Alex Sink

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — Florida's Republican voters have chosen wealthy newcomer Rick Scott over career public servant Bill McCollum as their candidate for governor.

Scott had 46 percent of the vote and McCollum 43 percent with 92 percent of precincts reporting Tuesday night.

The 57-year-old Scott won despite repeated questions about his leadership of the hospital conglomerate Columbia/HCA. It paid a record fine for Medicare fraud.

The 66-year-old McCollum is a former congressman and the state's elected attorney general. He garnered numerous endorsements but was outspent 3-to-1 by Scott, who poured more than $38 million of his own money into the campaign.

Scott will face Democrat Alex Sink in the Nov. 2 general election.

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