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U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan crushed opponent Martin Hyde in a Republican Primary. He now appears on his way to winning a ninth term representing Florida’s 16th Congressional District — and perhaps controlling the most powerful committee in Congress.
Buchanan won 86% of the vote, his highest share ever in a contested Primary. The margin of victory represented the largest of any Florida Republican in a congressional primary this year.
Buchanan will now face Democrat Jan Schneider, an opponent he has defeated before with relative ease, in November.
If successful, Buchanan will be the senior-most Republican on the Ways and Means Committee.
– Kelly Hayes, Florida Politics