Adams nabs District 24

Swept along with the tide of anti-incumbent sentiment, District 24 Rep. Suzanne Kosmas lost her seat to State Rep. Sandy Adams on Tuesday night.

Adams took about 59 percent of the vote, according to unofficial election results.

Republicans across the state and the nation captured seats, including Marco Rubio in the U.S. Senate race and Jeff Atwater in the chief financial officer race. Winter Park Republicans Dean Cannon and John Mica both retained their seats in the Florida House and U.S. House, respectively.

Adams, who lives in Orlando, thanked her supporters, who gathered at the Sheraton Orlando Downtown to watch the election results pour in.

“I really am honored and humbled, and I promise I will really listen to each and every one of you,” she said.

Kosmas raised more than double what Adams raised during the campaign — $2.4 million to Adams’ $840,000, according to pre-election reports. But the lack of funds didn’t weaken her campaign.

“It was a grassroots campaign and our message resonated,” she said. “Washington is broken. The voters of District 24 have supported our vision… of a more streamlined government.”

Adams said the biggest issue right now as she starts her term in Congress is the Obama health care plan. She supports lowering health care premiums for families and small businesses, increasing access to affordable, high-quality care, and promoting healthier lifestyles — without new taxes or adding to the national debt.

“Health care is a big issue, taxes, the regulations, all of that.”

Adams has served in the Florida House of Representatives, representing District 33, since 2002. Before that, she spent 17 years as a deputy sheriff for the Orange County Sheriff’s Office. She is also an Air Force veteran.

History of a district

District 24 leans Republican. State legislators drew it after the 2000 Census, reportedly to ensure then-House speaker Tom Feeney an easy win.

Feeney held the seat from 2002 until 2008, when Kosmas, a former state representative, captured the seat by about 16 percentage points, amid Democratic Party resurgence and ethical questions surrounding his golf junket.

In October 2010, District 24, which includes parts of Brevard, Orange, Seminole and Volusia counties, was 39.7 percent Republican, 36.8 percent Democrat and 23.5 percent other or no party affiliation.