Amid the uncertainty and unrest that is more or less defining our current social landscape, the 2020 primary and general elections are on the horizon here in Florida.
Accompanying the resurgence of Black Lives Matter protests and discussions about the roles elected officials have in addressing various social and economic injustices, knowing who’s running for elected positions in office has become more important than ever.
Arguably, one of the biggest takeaways from recent events beyond the pervasiveness of systemic injustices—if you’ve been marching through the streets with other protestors or tuning into Tampa’s recent Citizen Review Board or City Council meetings—is that local elections matter.
The many young millennial and age-eligible zoomers dissatisfied with the responses of local government to community examples of injustice have a huge opportunity this year. As does the rest of the eligible voter populace.
Important voting deadlines
The deadline to register to vote or change your party affiliation is July 20. Florida is a closed primary state; if you want to vote for a Democrat, you need to be registered as a Democrat.
As a closed primary state, Florida residents who vote in primary elections can only vote for candidates within their party.
If you are registered with any other party affiliation, you must put in a request to change your affiliation by July 20. If you're non-partisan you can still vote in NP races like judge, school board and other NP and smaller races. NP voters may also cast a ballot in races where all candidates are in the same party with no write-in candidate (ie: Hillsborough Clerk of Circuit Court.)
Hillsborough election dates and deadlines
• Early voting: August 3-August 16
• Primary election: August 18
• Deadline to request mail-in ballot: No later than 5 p.m. on the 10th day before the electionPinellas County election dates and deadlines
• Early voting: August 8-August 16
• Primary election: August 18
• Deadline to request mail-in ballot: No later than 5 p.m. on August 10
This year, eligible Tampa Bay residents have the opportunity to make their votes count on how the local government addresses community issues of housing, transportation, healthcare, and education.
During the 2018 midterm primary elections, voter turnout was a mere 26% among eligible voters in Hillsborough County. While turnout tends to be better during presidential election years, if we want to exact meaningful change on a community-wide level, participation in local elections is just as, if not more, important than casting your vote for the next president of the United States.
Voting in local elections provides an opportunity for residents to utilize their collective electoral power to improve the social and material conditions of their fellow community members. This includes Tampa Bay’s low-income, houseless, incarcerated, disabled, veteran, and otherwise marginalized residents.
Creating change in our communities goes beyond electoral politics, of course. But in an election year that has only accentuated the social and economic inequalities pervading our communities and our nation as a whole, it’s time to look at what our local candidates are saying about it—and what they’re planning to do.
In Tampa Bay, there are a number of local races that seasoned voters have their eyes on, from competitive Board of County Commissioner (BOCC) seats to elections for State House Representatives, School Board members, county sheriffs, and more.
Does giving attention to local elections during this time of disarray sound overwhelming? Perhaps a lot to give energy to when the world seems to be simultaneously on fire and falling apart?
Creative Loafing Tampa Bay is here to help. While the decisions you ultimately make at the polls—or from the comfort of your home with a mail-in ballot—are your own, our mission this election year is to put together an informational voting guide so that you can feel more informed about who you’re giving your vote to this year.
While our voter resources will primarily focus on candidates running for office in Hillsborough and Pinellas counties, we may highlight a handful of candidates running in surrounding counties as well. Let us know who you believe deserves more coverage.
What local elected seats are up for election?
If this is your first time casting votes in local primary elections, you may not be aware of how many local elected seats are up for re-election, or what they are.
Or maybe you’re not a first-time voter, but with the aforementioned calamity that has characterized 2020, attending to basic necessities—like your health, economic security, and the well-being of family members—has made it difficult to devote energy towards the question of who’s running for local office.
This guide is going to provide a general rundown of which seats are up for election this year in Hillsborough and Pinellas counties.
More information about seats up for election in 2020 can be found on the supervisor of elections office (SOE) websites for Hillsborough and Pinellas Counties.
Hillsborough County
Below is a compilation of the municipal, county-wide, and state government positions that are up for election this year in Hillsborough County. If you’re registered to vote, you can find your district information listed on your voter registration card.
