Two strong incumbents are running in this newly drawn district that runs from Boynton Beach south to Port Everglades, making the choice in Senate District 34 a tough one for many independent-minded voters.

Republican Ellyn Bogdanoff, 53, a certified family mediator and business consultant, has been moving up the GOP ranks in Tallahassee. She first served in the House and, facing term limits, ran and was elected to the Senate in District 25 in 2010. Ms. Bogdanoff, of Fort Lauderdale, has taken on difficult issues in Tallahassee, such as casino resorts, in an effort to attract higher-end customers and close some of the existing gaming operations that prey on locals, predominantly the old and poor.

Now that redistricting has moved Ms. Bogdanoff’s district further north in the new Senate seat, about two-thirds of the area is in Palm Beach County, with voter registration heavily Democratic.

Democrat Maria Sachs, 63, a lawyer from Boca Raton would better represent constitutents’ concerns in this district. Those who have worked with her in the House (she served from 2006-2010) and later in the Senate the past two years say she is a pro-business moderate who works well across the aisle.

Ms. Sachs points to a bill that would outlaw texting while driving — legislation Ms. Bogdanoff has blocked in the past — as an example of unnecessary partisan gridlock.

We are puzzled, too, by Ms. Bogdanoff’s TV ads attacking Ms. Sachs and trying to make the case that Ms. Bogdanoff is the moderate here. It’s unfortunate that Ms. Bogdanoff cannot simply run on her own record.

In this race, we give Ms. Sachs the edge and believe she would be a better fit for this district.

For Senate District 34, The Herald recommends MARIA SACHS.