GOP keeps control of Florida House seat held by Rep. Ross Spano

Republican Scott Franklin is projected to win central Florida’s 15th Congressional District, keeping the district in GOP control.

The Associated Press called the race at 9 p.m. ET.

Franklin, the Lakeland City Commissioner, works as the president of a regional insurance and risk management agency. He is also a retired Naval aviator.

He beat Democratic candidate and longtime Florida television journalist Alan Cohn.

Franklin will replace Rep. Ross Spano (R), a one-term congressman whom he defeated in the Republican primary. Spano has drawn scrutiny after he allegedly violated campaign finance law during his 2018 congressional campaign. He admitted to borrowing $180,000 from two friends and is the subject of federal probes over the violation.

Florida’s 15th District includes parts of Hillsborough, Polk and Lake counties. The congressional seat has been in Republican control for more than 20 years.