MIAMI — Republican U.S. Sen. Rick Scott of Florida celebrated a victory over his Democratic opponent, former U.S. Rep. Debbie Mucarsel-Powell, with more than 56% of the vote in Bonita Springs on Tuesday night.

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During his victory speech at the Hyatt Regency Coconut Point Resort & Spa, Scott's supporters cheered as he said he even won Miami-Dade County, where Mucarsel-Powell is from. He also announced that his next goal is to replace U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell, who is retiring.

“Next week we have another election: Senate Republican leader,” Scott said.

Watch Scott's victory speech

Scott, 71, a climate change denier, was running for a second term in the U.S. Senate as an ally of former President Donald Trump. The former governor of Florida from 2011 to 2019 voted to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election in Pennsylvania and released the controversial “Plan to Save America” in 2022.

Mucarsel-Powell, 53, who was born in Ecuador, wanted to become the first Latina from Florida to serve as a champion of fiscal conservatism in the U.S. Senate. Scott, who was twice governor of Florida, hit her with campaign ads accusing her of supporting socialism.

Mucarsel-Powell lost her previous House seat in 2020 to former Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Gimenez. She supports the US embargo against Cuba, investments in climate-resilient infrastructure and abortion rights until it becomes feasible. She met with voters in Doral on Tuesday afternoon.

In Florida, there are about a million more Republican registered voters than Democrats. According to the Florida Division of Elections, there are more than 13.8 million registered voters, including about 5.45 million Republicans, over 4.4 million Democrats, 3.58 with no party affiliation and 404,890. Mucarsel-Powell thanked her supporters at the JW Marriott Miami in Brickell.

“The results tonight were not what we were hoping for. I want to thank all the volunteers who knocked on doors, called, texted, worked at polling stations and poured their hearts into this campaign. “I would like to thank my family, who have always been my biggest supporters and without whom I could not have done this,” said Mucarsel-Powell. “So many believed in what was possible in Florida when we stood up together, and although we lost that fight, our fight is just beginning.”

Republican representatives Mario Díaz-Balart and Carlos Giménez were also re-elected on Tuesday.

Watch Mucarsel-Powell's speech

VIEW ALL RESULTS: South Florida general election results for November 5, 2024

Election night report

Facebook Live reporting from Bonita Springs

Facebook Live reporting from Brickell

Election Day reports