Democratic Socialism continues to infiltrate state politics in Florida, even in Tampa where Ashley Herrmann just defeated incumbent State Rep. Danny Alvarez in District 69.
With all precincts reporting, Herrmann has just under 52% of the vote, according to unofficial results from the Hillsborough County Supervisor of Elections.
Herrmann ran a disciplined campaign and was boosted by big canvassing efforts by the Tampa DSA chapter. She was firm in her opposition to data centers and making developers pay their fair share.
Last month, in comments to this reporter during an interview on WMNF public affairs program The Skinny, Herrmann—a community organizer and first in her family to go to college—criticzed her opponent over his votes on bills like HB 399 which limits what local governments like Hillsborough can charge developers to review projects and narrows when they can turn those projects down.
She pointed out that builders and the construction industry put about $233,000 into Alvarez’s campaign and political committee, including a Riverview homebuilder. Alvarez, for his part, went on the same program and told this reporter that candidates don’t necessarily know who’s putting money in PACs supporting their campaign.
Herrmann wasn’t the only Hillsborough Democrat to chip into the Republican supermajority in Tallahassee.
First-time candidate Luis Salazar, who faced young MAGA acolyte Dan Weldon, will represent District 69 after winning 59% of the vote.
Former Tampa City Councilman Luis Viera will also get an office at the state capitol after handily beating Republican Lisette Bonano by earning 66% of the vote.
Hillsborough Republicans won plenty of state representative races, however, thanks to Karen Gonzalez Pittman who narrowly beat Democrat Ben Braver in District 65, Traci Koster (District 66), and Ryan Gill (District 68).
Herrmann—who flipped a seat that Alvarez carried by double digits in the last election—becomes the first Democratic Socialist elected to state office in over a century.
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This article appears in Oct. 29 – Nov. 04, 2026.
