He was also a main proponent of moving the area's LGBTQ support group, Compass, and its headquarters to Lake Worth, pushing the City Commission to lease a building in a close 3-2 vote.

Advancing to the general election, Clemens faced Steven Rosenblum, the Republican nominee and a former pharmacy manager.

He campaigned on his support for increasing funding for education, declaring that the state's low level of spending per student is a "source of embarrassment for every Floridian," and on opposition to offshore drilling, noting, "It's not just an environmental issue.

While in the House, Clemens filed the first-ever Florida bill seeking to legalize medical marijuana.

[9] He also sponsored a bill that would expand the possible locations for early voting to various government buildings and university campuses.

[12] Bernard held out hope, however, that Clemens's victory would be overturned and filed a lawsuit to have forty absentee ballots counted.

[16] Clemens was also the sponsor of the Competitive Workforce Act, which would have banned discrimination in hiring and firing for members of the LGBTQ community.