Tampa Bay

Joe HendersonAugust 29, 2018

Voters in several parts of Florida approved tax hikes for local school programs and teacher raises, which could be encouraging news to backers of a proposed half-cent sales tax increase in November for Hillsborough County public schools. By a 13-point margin, Lake County voters approved a property tax increase of .75 mills to help pay […]

Drew WilsonAugust 29, 2018

Former Democratic Rep. Amanda Murphy is heading to Tampa Thursday night for a fundraising reception benefiting her run for Pasco and Pinellas-based Senate District 16. The event will be held at Mise en Place, 442 W Kennedy Blvd. #110, from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. The invite lists a suggested minimum contribution of $100, though notes […]

Joe HendersonAugust 28, 2018

Attorney Mike Beltran is the Republican nominee in HD 57 after his victory in Tuesday’s primary over challenger Sean McCoy. HD 57 is currently represented by Lithia Republican Jake Raburn, who announced he was not running for re-election to devote more time to family and business. Democrat Debbie Katt was running unopposed. The Republican side of the ballot was […]

Drew WilsonAugust 28, 2018

Hillsborough School Board member Susan Valdes appears to have overcome months of sloppy campaigning to eek out a win in the Democratic primary for Hillsborough County’s House District 62. With 34 of 37 precincts reporting some outstanding mail votes, Valdes is leading Mike Alvarez, U.S. Marine Corps veteran by a few hundred votes with medical marijuana […]

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. […]

Tampa Bay
Image via AP.

Voters around state say yes to local school tax increases

Amanda Murphy holding Tampa fundraiser for SD 16 bid Thursday

Mike Beltran wins tough GOP primary in HD 57

Susan Valdes leading in HD 62 Democratic primary

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