Clearwater also went red

Republican Bruce Rector defeated Democratic City Council member Kathleen Beckman for Mayor. It wasn’t close – Rector won with nearly 63% of the vote.

Incumbent Democrat Mark Bunker lost his seat to Republican firefighter Ryan Cotton. Cotton claimed about 42% of the vote to Bunker’s 39%, with a third candidate, Mike Mastuserio, earning the remaining 18%. Clearwater does not do runoffs.

Republican Mike Mannino defeated two Democrats in the race to replace Beckman on the City Council.

The trio of victories mean the city is led by a Republican Mayor, and three of its four City Council members are now Republicans.

– Janelle Irwin, Florida Politics