely, Kalandjian said she’s specifically looking at candidates who focus on improving reproductive rights in Florida.

“We should definitely look for some more protection,” she said.

Despite their differences, both Kalandjian and Zaldaña-Argüello believe voting in local elections matters.

“This is where the people get to choose what they want,” Zaldana-Argüello said.

“It’s imperative that everyone go out to vote for that, or else the system doesn’t work.” @SienaDuncan sduncan@alligator.org

Rae Riiska // Alligator Staff

Campaign signs line the street outside of the Florida Museum of Natural History polling location Tuesday, August 23, 2022.

Incumbent Marihelen Wheeler wins Democratic nomination for District 2 County Commission, will face unopposed Ed Braddy WHEELER AND BRADDY WILL FACE OFF IN THE NOV. 8 GENERAL ELECTION

By Rylan DiGiacomo-Rapp Alligator Staff Writer

Wheeler and Braddy will face off in the Nov. 8 general election The Cypress & Grove Brewing Company watch party was abuzz with activity as Alachua County residents anxiously awaited the primary election results.

Incumbent Marihelen Wheeler won the Democratic nomination and will face off against Republican candidate Ed Braddy for the District 2 Alachua County Commission seat in November.

Wheeler won by about 45 percentage points, collecting more than 72% of the vote excluding mail-in ballots against Charlie Ray Jackson, a U.S. Army veteran and former Alachua County facilities director, as of midnight Wednesday. This win puts her on the pathway to another term as a county commissioner.

“I just wanted one more good term to finish up some of the work that we started and some of the projects that we’ve got going before I finally retire,” Wheeler said.

The Alligator contacted Jackson multiple times for comment, but he did not respond.

Jackson served as the county’s facilities director where he implemented Alachua County’s energy reduction and water conservation program.

He was fired Feb. 11 following allegations of discriminatory hiring practices, according to a Gainesville Sun report. The investigation claimed Jackson falsified documents and engaged in racial discrimination, reportedly favoring some employees over others.

On the other side of the aisle, 50-year-old Braddy ran unopposed for the Republican nomination and will compete against Wheeler for the District 2 seat leading up to Election Day Nov. 8.

Candidates for the District 1 seat Democrat Mary Alford and Republican Raemi Eagle-Glenn, as well as candidates for District 4 Democrat Ken Cornell, Republican James Van Elmore and no-party affiliated Anthony Johnson, will also compete head-to-head in the general election.

Marihelen Wheeler

The 71-year-old is a retired public school educator and co-owner of The Gestalt Center of Gainesville, a non-profit organization dedicated to a psychotherapeutic approach to therapy pioneered by Fritz Perls. She is the current chair of the Alachua County Commission, having been appointed in 2021.

Over the course of her campaign, Wheeler accrued endorsements from local organizations such as the North Central Florida Central Labor Council, the Stonewall Democrats of Alachua County, the Sierra Club, the Florida LGBTQ+ Democratic Caucus and the Human Rights Council of North Central Florida.

District 2 has a population of 55,893 people, according to 2020 census data, and is made up of High Springs, Alachua and Wade along with parts of Newberry and Hasan.

Wheeler’s residency was called into question in May after records indicated she did not live in the district she represented; however, she said she met all legal requirements at the time.

This questioning followed resignations from former County Commissioner Mary Alford in May and former Alachua County School Board member Diyonne McGraw last year. Both were removed from office by Gov. Ron DeSantis for living outside their districts.

While she said her first term allowed for the “growing pains” of any new job and the start of numerous projects, Wheeler said she hopes her second term provides the spark needed to finish them.

As an environmental activist and former teacher, she focuses many of these pursuits on ecological preservation and education, she said.

Wheeler transferred ownership of the Santa Fe Canoe Outpost to the city of High Springs in 2021, aiding in the preservation of the Santa Fe River’s many ecosystems. She also led the purchase and renovation of the former Camp McConnell on Southeast 134th Avenue into a community and environmental center.

Read the rest online at alligator.org.

Aidan Bush contributed to this report. @rylan_digirapp rdigiacomo-rapp@alligator.org

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VOLUNTEER DRIVERS NEEDED to transport cancer patients to treatment.

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Part time help wanted for yard work in SW Gainesville. Flex hours.

Experience required. $11 - $13/hr.

Call Mr. Z. 352-278-8071 10-10-22-8-14 St. Francis House is a homeless shelter located in downtown Gainesville.

Our mission is to empower families with children to transition from homelessness to self-sufficiency by providing case management, housing, food, training and educational resources in a secure environment.

