A Democratic teacher and a Republican former school administrator sought to represent District 110 in Tallahassee, and Alex Rizo, a candidate for the GOP, won the race Tuesday.
The district includes Miami Lakes; Hialeah and Country Club of Miami.
Rizo is a former County Club of Miami Community Council vice chair. He defeated Annette Collazo, 36, a teacher from Hialeah.
Neither candidate could be reached for comment on Election night.
They hoped to replace Fla. Rep. and House Speaker Jose Oliva, R-Miami Lakes, who is term-limited.
Rizo collected 33,905 votes or 59.84% to Collazo's 22,757 votes or 40.16%.
The results are unofficial until certified by the Miami-Dade County canvassing board.
Rizo owns an educational consulting firm and won, despite Collazo outraising him in campaign contributions: she collected $225,920 to his $160,118.
But it took more than money to win this race.
Rizo had an advantage in endorsements from Oliva, Fla. Sen. Manny Diaz, Jr., R-Hialeah Gardens and Hialeah Mayor Carlos Hernandez. Collazo was endorsed by The Miami Herald and South Florida Council of Firefighters.
In a debate during the campaign, Rizo pointed to his experience as someone raised in the community who has taught in its classrooms, managed schools and owned a small business as reasons why voters should choose him.