Tampa Bay

Janelle Irwin TaylorNovember 7, 2018

GOP state Sen. Dana Young‘s future in the Florida Senate is still uncertain after a nail-biter race against Democratic state Rep. Janet Cruz. With nearly 200,000 votes cast in the Senate District 18 contest, the two were separated by 289 votes late Tuesday, with Cruz holding a slender advantage. If that margin holds, it would trigger an […]

Janelle Irwin TaylorNovember 6, 2018

Two ballot measures in St. Petersburg sailed to easy victory Tuesday: Both would extend lease terms on city-owned waterfront land. They both passed with nearly 70 percent of the vote. The pier amendment allows Tampa Bay Watch, the nonprofit group that will operate the pier marine education center, a better guarantee on its investment in […]

Janelle Irwin TaylorNovember 6, 2018

Democrat Jennifer Webb bested her opponent Ray Blacklidge in one of the Florida House districts targeted in the “blue wave.” Webb came out on top 53 percent to 47 percent. Webb will replace Rep. Kathleen Peters, a Republican, in the House District 69 seat covering parts of mid-Pinellas including Seminole, Treasure Island, Madeira Beach and […]

Janelle Irwin TaylorNovember 6, 2018

Hillsborough County’s transportation referendum passed Tuesday night, with 57 percent of the vote. It’s a huge win for transportation and transit activists who have seen initiative after initiative fail locally at the ballot box. “We are humbled by tonight’s results, which confirm that Hillsborough County is ready to invest in a transportation plan that truly […]

Bill RuftyNovember 6, 2018

Republican Sen. Kelli Stargel of Lakeland held off a strong state Democratic Party effort to flip her Florida Senate District 22 blue by defeating retired circuit judge Robert Doyel, a Winter Haven Democrat. The district had become an unexpected highly competitive race. The final results were Stargel with 105,475 votes or 53 percent of ballots […]

Janelle Irwin TaylorNovember 6, 2018

Hillsborough County Commission candidates Kimberly Overman and Mariella Smith nabbed key victories in their bids for the open District 5 and 7 countywide seats. The two wins mean Democrats will now control the commission. Smith toppled longtime Republican commissioner Victor Crist 52 percent to 45 percent with NPA Joe Kotvas taking the rest of the vote. […]

Janelle Irwin TaylorNovember 6, 2018

Former State Representative Ed Hooper narrowly beat Amanda Murphy in an upset for the “blue wave” Democrats were hoping for. Hooper won 52 to 48 percent in the race for Senate District 16. Murphy issued a statement concession statement about an hour after the polls closed Tuesday evening. “I want to thank our incredible team […]

Janelle Irwin TaylorNovember 6, 2018

Outgoing state Rep. Kathleen Peters scored an easy win over Democrat Amy Kedron Tuesday night in her bid for Pinellas County Commission District 6. Peters won 60 percent to 40 percent over Kedron with three quarters of all precincts reporting. The district covers mid-Pinellas County including Seminole, parts of St. Petersburg, St. Pete Beach, Treasure Island […]

Janelle Irwin TaylorNovember 6, 2018

Florida Senator Jeff Brandes will keep his Senate District 24 seat representing parts of St. Petersburg. Brandes stomped his Democratic challenger, Lindsay Cross, 54 percent to 46 percent. Cross was an underdog candidate in a difficult matchup against a well-known incumbent. She fought a hard battle right up until Election Day, but couldn’t bridge the […]

Janelle Irwin TaylorNovember 6, 2018

U.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis will serve a seventh term in office after defeating Democrat Chris Hunter Tuesday in a contentious race. Bilirakis has held the seat since 2007. Before that, his father represented Congressional District 12. Between the two, there has been a Bilirakis representing the district for more than three decades. The race became competitive for […]

Tampa Bay

Recount? Janet Cruz vs. Dana Young race in SD 18 still too close to call

St. Pete waterfront lease extensions get OK from voters

Jennifer Webb joins the ‘Blue Wave’ in victory over Ray Blacklidge

Hillsborough transportation, education sales tax initiatives pass

No flip in Senate District 22; Kelli Stargel wins

Democrats claim Hillsborough County Commission for the first time in 14 years

Ed Hooper puts breaks on ‘blue wave’ in Amanda Murphy upset

Kathleen Peters cruises to easy victory over Amy Kedron

No surprise here: Jeff Brandes trounces Lindsay Cross

Gus Bilirakis elected to seventh term in Congress