If interested in volunteering please contact the volunteer coordinator at 352-378- 9079 ext 317 or sfhcoor@stfrancis.cfcoxmail.com St Francis House depends on monetary support from individual donors and community businesses in order to provide meals to the homeless and the hungry.

To make a donation by mail, please send checks payable to St. Francis House P.O. Box 12491 Gainesville Fl 32604 or our website at Stfrancishousegnv.org

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Shands Teaching Hospital and Clinics, Inc. in Gainesville, Florida is seeking a Director, Clinical Engineering to plan, organize, direct, and control administrative and operational activities for the Clinical Engineering Department. Specific duties include but are not limited to assuring departmental objectives are consistently met in an effective and high-quality manner, directing and managing the financial performance of the department in a cost-effective manner, assuring appropriate department staffing, Developing, implementing, and evaluating long-range business plans for the department.

BS in Clinical or Biomedical Engineering required and must have 5 years of hospital experience, including 2 years of management experience. Working knowledge of patient monitoring, diagnostic, and therapeutic products and systems, JCAHO regulations, NFPA-99, laser safety standards and regulations.

To apply please visit the UF Health Shands Career site at https://shands.careers. ufhealth.org/ and search for Job Opening 89717.

8-24-1-14

Release Date: Wednesday, August 24, 2022 Release Date: Thursday, August 18, 2022

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WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 24, 2022 www.alligator.org/ section/the_avenue

MEN’S TENNIS

SOCIAL MEDIA

Primary candidates take to TikTok Campaigns look to engage young voters online

By Erina Anwar Avenue Staff Writer

TikTok is a hub for a variety of creative content — trendy dances and memes are usual suspects for video topics. Lately, though, the social media algorithm has thrown midterm election coverage into the mix of videos that pop up on users’ For You pages.

In the midst of the midterm primaries, some candidates — including July Thomas, who’s running for Gainesville mayor, and Val Demings, who’s running for Senate — are using TikTok as a key part of their campaign strategies.

With catchy viral sounds and bite-sized clips known to capture the attention of younger generations, the social media platform has been a way to gain resident support and convince the youth to go vote.

Andrew Selepak, a social media professor from the UF College of Journalism and Communications, said TikTok’s unique algorithm is ideal for candidates who want to reach audiences outside their immediate network by using down-to-earth content.

“Today, no one is going to sit and listen to a candidate talk about their opinions for two hours,” he said.

Instead, Selepak said, TikTok is especially effective at catering to shorter attention spans with its brief and captivating style of content.

As the language and concepts of campaigns become simpler, an air of informality is also added to humanize the candidates, he said.

“You’re trying to be seen as the person you want to have a beer with,” Selepak said.

Thomas, a 31-year-old Gainesville mayoral candidate, also received attention for her TikTok videos. Her account, @julygnv, has more than 17,000 followers and received 1.4 million views within the past month.

Thomas’ videos mostly feature conversational, informative content about Gainesville’s issues and history.

Some of the viral videos on her page include descriptions of Gainesville during the Reconstruction era and the Rosewood massacre.

Thomas said her videos appeal to viewers because she doesn’t have ulterior motives.

The platform gives her a chance to connect directly with the people most likely to vote for her, Thomas said.

“I’m just trying to make people aware of this history, first and foremost,” Thomas said. “And it’s not even my history, but it’s history that I want people to know.”

It’s worth putting effort into TikTok campaigns to reach younger voters because Gainesville has a young population overall, Thomas said. About 57% of Gainesville residents are under 30 years old, according to 2020 data from the U.S. Census Bureau.

“People always say you can’t win just by appealing to the youth vote,” Thomas said.

“Whenever I hear that, I always think, ‘have you considered that the youth don’t vote because you are unappealing?’”

Evan Smith, a 20-year-old UF political science and history junior, described Thomas’ TikTok videos as “unscripted, unpolished, unpracticed, unmediated and uninterrupted.” This Keep up with the Avenue on Twitter.

Tweet us @TheFloridaAve.

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 24, 2022 www.alligator.org/section/sports

candidness allows Thomas to talk to voters directly without a separating median or institution, he said.

Smith views candidates using TikTok positively, he said, because it allows them to reach a younger voter demographic.

“It is true that TikTok does have a lot of entertainment, and it really is about small sound bites, but that’s really what young voters gravitate to,” Smith said. “You might as well speak to them in the medium that they’re comfortable with.”

Demings, a 65-year-old Democratic candidate running for Senate, has more than 70,000 followers and 3.6 million views on TikTok. Her account, @valdemings, includes a mix of motivating montages of her career, as well as lighthearted meme videos.

