Lauren Book wins Senate District 35 race against Barbara Sharief
Lauren Book, the Democratic leader in the Florida Senate, defeated former Broward County Commissioner Barbara Sharief in a bitterly fought race Tuesday night that was marked by intra-party tensions and personal attacks.
Book won by about 21 percentage points, with about 98% of the vote counted as of 8 pm.
The victory means Book, a Hollywood native, will return to the Legislature because she is not facing a challenge in the general election. Book will represent Senate District 35 — a newly drawn district that includes Weston, Miramar, Pembroke Pines, Southwest Ranches, Cooper City and parts of Davie and Hollywood.
The election results are a clear win for the party’s traditional establishment, which puts its institutional support behind bringing back its current Senate caucus leader and someone with an established voice in the state Capitol.
Sharief was Book’s first ever primary challenge and proved to be a fierce competitor. She attacked Book for having too close of a working relationship with Republican leaders in Tallahassee, suggesting she has “bowed down” to them to get “small wins” to the detriment of the district’s interests. Sharief also sued Book for libel over campaign ads.
Book defended her record in the Legislature and said she was proud she was able to work across the aisle to get things done.
Both candidates were well-known in the district and well-funded, making the race among the most contentious Democratic races in the state.
Sharief was a county commissioner on and off from 2010 to 2021, when she made a failed bid for the 20th Congressional District seat left vacant by the death of Democratic Rep. Alcee Hastings.
Book was first elected in 2016 and won her seat for the former Senate District 32 unopposed. Book is the founder and CEO of Lauren’s Kids, a nonprofit that seeks to prevent child sex abuse through education.
Turning to the general election
Many sitting Senate Democrats grew annoyed at Sharief for challenging Book. Generally, caucus leaders do not face tough primary challenges so they can focus on fundraising and financially helping vulnerable candidates from the party.
The victory came at a financial cost. Between her campaign and an aligned political committee, Book spent nearly $2 million and had to focus much of her time on campaigning, which meant time away from fundraising efforts for the campaign arm for Senate Democratic candidates.
That campaign arm, the Florida Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee, has $587,525 on hand, according to the latest campaign finance reports. By comparison, the campaign arm for Senate Republican candidates — the Florida Republican Senatorial Campaign Committee — has $22 million, records show.
Heading into the general election, the money will matter. Senate Democrats are prioritizing at least five races. They want to defend Loranne Ausley of Tallahassee and Janet Cruz of Tampa, who are facing tough races; unseat Republicans state Sen. Jason Brodeur, of Sanford, and state Sen. Ileana Garcia, of Miami; and elect Janelle Perez to an open Miami seat, Senate District 38.
Democrats target Miami GOP senator
Raquel Pacheco, a Democrat who ran twice unsuccessfully for Miami Beach City Commission, will run against Republican state Sen. Ileana Garcia in the general election in November to represent Senate District 36.
READ MORE: Miami Beach’s Raquel Pacheco launches campaign against Ileana Garcia for state Senate.
Pacheco and Garcia did not face primary challenges.
SD 36 includes all of Miami Beach south of 41st Street and runs west to Sweetwater along the Florida International University campus.
