Tampa Bay

Drew WilsonAugust 28, 2018

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After spending months revving up to face off for the District 1 seat on the Hillsborough County Commission, Republicans Todd Marks and Aakash Patel found themselves making ambitious first-time bids for the countywide District 7 seat held by exiting Commissioner Al Higginbotham. The race was an expensive one, and it wasn’t without its fair share […]

Joe HendersonAugust 28, 2018

Joe Wicker cruised to a solid victory Tuesday night over long-time political face Ronda Storms to secure the Republican nomination in HD 59. Wicker had 54 percent of the vote to Storms’ 46 percent. Storms called Wicker to concede, saying she congratulated him and adding, “Obviously this is not the result I wanted, but God […]

Bill RuftyAugust 28, 2018

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Retired Circuit Judge Robert Doyel of Winter Haven defeated former state Rep. Ricardo Rangel of Osceola County to win the Democratic Party’s nomination for Florida Senate District 22. The unofficial vote tally was 20,770 for Doyel, or 66 percent of votes cast, to 10,672, or 34 percent, for Rangel. “I am happy with the outcome, but not resting,” […]

Phil AmmannAugust 28, 2018

Senate President-designate Bill Galvano is cheering Ed Hooper on his victory in Senate District 16, which consists of parts of Pasco and Pinellas counties. Hooper, a former state legislator from Clearwater, handily defeated Palm Harbor restaurateur Leo Karruli in the Republican primary, 79 to 21 percent. “I would like to extend my congratulations to Ed Hooper tonight […]

Kate BradshawAugust 28, 2018

Business owner and activist Dianne “Ms. Dee” Hart has won the Democratic primary for Florida’s House District 61. As a safely Democratic district, which comprises parts of eastern, central and northern Tampa, HD 61 had no incumbent seeking re-election — as state Rep. Sean Shaw vacated the seat to run for Attorney General. That meant the primary […]

Kate BradshawAugust 28, 2018

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If there were a local proxy for the national GOP’s intraparty conflict, it would be Pinellas County Commission District 6. This three-way race pitted Larry Ahern, a Trump Republican legislator from Seminole, against a St. Petersburg activist with Tea Party roots (Barbara Haselden) and a moderate Republican lawmaker, state Rep. Kathleen Peters of Treasure Island. […]

Kate BradshawAugust 28, 2018

Incumbency has distinct advantages, as Wengay “Newt” Newton won another term in House District 70 – despite a serious challenge from aggrieved St. Petersburg Democrats. Given that there are no contenders from any other party, the primary decided who will serve the heavily Democratic district seat. Yet, if there was a primary for St. Petersburg […]

Drew WilsonAugust 28, 2018

Three Republicans competed in the primary to succeed exiting House Speaker Richard Corcoran in Pasco County’s House District 37, and with the election in the books, Land O’ Lakes businessman Ardian Zika earned the nomination. With 35 of 36 precincts reporting, Zika led his closest opponent, Elle Rudisill, 57-26 percent. The third Republican vying for the […]

Drew WilsonAugust 28, 2018

Belleair Bluffs businessman Nick DiCeglie defeated Seminole lawyer Berny Jacques in Tuesday’s Republican primary for House District 66. At 7:25 p.m., DiCeglie holds a 60-40 percent lead over Jacques with more than two-thirds of the vote counted. DiCeglie pumped $125,000 in candidate loans into his bid in the closing weeks of the primary race to surpass […]

Kate BradshawAugust 28, 2018

Raymond Blacklidge has won the Republican nod for House District 69, formerly held by state Rep. Kathleen Peters, who gave up the seat to run for Pinellas County Commission. As of 7:25 p.m., with 85 percent of vote counted, the 58-year-old Madeira Beach insurance executive was leading his lone challenger 58-42 percent. The two-candidate primary […]

Tampa Bay

Todd Marks wins Republican primary for Hillsborough Commission

Joe Wicker cruises past Ronda Storms in GOP HD 59

Robert Doyel defeats Ricardo Rangel in SD 22 Democratic primary

Senate President-designate Bill Galvano congratulates Ed Hooper on big SD16 win

Dianne “Ms. Dee” Hart wins Democratic primary in HD 61

GOP conflict plays out, as Kathleen Peters wins Pinellas Commission primary

Wengay Newton proves incumbency has advantages in HD 70

Ardian Zika secures HD 37 Republican nomination with ease

Nick DiCeglie cruises past Berny Jacques in HD 66 Republican primary

Raymond Blacklidge easily takes the HD 69 GOP nod