Democrat wins Florida seat in U.S. House

BOCA RATON, Fla. - A Democratic state senator won handily Tuesday the first U.S. House race since Congress passed a massive health care overhaul, beating a decidedly underdog Republican who tried to use the backlash against the measure to pull the upset.

With 97 percent of precincts reporting, Ted Deutch had 62 percent of the vote, compared with 35 percent for Republican Ed Lynch. No-party candidate Jim McCormick trailed far behind with just 3 percent.

Deutch, an attorney, and Lynch, a contractor, both 44, were vying to replace retiring Rep. Robert Wexler.

"We've heard for months that tonight . . . is a referendum on health care, it's a referendum on the [Obama] administration, it's a referendum on what direction this country is going," Deutch told cheering supporters. "Let me tell you something, what we learned today is that in Broward County and Palm Beach County, Florida, the Democratic Party is alive and well."

Lynch, of West Palm Beach, sought to make the race a statement on the health care bill in District 19, which includes parts of both counties. About 40 percent of voters are senior citizens. But he had a tough task. Democrats outnumber Republicans by more than 2-1 - 234,000 to about 111,000.

Wexler, a self-proclaimed "fire-breathing liberal," left office in January during his seventh term to head a Middle East think tank. - AP