UPDATE 8/23/2022 JOE WINS: State Sen. Joe Gruters won the race for the Senate District 22 seat Tuesday night, earning more than 66% of the votes over challenger Michael Johnson in the Sarasota-Manatee district. Gruters said Tuesday evening that receiving almost 67% of votes was much higher than he expected, especially in a universal primary in which there were many unknown factors. "Incredibly thankful to all the voters from all parties for the overwhelming victory and support," Gruters said in an emailed statement to the Sarasota Herald-Tribune, adding that the margin was "a huge win and I look forward to going back to Tallahassee to fight for our community and the issues we all care about." Fl State Senator Joe Gruters Faces Out Of District 22 Northern Opponent Michael Johnson in August Primary Reminiscent of Carpetbaggers Invading the South . In the history of the United States, carpetbagger is a historical term used by Southern Democrats to describe opportunisti...