Last October, Naya Young said that if she prevailed in the special city council election, she would commit to running again 16 months later.
Commenting on the long runoff and the work she planned to do, Young told this reporter on WMNF public affairs program “The Skinny” that she’s enjoyed the campaign, adding that, “I would again run for sure.”
The 33-year-old, who is the youngest woman to serve on Tampa City Council, made good on that promise this morning when she filed for re-election in District 5.
In a window-lit board room brightened by morning sun rising over her district, Young—flanked by her father Owen, mom Dr. Toni Young, husband Nick Brocks, and campaign consultant Michael Womack—put her signature on paperwork to ensure she appears on the ballot in Tampa’s March 2027 municipal election.
“It feels good getting it done. The earlier, the better,” she told Creative Loafing Tampa Bay about the filing 378 days before Tampa’s next municipal election wraps on March 2, 2027 (any necessary runoffs will wrap on April 27, 2027).
Sworn in last Halloween, Young has quickly adapted to the job while continuing to advocate for some of the same issues brought to the dais by her predecessor, the late Gwen Henderson.
“I always think of people that come before me who have done good work. When we’re out in the community, a lot of people do mention her and are happy to see me in the seat, so I’m excited,” Young said. She noted that her office has worked on issues like a social action arts fund and other nonprofits that were important to Henderson, who died 141 days before Young upset Thomas Scott in a landslide.
TAMPA CITY COUNCIL ELECTION 2026
Young, so far, does not have an opponent. Records from the Hillsborough Supervisor Of Elections show just one other person who’s filed to run for any city council seat: Morris Lopez III, who will run for the District 7 seat that will be vacated by Councilman Luis Viera if he’s successful in his run for state house.
Should she win re-election in District 5, Young will be working with a new mayor set to follow Tampa Mayor Jane Castor who is termed out. Young, however, is not thinking much about that race—which so far has just six candidates.
“I’m gonna have to work with the mayor, the people to the left of me and the right of me,” Young told CL before making a sports analogy.
“If you think of someone that’s running track, they tell you, you don’t have to look left, you don’t look right—you just look straight ahead,” Young added. “So that’s kind of what I’m focused on—doing the best job that I can and making sure that I win my race.”
For the upcoming campaign, however, Young working with new district lines after scheduled redistricting is finalized this April.
Young has been active in making sure that her constituents know about the redistricting plans, which will affect the makeup of District 5, which once featured a majority-Black voting block.
“I am excited that a lot of the community has been very vocal about it, making sure to pay attention and be a part of the process,” she told CL. “The last meeting I went to at the Hannah City City, they said it was probably the biggest turnout that they had for the redistricting meetings, which I thought was really good.”
In a release from the campaign, Young pointed out that from day one in office, she’s been committed to being present in her community.
“Not just to listen, but to act,” Young wrote. “That means asking the tough questions and making sure our neighborhoods are heard and supported.”
The release touts the counciwoman’s work with young people and efforts to advance public safety, transparency, along with her service as Chair of the City Council’s Parks and Recreation Committee.
“I’ve been intentional about building relationships, understanding systems, and bringing people together to move our city forward,” Young added in the release. “There’s more work to do, and I’m ready to continue delivering for District 5.”
This is a developing post.
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This article appears in Feb. 12 – 18, 2026.