Lauren Book knocked out political rival Barbara Sharief in the contentious race for Florida Senate District 35 in Tuesday’s primary election.
The win came after months of verbal sparring and combat between two powerhouse politicians vying for victory in one of the hottest elections in Broward County.
Sharief announced her candidacy in March, triggering the epic showdown.
With no candidates from other parties running for the seat, Book will not need to run in the general election in November.
“This is not my victory, tonight belongs to each and every one of you,” she told supporters at her victory party. “As many of you know … this campaign was a battle. One of many we’re fighting together in the war for our children, our community and the future of our great state. Together, we can change the state of Florida — and we can change the world. The fight resumes tomorrow, but tonight we have much to celebrate.”
The newly created Senate District 35 encompasses Miramar and other cities in southwest Broward, Sharief’s longtime political base.
Pembroke Pines voter Everest Parish said he wasn’t letting the feud between Book and Sharief affect his vote.
“That’s politicians being politicians,” he said.
In the end, he voted for Sharief.
David Abrams, of Hollywood, cast his vote for Book.
“We have two candidates who are pretty good,” he said. “I really want Lauren to win, but if Sharief gets in we’ll be well represented either way.”
Sharief, 50, lives in Miramar.
Book, a state senator since 2016 and currently the Democratic leader in the Florida Senate, had a home in Plantation, four blocks outside the newly crafted district. In May, Book moved to District 35 when she and her family relocated to Davie.
Book, 37, has touted herself as the champion of Democratic values and voice of opposition to the right-wing agenda of Gov. Ron DeSantis and his supporters.
Sharief has accused Book of not taking a hard line with Republicans.
“Tallahassee’s broken,” Sharief said in one campaign video. “We need public servants who will fight for the people that they serve instead of selling out to big-money special interests and lobbyists.”
Book’s father, Ron Book, is one of the most prominent lobbyists in the state.
Sharief, a former Broward County commissioner and former Miramar commissioner, is a nurse practitioner who founded a pediatric home health care company.
Book, a childhood survivor of sexual abuse and rape, is founder and CEO of Lauren’s Kids, an organization focused on preventing child abuse.
District 35 is mainly south of Interstate 595 and west of Florida’s Turnpike. It includes all or parts of Cooper City, Davie, Hollywood, Miramar, Pembroke Pines, Sunrise and Southwest Ranches.
State senators in Florida earn a base salary of $29,697.
Staff Writer Olivia Lloyd contributed to this story.
