Democrat Betty Castor and Republican Mel Martinez emerged from a crowded field of candidates to seek the seat of retiring Sen. Bob Graham. The race for the popular Democrats seat is sure to be a competitive one that could determine the balance of power in the Senate.

Martinez rode a personal connection to President Bush to victory in the Republican primary, defeating former U.S. Rep. Bill McCollum and earning a chance of becoming the first Cuban-American senator.

The winner of the November election could help determine control of the Senate. Florida is one of just eight states with open seats in the chamber, which has 51 Republicans, 48 Democrats and one Democrat-leaning independent.

Castor, a former state education commissioner and university president, swept past U.S. Rep. Peter Deutsch and Miami-Dade County Mayor Alex Penelas in a race that she led from the start.

Martinez, the former U.S. Housing and Urban Development secretary, was encouraged by the White House behind the scenes to seek the Senate seat and featured praise from the president in TV ads.

Bush is linking himself with Martinez as Republicans realize Martinez could boost a large turnout among Cuban-Americans in South Florida and a growing Hispanic community in central Florida that could benefit Bush.

Graham has held the Senate seat since 1986. He sought the Democratic presidential nomination in 2004, but ended his bid after struggling to gain momentum and failing to raise cash in the crowded Democratic field.

Longtime Congressman Peter Goss, a Republican has announced he will retire rather than seek another term in 2004. Connie Mack IV, the son of a popular former senator and the great-grandson of the baseball legend of the same name, won the Republican nomination Goss seat. Goss is President Bush's choice to head the Central Intelligence Agency. The seat is also the seat Mack's father held before being elected to the Senate.Mack will be the clear favorite against Democrat Robert Neeld, a Cape Coral accountant. Republicans hold 18 of Florida's congressional seats to seven for the Democrats going into the Nov. 2 general election.

Democratic Presidential candidate Sen. John Kerry is focusing much of his efforts on winning the state's 27 electoral votes as is President Bush. A tight battle between Bush and then-Democratic nominee Vice President Al Gore went to the Supreme Court in 2000. Bush was eventually declared the winner and Florida's electoral votes pushed him over the top.