Marion voters pick a few new state representatives

File photo: Rep. Stan McLain speaks during the Marion County Delegation at the Klein Conference Center at the College of Central Florida in Ocala, Fla. on Friday, Jan. 6, 2023. [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette] 2022.

Marion County voters have kept two familiar faces and added four new faces to represent them at the state level.

State legislators earn a starting salary of $29,697 a year, or $175/day for a maximum of 60 days. Members can also receive per-diem rates when required to meet outside a regular session.

State House

Marion County is divided among five Florida House Districts: 20, 21, 23, 24, and 27.

Newcomer Judson Sapp (REP) won District 20, which encompasses Putnam and parts of Clay, Marion and St. Johns, against Tony Connelly (DEM), 74,114 to 24,152 votes.

House District 21 representative Yvonne Hayes Hinson (DEM) was reelected for a third term without a challenger. Her district encompasses parts of Marion and Alachua counties.

For Florida House District 23 includes Citrus County and part of Marion County. newcomer J.J. Grow (REP) beat Judith Vowels (DEM) 80,257 votes to 28,323.

Florida House District 24, which encompasses only a part of Marion County, will continue to be served by incumbent Ryan Chamberlin, (REP). Chamberlin won the vote 66,054 to 36,483 against newcomer Robert Shaw (DEM) in the general election. This will be Chamberlin’s first full term as an elected representative, after winning a special election in 2023.

House District 27, which encompasses parts of Lake, Marion and Volusia counties, will be represented by Republican newcomer Richard Gentry after he won the general election race with 69,178 votes against Dennis M. Simpson Jr. (LPF), who received 1,980 votes, and Andy Ferrari (DEM), who received 30,672 votes.

State Senate

Stan McClain (REP), a longtime politician who served on the Marion County Board of County Commissioners for 12 years and then termed out as a State House Representative for District 27, is now Marion County’s sole State Senator (District 9) beating his challenger, a newcomer Sylvain Dore (DEM), 177,831 votes to 103,188. McClain’s son, Matthew McClain, also won a seat in the general election on the Marion County Board of County Commissioners.