TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Senate Democrats elected Audrey Gibson to replace Jeff Clemens as the next leader of the caucus in a secret ballot Monday evening.

Clemens, D-Lake Worth, resigned from his Senate seat on Oct. 27 after admitting he had an extramarital affair with a lobbyist.

Gibson, D-Jacksonville, defeated Orlando Democrat Randolph Bracy in Monday night's election.

Gibson, who has served eight years in the House before her 2010 election to the Senate, will take over as the Senate minority leader after the 2018 elections, when Democrats hope to flip several seats in a chamber where Republicans now hold a 24-15 majority.

“The next task is to see where there are opportunities to elect more Democrats, so that we do get closer to 20. In that you find balance, and you truly have the voice of all Floridians," Gibson said.

Clemens' abrupt departure rocked Senate Democrats, who were pumped up after recapturing a formerly Republican-held Miami-Dade County seat in a September special election.