2018 Election Results: Ashley Moody Declared Attorney General

TALLAHASSEE, FL -- In one of the most contentious Florida Attorney General's races in recent history, Republican Ashley Moody has been declared the winner of the race for attorney general.

Plant City native and circuit court judge, Moody, 43, gave her acceptance speech shortly after 9:30 p.m. after getting 52.3 percent (4,207,000 votes). Her opponent, Democrat Sean Shaw, 40, of Tampa, received 46 percent (3,698,905 votes).

Moody will fill the seat being vacated by Attorney General Pam Bondi, who steps down due to term limits.

In her acceptance speech, Moody, who received Bondi's endorsement, thanked her for the example she set.

"I have been honored to have Pam Bondi’s support from Day 1 of this campaign, and I will work hard to deserve it," said Moody.

At times becoming emotional, Moody credited her father, U.S. District Judge James Moody, for encouraging her and her mother, Carol Moody, who simultaneously earned her law degree at Stetson University College of Law while raising her family, for inspiring her.

But she said it was her husband, Justin, a federal drug enforcement agent, who convinced her that Florida needed a strong law-and-order proponent, "someone who understands law enforcement," as the "top cop."

"Many people think I'm prepared for this job because I've been a prosecutor and a judge," she said. "What really prepared me was the fact that I'm a travel baseball mom," referring to her 9-year-old son, Connor's, extracurricular activities.

But she said it's her eldest son, Brandon, who reminded her why she decided to embark on this "very long, difficult journey."

From a young age, he announced that he wanted to join the military and fight for freedom.

On Dec. 31, he will leave for Army basic training.

"It is because of people like you who have answered the call of service that we have the freedom to express our differences," she told him. "I will remember every day that the voters have trusted me with a great power, and I will work every day to deserve this honor."

In addition to electing a new attorney general, the unofficial results indicate that Floridians are in favor of retaining Republican incumbent Jimmy Patronis as the chief financial officer. As of 10 p.m., Patronis had received 52 percent of the vote to Democratic opponent Jeremy Ring's 47 percent.

Patronis was appointed chief financial officer by Gov. Rick Scott in 2017 when former CFO Jeff Atwater left for another job.

Republican Matt Caldwell was declared the new Florida Commissioner of Agriculture with 50.1 percent (4,001,216 votes), beating out Democrat Nicole "Nikki" Fried, who received 49.9 percent (3,984,165 votes).

Caldwell, who hails from Fort Myers, is an eight-year veteran of the Florida House of Representatives where he pushed for legislation to benefit industrial farmers.

Fried is a attorney from Fort Lauderdale and a lobbyist for the medicinal marijuana industry.

Video courtesy The Florida Channel

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