Katie Jevin, Demings’ deputy press secretary, said in a statement that being close to voters is the primary reason for Demings’ TikTok account.

“Chief Demings is leading an innovative and creative campaign that is working tirelessly to meet voters wherever they are, in person or online, and bolster our fight to defeat career politician Marco Rubio and send a cop on the beat to the United States Senate,” Jevin wrote.

Many of the posts on Demings’ account are pointed against her Republican opponent Sen. Marco Rubio. Demings uses trending music and sounds to create both serious and humorous posts to expose claimed shortcomings of the current senator, such as his refusal to stand against the controversial Parental Rights in Education Act, dubbed the “Don’t Say Gay” bill by advocates.

Other videos include compilations of pictures of Demings from her youth and career as Orlando police chief and a Q&A session with TikTok account Gen Z for Change on TikTok Live.

Demings also uses the viral nature of her TikTok platform to garner campaign donations. In the second quarter of the fiscal year, Demings raised more than $9 million online, Jevin wrote.

“A strong internet presence helps build a digital fundraising army,” Jevin wrote.

Many Gainesville students have also come across Demings on their For You pages. Jaanai Scott, a 20-year-old UF finance junior, said there were both good aspects and other improvements that could be worked on for Demings’ TikTok. “I want to hear what you can do for the community, what you can do for Floridians,” Scott said. “In that sense, I’m glad it’s kind of a break through the seriousness.”

Although Scott said she wishes Demings would acknowledge that youth voters could better engage with serious political issues, she also believes the lighthearted nature and use of trendy sounds set Demings apart from traditional campaign methods.

“I’m gonna remember a candidate who had a TikTok of a Wii character running in the background,” Scott said. “I’m gonna remember that probably more than I remember somebody saying, ‘Oh, I’m a Floridian just like you.’” @ErinaAnwar_ eanwar@alligator.org

A look into Florida’s redistricting

Ben Shelton forgoes final years of eligibility

The 2022 NCAA singles champion announced his intentions to turn pro Tuesday

By Kyle Bumpers Sports Writer

Florida junior Ben Shelton showed he has future star potential in the world of professional tennis this past week during his Association of Tennis Professionals Masters 1000 debut.

Now, Shelton will continue to grow his name recognition as he announced Tuesday his intentions to forgo his final two years of collegiate eligibility and turn pro.

“While this wasn’t an easy decision, I’m excited for the next chapter in my career,” Shelton said in a statement posted to Twitter Tuesday.

The reigning NCAA singles national champion jumped to No. 165 in the Pepperstone ATP Rankings after taking down two top-100 players — including No. 5 Casper Ruud — before falling to No. 11 Cameron Norrie in the Round of 16 in Cincinnati Aug. 18.

Shelton defeated No. 56 Lorenzo Sonego Aug. 16 to become the first player to win an NCAA singles title and ATP Masters 1000 match in the same season.

He then beat Ruud Aug. 15, making him the youngest American to best a top-5 opponent since former world No. 1 and major champion Andy Roddick in 2001.

Shelton’s performance resulted in recognition from the social media accounts of the U.S. Open, ATP Tour and Tennis Channel. He garnered praise from Brad Gilbert, a former player and coach and current analyst, who pointed out Shelton’s left-handed serve and forehand as a source of trouble for opponents.

His earning’s totaled $84,000 in the first two rounds of the Cincinnati tournament. This is money he will now be allowed to accept after electing not to return to Florida.

This outing comes less than three months after he won the NCAA Singles Championship. Shelton beat San Diego redshirt senior August Holmgren in three sets to close his sophomore season and established himself as one of the best players in the country.

Shelton racked up accolades at the conference level as well. He helped Florida win the Southeastern Conference Tournament, claimed the singles title and brought home the SEC Tournament MVP. His team-leading 37 singles wins and 27 wins against ranked opponents

Voters saw new names and new precinct changes. Read more on pg. 15.

Faith Buckley // Alligator Staff

Ben Shelton during a match with Auburn Feb. 21, 2021. The 2022 singles national champion has decided to leave Florida and go pro. resulted in a No.1 singles ranking at the season’s end. Shelton and UF teammate Sam Riffice collected 18 doubles wins and found themselves ranked as the No. 5 pair in the country. The duo made a run to the quarterfinals in the NCAA Championships.

In just his second year at Florida, Shelton was named the Intercollegiate Tennis Association National Player of the Year and SEC Player of the Year. He also made the All-SEC First Team.

Shelton will depart from Gainesville as one of the most decorated Gators tennis players in history.

“It has been a once in a lifetime experience to become part of the Florida family and to compete for national championships,” Shelton said. “These are memories I will cherish forever. I have made brothers for life.”