A star symbol (*) is placed next to the names of the candidates who are seeking reelection—i.e. the incumbents. Some incumbents are restricted from seeking re-election due to term limits.
Hillsborough County Government:
Clerk of Circuit Court
- Cindy Stuart (D)
- Kevin Beckner (D)
Sheriff
- Chad Chronister (R)*
- Charles Brian Boswell (R)
- Gary Pruitt (D)
- Ron McMullen (NPA)
Property Appraiser (General election)
- Bob “Coach” Henriquez (D)*
- D.C. Goutoufas (R)
Tax Collector
- April Griffin (D)
- Nancy C. Millan (D)
- TK Mathew (R)
Supervisor of Elections
- Craig Latimer (D) — unopposed*
Hillsborough Board of County Commissioners
District 1
- Harry Cohen (D)
- Jen McDonald (D)
- Scott Levinson (R)
- Tony Morejon (R)
District 3
- Frank Reddick (D)
- Gwen Myers (D)
- Maura Cruz Lanz (R)
- Ricardo “Rick” Fernandez (D)
- Sky U. White (D)
- Thomas Scott (D)
District 6—General election
- Patricia “Pat” Kemp (D)*
- Sandra L. Murman (R)
School Board Member
District 1
- Ben “Floridaman” Greene (NP)
- Bill Person (NP)
- Nadia Combs (NP)
- Steve Cona (NP)
District 3
- Alexandra Gilmore (NP)
- Jennifer Hill (NP)
- Jessica Vaughn (NP)
- Leo Haggerty (NP)
- Mitch Thrower (NP)
- Rick Warrener (NP)
District 5
- Elvis Piggot (NP)
- Henry “Shake” Washington (NP)
- Selena Ward (NP)
- Tammy Shamburger (NP)*
District 7
- Angela Schroden (NP)
- Jeffrey Alex James Johnston (NP)
- Lynn Gray (NP)*
- Sally A. Harris (NP)
County Court Judge
Group 6
- Cynthia S. Oster (NP)—unopposed
Group 7
- Bill Yanger (NP)
- Nancy L. Jacobs (NP)
- Monique Scott (NP)
- Rickey “Rick” Silverman (NP)
Group 9
- John N. Conrad (NP)—unopposed
Group 17
- Jessica G. Costello (NP)—unopposed
Soil and Water Conservation
District 2
- Douglas “Doug” Rivero (NP)
- Erik S. Challenger (NP)
- Karen Cox Jaroch (NP)
- Michael Harvey (NP)
District 4
- D.B. “Brig” Maynard (NP)
- Mark Proctor (NP)
- Sonja P. Brookins (NP)
State Attorney—General Election
Circuit 13
- Andrew Warren (D)*
- Mike Perotti (R)
Public Defender
Circuit 13
- Julianne M. Holt (D)*—unopposed
Additional positions up for election include various Community Development District (CDD) seats, also known as “Special Districts,” and Precinct Committee Positions.
