Ross Spano wins race to replace Dennis Ross in Florida House seat

Republican Ross Spano will succeed retiring Rep. Dennis Ross (R-Fla.) in the House, keeping the seat in GOP hands.

Spano beat out Democrat Kristen Carlson on Tuesday in the race to represent Florida’s 15th District, delivering a win for the GOP in its effort to beat back Democratic gains in Republican-held districts.

Public polling in the district frequently showed a tight race. A New York Times/Siena College survey conducted in October found Spano and Carlson tied at 43 percent each.{mosads}

The Cook Political Report rated the race as a “toss-up.”

Ross, a four-term Republican, announced earlier this year that he would not seek reelection, citing a desire to spend more time with his family and growing partisanship in Washington. 

Spano, who has served in the state House of Representatives since 2012, has aligned himself closely with President Trump, who won Florida’s 15th District in 2016 by 10 points.