Shelton’s father, Bryan Shelton — who is also the head coach of the Florida men’s tennis team — was influential in Shelton’s upbringing in the sport. In his statement, he confirmed his father and mother were both involved in this latest decision as well.

Shelton’s next action on the court will be at the U.S. Open, which offered him a wildcard spot into the main draw, guaranteeing him $75,000 in first-round prize money. The tournament begins Aug. 29.

Follow us for updates

For updates on UF athletics, follow us on Twitter at @alligatorSports or online at www.alligator.org/section/sports.

@BumpersKyle kbumpers@alligator.org

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 24, 2022 ALLIGATOR 15

How Florida’s controversial redistricting cycle affected local midterm elections The process is initiated in the wake of census taking every 10 years

By Omar Ateyah Alligator Staff Writer

New candidates on ballots and polling place switches — just two obstacles Gainesville voters had to juggle to vote in Tuesday’s primaries because of redistricting.

In the aftermath of a controversial state redistricting cycle, Alachua County voters experienced the initial effects of redistricting in Tuesday’s primaries, including the race for a state House District seat. Some residents fear their votes could be silenced as a result of the change.

Ronald Ewalk, 75, who has lived in Gainesville for 10 years, said redistricting is an unfair process.

“This is not a decision for politicians or candidates. You’re asking them to draw lines that are opposing their chances of getting elected?” he said. “How stupid can we be?”

Every 10 years, the U.S. completes a census to keep track of population changes within the country throughout the previous decade. With the new data comes political changes, most notably in the form of new district maps at the federal, state and city level.

For Florida, the 2020 Census and the

subsequent redistricting meant a legal and political joust over its 28-seat congressional map, which dismantled Rep. Alfred Lawson’s 5th District, a Democratic stronghold, and increased the number of white-majority districts from 17 to 19.

Democrats alleged DeSantis’ redistricting proposal constituted gerrymandering, a redistricting tactic intended to effect a partisan advantage, and thus a violation of Florida’s constitution.

A subsequent lawsuit led to a political victory for DeSantis as the state Supreme Court decided against nixing the GOP’s preferred redistricting plan in early June.

“DeSantis did this on purpose to dismantle the voting power of Black communities in North Florida,” said Claudia Tio-Cartagena, a 24-year-old UF graduate and Danielle Hawk’s former campaign manager. “Communities who have really dealt with the brunt of the legacies of segregation and Jim Crow.”

State House redistricting also saw large shifts in the recent cycle. Chuck Clemons, the current representative of State House District 21, which covers much of Alachua County and includes parts of Gainesville, is now slated to represent the 22nd District if reelected due to redistricting. Clemons is also a member of the Florida House Redistricting Committee.

The state legislative redistricting passed with large majorities in both chambers of the state legislature.

The 22nd District now includes Archer, Newberry and western and central Gainesville.

Clemons, after noting the lack of controversy associated with the state legislative redistricting, said the tension over the congressional redistricting was natural.

“No vote that we take in the state Legislature is above controversy or having those critics say that it wasn’t fair in one way or another,” Clemons said.

Locally, as the Gainesville City Commission performed its own redistricting earlier this year in response to the census, residents feared that Black votes would be suppressed. Specifically, if two majority White neighborhoods were inducted into District 1 as originally proposed, the influence of Black votes would have been undermined.

The commission ultimately approved a plan that placed the White neighborhoods in District 4 instead; District 4 candidates were unaffected.

Changes brought about by updated census data had a direct impact on local voters, as 11 Gainesville polling places moved due to redistricting. One new precinct was created: precinct 64.

Aaron Klein, an Alachua County Supervisor of Elections Office spokesperson, said the office does its best to avoid any significant disruptions for voters when it redraws the precinct lines by taking a data-first approach.

“We wanted to make sure that if a voter puts down a residence address that is one place, they’re not driving all the way across town past a precinct that was closer to them to then go to their assigned precinct,” he said.

David Arreola, a Gainesville City Commissioner and mayoral candidate, expressed concerns regarding both the precinct changes and the fairness of the redistricting. He believes the state legislative redistricting will have a particularly negative effect on the student population, limiting their electoral power. West University Avenue and Southwest 13th Street cut through both House Districts 21 and 22.

“They’re literally cutting the student vote in half,” he said, in reference to both the State Senate and State House Districts.

Aidan Bush and Fernando Figueroa contributed to this report. @OAteyah oateyah@alligator.org

Namari Lock // Alligator Staff

Evolution of Gainesville districts in response to the 2020 Census.

16 ALLIGATOR WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 24, 2022