Army Vet Rooney, Rep. Keller Come Out On Top In Florida's Republican Primaries

August 27, 2008 11:37 a.m. EST

Tallahassee, FL (AHN) - Army veteran Tom Rooney and four-term Rep. Ric Keller (R-FL) won Republican primaries in Florida's 16th and 8th congressional districts by razor-thin margins Tuesday night.

Rooney bested State Rep. Gayle Harrell, 37 percent to 35 percent of all votes. A third contender, Palm Beach Gardens Councilor Hal Valeche, got 28 percent. Rooney will face Rep. Tim Mahoney (D-FL), who won the seat in the predominantly Republican district after six-term congressman Mark Foley resigned amid reports that he had sent sexually explicit email messages to a 16-year-old congressional page.

In the 8th district, Keller got a chance for a fifth term after sliding past radio talk show host Todd long, 53 percent to 47 percent. He will battle it out with Democratic candidate Alan Grayson in November.