1970Final results
1970 election for Florida House District 18
Florida House of Representatives · Florida
11 seats: John R. Forbes (D), Hugh J. Grainger Jr. (D), Ted Alvarez (D), Bill Birchfield (D), Harry Westberry (D), J. Wertz Nease (R), Carl Ogden (D), John E. Santora (D), Joseph G. Kennelly Jr. (D), R. Earl Dixon (R), Don Nichols (D) won.
11 seatsJohn R. ForbesDemocrat · winner
11.9%77,418
Hugh J. Grainger Jr.Democrat · winner
11.4%74,376
Ted AlvarezDemocrat · winner · incumbent
10.5%68,379
Bill BirchfieldDemocrat · winner
9.8%63,533
Harry WestberryDemocrat · winner · incumbent
8.9%57,549
J. Wertz NeaseRepublican · winner · incumbent
8.6%55,893
Forrest TravisRepublican
8.4%54,493
Bob PalmerDemocrat
8.1%52,768
Gifford GrangeRepublican
6.7%43,747
C. Eugene LoftinRepublican
6.3%41,287
Dorothy H. SmithRepublican
5.1%33,075
Athalia PonsellRepublican
4.3%27,694
Carl OgdenDemocrat · winner · incumbent
0.0%0
John E. SantoraDemocrat · winner
0.0%0
Joseph G. Kennelly Jr.Democrat · winner
0.0%0
R. Earl DixonRepublican · winner · incumbent
0.0%0
Don NicholsDemocrat · winner · incumbent
0.0%0
650,212 votes
Source: Harvard Dataverse / Carl KlarnerUpdated Sep 30, 2026, 7:29 AM ET
The seat over time
D − R margin in this seat's races around 1970
Races before and after
Source: Harvard Dataverse / Carl KlarnerUpdated Sep 30, 2026, 7:29 AM ET
The candidates
John R. Forbes (D)Hugh J. Grainger Jr. (D)Ted Alvarez (D)Bill Birchfield (D)Harry Westberry (D)J. Wertz Nease (R)Forrest Travis (R)Bob Palmer (D)Gifford Grange (R)C. Eugene Loftin (R)Dorothy H. Smith (R)
Also on the ballot: Athalia Ponsell (Republican), 4.3%; Carl Ogden (Democrat), 0.0%; John E. Santora (Democrat), 0.0%; Joseph G. Kennelly Jr. (Democrat), 0.0%; R. Earl Dixon (Republican), 0.0%; Don Nichols (Democrat), 0.0%