| Election Name: | 2014 Florida Attorney General election |
| Country: | Florida |
| Type: | presidential |
| Ongoing: | Yes |
| Previous Election: | 2010 Florida Attorney General election |
| Previous Year: | 2010 |
| Next Election: | 2018 Florida Attorney General election |
| Next Year: | 2018 |
| Election Date: | November 4, 2014 |
| Image1: | File:Bondi_bio_photo_crop.jpg |
| Nominee1: | Pam Bondi |
| Party1: | Republican Party (United States) |
| Popular Vote1: | 3,215,528 |
| Percentage1: | 55.2% |
| Nominee2: | George Sheldon |
| Party2: | Democratic Party (United States) |
| Popular Vote2: | 2,446,048 |
| Percentage2: | 42.0% |
| Map Size: | 300px |
| Attorney General | |
| Before Election: | Pam Bondi |
| Before Party: | Republican Party (United States) |
| After Election: | Pam Bondi |
| After Party: | Republican Party (United States) |
The 2014 Florida Attorney General election took place on November 4, 2014, to elect the Attorney General of Florida. Incumbent Republican Attorney General Pam Bondi ran for re-election to a second term in office[1] against Democrat George Sheldon and Libertarian Bill Wohlsifer.
Sheldon's constitutional eligibility to serve as attorney general was challenged in court. For the years 2011 to 2013, Sheldon established permanent non-Florida residency in order to receive an exemption from taking continuing legal education courses required to maintain his law license with the Florida Bar. Article IV, Section 5(b) of the Florida Constitution requires the candidates for attorney general maintain permanent residency in Florida for the seven years preceding election to office. The lawsuit named Sheldon and the Florida Secretary of State as defendants, and asked the court to remove Sheldon from the Democratic primary for attorney general.[7] Leon County Chief Judge Charles A. Francis ruled that Sheldon was eligible for the ballot, stating that though he might have worked out of state, he maintained his residence in Tallahassee and continued to live there whenever he returned.[8] The main lawyer involved in the case chose not to appeal the decision.[9]
After Sheldon won his party's primary on August 26, Bondi challenged him to a general debate before the election.[10] Sheldon stated that he would do so, but raised the possibility of multiple debates.[11] Wohlsifer also challenged Bondi and Sheldon to a debate before the election.[12] On September 9, Bondi's campaign sent out an email accepting an invitation to debate Sheldon in October, which he also accepted. While the Bondi campaign's email only mentioned Sheldon, Sheldon himself stated that he would welcome Wohlsifer's participation.[13] Later on, it was confirmed that the debate would take place on October 6 and all three candidates would participate. It was pre-recorded and then broadcast only in Tampa and Orlando TV markets.[14] [15] [16]
| Poll source | Date(s) administered | class=small | Sample size | Margin of error | Pam Bondi (R) | George Sheldon (D) | Bill Wohlsifer (L) | Undecided | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Public Policy Polling | November 1–2, 2014 | 1,198 | ± 2.8% | align=center | 46% | 37% | 5% | 11% | ||
| Saint Leo University | October 16–19, 2014 | 500 | ± 4.9% | align=center | 47% | 39% | 6% | 8% | ||
| Public Policy Polling | September 4–7, 2014 | 818 | ± 3.8% | align=center | 43% | 35% | 6% | 17% | ||
| Gravis Marketing | June 20–23, 2014 | 1,232 | ± 3% | align=center | 43% | 35% | 5% | 16% | ||
| Public Policy Polling | June 6–9, 2014 | 672 | ± 3.8% | align=center | 38% | 35% | — | 27% | ||
| Gravis Marketing | April 23–25, 2014 | 907 | ± 3% | align=center | 45% | 36% | 7% | 12% | ||
| Gravis Marketing | January 30–31, 2014 | 808 | ± 4% | align=center | 44% | 36% | 4% | 16% | ||
| Public Policy Polling | January 16–21, 2014 | 591 | ± 4% | align=center | 37% | 34% | — | 29% | ||
| Gravis Marketing | November 8–11, 2013 | 932 | ± 3% | align=center | 29% | 11% | — | align=center | 59% |
| Poll source | Date(s) administered | class=small | Sample size | Margin of error | Pam Bondi (R) | Perry E. Thurston, Jr. (D) | Other | Undecided | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gravis Marketing | June 20–23, 2014 | 1,232 | ± 3% | align=center | 43% | 38% | 4% | 15% | ||
| Public Policy Polling | June 6–9, 2014 | 672 | ± 3.8% | align=center | 40% | 33% | — | 28% | ||
| Gravis Marketing | April 23–25, 2014 | 907 | ± 3% | align=center | 45% | 38% | 7% | 11% | ||
| Gravis Marketing | January 30–31, 2014 | 808 | ± 4% | align=center | 45% | 36% | 6% | 12% | ||
| Public Policy Polling | January 16–21, 2014 | 591 | ± 4% | align=center | 37% | 35% | — | 28% | ||
| Gravis Marketing | November 8–11, 2013 | 932 | ± 3% | align=center | 30% | 14% | — | align=center | 57% |
Bondi won 19 of 27 congressional districts, including two that elected Democrats.[17]
| District | Bondi | Sheldon | Representative | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 71% | 26% | Jeff Miller | |||
| 53% | 43% | Gwen Graham | |||
| 65% | 32% | Ted Yoho | |||
| 68% | 28% | Ander Crenshaw | |||
| 36% | 62% | Corrine Brown | |||
| 64% | 33% | Ron DeSantis | |||
| 56% | 41% | John Mica | |||
| 62% | 34% | Bill Posey | |||
| 48% | 49% | Alan Grayson | |||
| 58% | 38% | Daniel Webster | |||
| 66% | 31% | Rich Nugent | |||
| 60% | 37% | Gus Bilirakis | |||
| 53% | 43% | Bill Young | |||
| 42% | 55% | Kathy Castor | |||
| 60% | 37% | Dennis Ross | |||
| 60% | 37% | Vern Buchanan | |||
| 65% | 32% | Tom Rooney | |||
| 57% | 40% | Patrick Murphy | |||
| 67% | 30% | Trey Radel | |||
| 20% | 78% | Alcee Hastings | |||
| 43% | 55% | Ted Deutch | |||
| 47% | 50% | Lois Frankel | |||
| 40% | 58% | Debbie Wasserman Schultz | |||
| 15% | 84% | Frederica Wilson | |||
| 61% | 37% | Mario Díaz-Balart | |||
| 52% | 45% | Carlos Curbelo | |||
| 52% | 46% | Ileana Ros-Lehtinen | |||