U.S. House of Representatives (Hillsborough County)
District 12— General Election
- Gus Bilirakis (R)*
- Kimberly Walker (D)
District 14— General Election
- Christine Y. Quinn (R)
- Kathy Castor (D)*
- Paul Sidney Elliott (R)
District 15
- Adam Hattersley (D)
- Alan Cohn (D)
- Jesse Philippe (D)
- Ross Spano (R)*
- Scott Franklin (R)
District 16—General Election
- Margaret Good (D)
- Vern Buchanan (R)*
State Representatives
District 57—General election
- Mike Beltran (R)*
- Scott “Mr. H” Hottenstein (D)
District 58— General Election
- Cleo L. “CL” Townsend, Jr. (D)
- Lawrence McClure (R)*
District 59
- Andrew Learned (D)
- Danny Kushmer (R)
- Michael Owen (R)
District 60— General Election
- Jackie Toledo (R)*
- Julie Jenkins (D)
District 61
- Dianne Hart (D)*—unopposed
District 62— General Election
- Angel S. Capo Urbina (R)
- Laurie Rodriguez-Person (NPA)
- Susan L. Valdes (D)*
District 63
- Fentrice Driskell (D)*—unopposed
District 64—General Election
- Jamie Grant (R)*
- Jessica Harrington (D)
District 70
- Keisha Bell (D)
- Mark Oliver (D)
- Michelle Grimsley (D)
- Michelle K. Rayner (D)
State Senators
District 19— General Election
- Christina Paylan (NPA)
- Darryl Ervin Rouson (D)*
- Kriztofer Dulton Cole (R)
District 21
- Amanda V. Linton (D)
- Jim Boyd (R)
- John Manners Houman (R)
District Court of Appeal
District 2
- Andrea Teves Smith (NP)
- Daniel H. Sleet (NP)
- Drew Atkinson (NP)
- Morris Silberman (NP)
State Committeewoman
- Clarice Henderson (R)
- April Schiff (R)
The unopposed (Hillsborough)
Several U.S. House Representatives in Hillsborough County who are up for re-election in the 2020 general election are running unopposed in their respective primary races, as marked above. These include:
• District 12: Rep. Gus Bilirakis (Republican incumbent) and candidate Kimberly Walker (D)
• District 14: Rep. Kathy Castor (D)
• District 16: Rep. Vern Buchanan (Republican incumbent) and candidate Margaret Good (D)Hillsborough County State Representatives who are running unopposed in both the upcoming primary and general elections:
• District 61: Rep. Dianne Hart (D)
• District 63: Rep. Fentrice Driskell (D)The county’s two state attorneys, Andrew Warren (D) and Mike Perotti (R), and public defender Julianne Holt (D) are also running unopposed in their primaries.
Circuit Court Judges (Hillsborough County)
Circuit 13
Group 9
- John Schifino (NOP)
- Kelly Ayers (NOP)
Group 19
- Ashley Ivanov (NOP)
- Michael J. Scionti (NOP)
Group 30
- Danny Alvarez (NOP)
- Helene Daniel (NOP)
Group 31
- Gary Dolgin (NOP)
- Greg Green (NOP)
- Scott Bonavita (NOP)
Group 39
- Steven Scott Stephens (NOP)
- Wendy Joy DePaul (NOP)
There are several circuit judge seats that are up for election in 2020 that are currently unopposed. They are not included in the above list.
Pinellas County
Below is a rundown of all municipal, county-wide, and state government positions that are up for reelection this year in Pinellas County. If you’re registered to vote, you can find your district information listed on your voter registration card.
Pinellas County government:
Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller
- Ken Burke (R)*—unopposed
Sheriff
- Bob Gualtieri (R)*
- Eliseo Santana (D)
- James McLynas (D)
Property Appraiser— General Election
- Mike Twitty (R)*
- Trevor L. Mallory (D)
Tax Collector
- Charles W. Thomas (R)*
- Dan Dahlberg (WRI)
- Joseph Saportas (D)
- Joyell Hope Bobala (R)
Supervisor of Elections—General election
- Dan Helm (D)
- Julie Marcus (R)*
Board of County Commissioners
District 1—General election
- Janet C. Long (D)*
- Larry Ahern (R)
District 3—General Election
- Charlie Justice (D)*
- Tammy Sue Vasquez (R)
Districts 5
- Karen Seel (R)—unopposed
District 7
- Anthony Hart (WRI)
- Frank Peterman Jr. (D)
- Maria L. Scruggs (NPA)
- Renee Flowers (D)
- Wengay “Newt” Newton (D)
School Board members
District 1 (At large)
- Laura Hine (NP)
- Stephanie G. Meyer (NP)
- Tom Topping (NP)
District 4
- Chris Hardman (NP)
- Eileen M. Long (NP)
District 5
- Carol J. Cook (NP)—unopposed
District 7
- Caprice Johnson Edmond (NP)
- Corey Givens Jr. (NP)
- Sharon D. Jackson (NP)
- Karl Nurse (NP)
County Judges
Group 3
- Edwin B. Jagger (NP)—unopposed
Group 10
- James V. Pierce (NP)—unopposed
Group 14
- Robert G. Dittmer (NP)—unopposed
Group 15
- John Carassas (NP)—unopposed
Public Defender
- Sara Beth Mollo (R)—unopposed
State Attorney
- *Bernie McCabe (R)—unopposed
There are also various Special District seats up for election.
