"SARASOTA COUNTY, Fla. — Molly E. Bowen was raised Republican by her Republican mom on this sliver of crescent coast. In a GOP stronghold where Republicans outnumber Democrats nearly 2 to 1, she proudly voted for Donald Trump two years ago.

Yet she won’t be voting Republican in Florida’s U.S. Senate race. The environment is among her top concerns, and she is not impressed with Republican Gov. Rick Scott, who is running for Senate as his tenure comes to an end after two terms.

“Good riddance,” Bowen said. “I’m going to vote ‘no party affiliation,' and everyone else should, too.”

Forget about a blue wave. Scott is dealing with red tide — a gigantic outbreak of toxic algae that has bedeviled this part of the Gulf Coast for more than a year. Although polls had earlier shown Scott locked in a dead heat with incumbent Democrat Bill Nelson, the governor is behind. His environmental record threatens to cost Republicans what had been seen as a prime opportunity to pad the GOP majority in the U.S. Senate."

Darryl Fears and Lori Rozsa report for the Washington Post October 30, 2018. [2]