Wasserman Schultz Breezes Through Vote

Beating her opponent by a three-to-one vote margin, U.S. Representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz won re-election to her seat Tuesday, beating challenger Margaret Hostetter, 192,947 votes to 55,246

With 78 percent of the votes, Wasserman-Schultz won by such a landslide that some media outlets such as, CNN.com reported she ran unopposed. This will mark her third term in office.

Compared to candidates in other races, Wasserman-Schultz campaign was barely visible, though her campaign finance said she spent more than $1.2 million.

"I voted for Debbie because I'm impressed with what she's been able to accomplish in our community," said Marsha Cohen, 56, after voting at Weston Regional Community Center. "Her name is known. I think she can win on that alone. I just wish there was a visible presence."

Democrat Debbie Wasserman Schultz was deemed a shoe-in against under-funded challenger Hostetter.

Margaret Hostetter, 62, a licensed realtor and teacher unaffiliated with a party, presented herself as "Your Independent Voice for Sensible Change!" Hostetter and Schultz also competed for the seat in 2004.

Hostetter told the Sun-Sentinel that she doesn't expect to win. She is simply running to provide people with a choice on the ballot.

Wasserman Schultz, who succeeded Peter Deutsch in 2004, represents a district that encompasses portions of Miami-Dade and Broward counties. Wasserman, who is Jewish, is popular among her district's large Jewish population.

While in office, Wasserman Schultz enacted legislation that protected children from Internet predators and enacted new drainage requirements for swimming pools.

She was an early supporter of Sen. Hillary Clinton's presidential bid, but strongly backed Barack Obama after Clinton conceded defeat.

Wasserman Shultz believes the country must become less dependent on foreign oil and supports research into renewable forms of energy. She opposes off-shore drilling, seeing it as an environmental risk. Along with Obama, Schultz hopes to formulate a timeline through which American troops can safely withdraw from Iraq.

Christin Erazo