U.S. House of Representatives (Pinellas County)
District 12— General Election
- Gus Bilirakis (R)*
- Kimberly Walker (D)
District 13
- Amanda Makki (R)
- Anna Paulina Luna (R)
- Charlie Crist (D)*
- George Buck (R)
- Jacob Curnow (WRI)
- Sheila Griffin (R)
- Sharon Barry Newby (R)
State Representatives
District 64— General Election
- James Grant (R)*
- Jessica Harrington (D)
District 65— General Election
- Chris Sprowls (R)*
- Kelly Johnson (D)
District 66— General Election
- Nick DiCeglie (R)*
- Patricia M. Plantamura (D)
District 67
- Dawn Douglas (D)
- Chris Latvala (R)*
- Michael R. Henkel (D)
District 68 General election
- Ben Diamond (D)*
- Matt Tito (R)
District 69—General election
- Jennifer Webb (D)*
- Linda Chaney (R)
District 70
- Keisha Bell (D)
- Michelle Grimsley (D)
- Michele K. Rayner (D)
- Mark Oliver (D)
State Senator District 19— General Election
- Darryl Rouson (D)*
- Christina Paylan (NPA)
District Court of Appeal
District 2
- Andrea Teves Smith (NP)
- Daniel H. Sleet (NP)
- Drew Atkinson (NP)
- Morris Silberman (NP)
Circuit Judges (Pinellas County)
Circuit 6
Group 28
- Eva Vergos (NOP)
- Evan Frayman (NOP)
Group 44
- Ashley Ward-Singleton (NOP)
- Elizabeth Jack (NOP)
The unopposed (Pinellas)
There are many elected officials in Pinellas County up for re-election in 2020 that are currently running unopposed in their respective primary elections. These include:
• Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller
• County Judge; Groups 3, 10, 14, 15
• County Commission, District 5
• School Board Member, District 5
• Public Defender
• State Attorney
• Circuit Judges (all except Groups 28 and 44)
• Special District seats
Choosing candidates in competitive races
CL strives to be transparent about our healthy balance of strictly informational reporting and editorializing. We provide accurate and factual information and transparency within our pieces, but the angle from which we report on certain issues, or individuals, may also be informed by the perspectives (and snark) of our staff and contributors.
In addition to general information about who our local candidates are, CL’s local election coverage will dive into candidate platforms, share information about what positions these candidates take on various issues, their voting records, and how candidates differ from one another in their respective races.
Regardless of party affiliation, voters have the right to be critical of their candidates, especially those running in the more competitive races. Elected officials hold positions of power and authority. Furthermore, their salaries are paid using taxpayer dollars.
The popular position among Democrats, “Vote blue no matter who!” is a personal decision. But in races where there may be multiple Democrats—or candidates of other parties—running for a single seat, you’ve got to have more than a party affiliation to inform your vote.
We quite literally deserve the opportunity to put our money where we believe it will best serve our own interests and those of the community. Of course, your priorities during the voting process may differ from those of others, based on your individual values and perspectives.
For CL readers who want to feel confident in their votes this election year—we care that you care. Our upcoming coverage on local candidates will reflect our goals of informing eligible Tampa Bay voters and not shying away from posing challenging questions to candidates who wish to receive your (and our own) votes.
Email me with any stories I should chase.
UPDATED: 07/14/20 12 p.m. Updated to correct misspellings and reorganize sections of the guide.
Support local journalism in these crazy days. Our small but mighty team is working tirelessly to bring you up to the minute news on how Coronavirus is affecting Tampa and surrounding areas. Please consider making a one time or monthly donation to help support our staff. Every little bit helps.
Subscribe to our newsletter and follow @cl_tampabay on Twitter.