Other races to vote for on election day

MIAMI (WSVN) -- There are other big races and issues facing South Florida voters this election year.

We all know it's a long ballot, so for those waiting until election day to vote, here's a rundown of some of the major races.

Election 2012 is really drawing in the crowds, even before election day. Just one look at the lines of voters wrapped around polling places for early voting and absentee ballot drop-offs, and it's clear, presidential politics is not the only draw.

The biggest state race: U.S. Senator Bill Nelson fighting for a third term. The former astronaut faces the son of a former senator. His challenger, four-term State Congressman, Connie Mack is in an uphill battle. Now trailing the incumbent in the latest polls by six points.

A race now also gaining national attention involves the incumbent who is also the chair of the Democratic National Committee and the face and voice of her party. Debbie Wasserman-Schultz was the youngest woman ever elected to the state legislature and spent a total of 12 years in the House and Senate before being elected to the U.S. House in 2004.

Running against her to represent the 23rd district is Republican businesswoman, Karen Harrington. She's seen her family's restaurant expand from one location to three in 30 years. The businesswoman said she's a true Washington outsider, giving a run at Congress a second try, having run and lost against Wasserman-Schultz in 2010.

Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen is running for the newly drawn 27th district. She's the first Cuban-American and first Hispanic woman elected to Congress. Her competitor Manny Yevancey's campaign has been non-existent. He has not filed any campaign finance reports with the Federal Elections Commission.

In District 26, which runs from Kendall to Key West, Congressman David Rivera is trying to keep his seat. First elected to the State House in 2002, Rivera became a U.S. Representative in 2010. Plagued by charges of improperly reporting his sources of income and ethics violations dating from his time in the Florida State Legislature, he continues to deny any wrongdoing.

A former Executive Director of the Cuban-American National Foundation, Joe Garcia is hoping his third run for Congress is the charm, now facing Rivera in his second straight contest.

Adam Hasner served in the State House for eight years. He ran for U.S. Senate this year but ended his candidacy after trailing Connie Mack. Hasner ran against Lois Frankel in Florida's 22nd district. The former Mayor of Palm Beach County spent 14 years as a state legislator.

Running for re-election for Broward County Sheriff is Al Lamberti. He first took office in 2007 after former Sheriff Ken Jenne resigned over a tax evasion scandal and went to prison. Lamberti has now served four years as Sheriff and 34 years with the department. He faces Democrat Scott Israel, who spent 25 years with Fort Lauderdale's Police Department before becoming Police Chief for North Bay Village.

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