Florida elections Archives - Creative Loafing Tampa

Sydney Gruters, wife of RNC Chair and state Sen. Joe Gruters, says she’s running for Florida congressional seat

Florida’s CD 16 seat that will be vacated by Republican Vern Buchanan later this year.

by Mitch Perry and Florida Phoenix April 2, 2026April 2, 2026

Sydney Gruters, wife of Republican National Committee Chair and state Sen. Joe Gruters, announced Thursday that she is filing to run for the Florida Congressional District 16 seat that will be vacated by Republican Vern Buchanan later this year. Her announcement comes after President Donald Trump endorsed her in the contest last week. “As a […]

Brian Nathan, a U.S. Navy veteran from Tampa, walks in a parade.

No recount after Hillsborough Democrat flips Florida Senate seat, says division of elections

Brian Nathan beat Republican Josie Tomkow by 405 votes.

by Ray Roa March 27, 2026March 27, 2026

A wide-angle selfie of a person in a charcoal grey polo shirt and a brown "Vet Voice Foundation" baseball cap. They are wearing sunglasses and smiling in front of a stone wall labeled "MARCH OF FREEDOM," where several other people are sitting. The background features a brick-paved plaza with palm trees, a blue event tent, and tall city buildings under a bright, partly cloudy sky.

Army vet who blew the whistle on Trump joins race to run against Tampa’s Sen. Ashley Moody

Retired Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman joins Jacksonville state Rep. Angie Nixon and former Brevard County School Board member Jennifer Jenkins in the race for the Democratic nomination.

by Mitch Perry and Florida Phoenix February 3, 2026February 3, 2026

A professional portrait of an individual with a bald head and a full beard, wearing square-rimmed tortoiseshell glasses and teal-colored medical scrubs. The person is smiling and looking directly at the camera.

Hillsborough County Commission candidate Neil Manimala talks transit, compassion, bipartisanship and Wawa coffee

He’s hoping to block Donna Cameron Cepeda, a Republican elected in 2022, from re-election in District 5.

by Valerie Smith December 6, 2025December 6, 2025

A row of white voting booths with 'VOTE' and American flag graphics inside a busy polling place or election office, with people and camera crew visible in the background.

Florida Democrats and NPA voters support open primaries, survey says

Of the 626 Democrats surveyed, 87% support having the party unilaterally open its primary election to nonparty-affiliated (NPA) voters.

by Mitch Perry and Florida Phoenix October 13, 2025October 13, 2025

A large aerial view of St. Petersburg’s downtown waterfront with tall buildings and blue skies in the background. On the sandy beach in the foreground, hundreds of people are arranged to spell out the phrase “UNITE + RISE” in large block letters.

St. Pete voting group wants citizens to come sip and strategize about DeSantis’ latest redistricting plan

‘Come ready to learn and take action immediately.’

by Ray Roa October 1, 2025October 1, 2025

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis speaking at a press conference. He is wearing a dark blue suit with a patterned blue tie and a white shirt. An American flag pin is on his lapel. He has short, dark brown hair and is gesturing with his right hand as he speaks into a microphone. In the blurred background, there's a golf cart and what appears to be a large, taxidermied animal. The image is credited to Dave Decker.

Voters urge Pinellas legislative delegation to oppose DeSantis’ ‘partisan gerrymandering’ plan for redistricting

An amendments passed in 2010 says, ‘no apportionment plan or individual district shall be drawn with the intent to favor or disfavor a political party or an incumbent.’

by Mitch Perry and Florida Phoenix September 25, 2025September 26, 2025

Federal judges reject argument that Tampa Bay’s Senate District 16 was racially gerrymandered

Plaintiffs contended that the lines have reduced the influence of Black voters in Pinellas County’s neighboring Senate District 18.

by News Service of Florida and Jim Saunders August 19, 2025September 1, 2025

‘Deeply troubling’: Florida Democrats react to memo about congressional redistricting

Republicans hold 20 of the 28 congressional seats in the U.S. House of Representatives following the latest reapportionment in 2022.

by Mitch Perry and Florida Phoenix August 11, 2025August 27, 2025

Three candidates running to replace Spring Hill’s former Sen. Blaise Ingoglia

Florida Senate District 11 represents Citrus, Hernando, Sumter and part of Pasco counties.

by News Service of Florida August 5, 2025August 26, 2025

As Trump worries about House majority, DeSantis says it’s ‘appropriate’ to redraw Florida’s congressional districts

Florida House Democratic Leader Fentrice Driskell blasted DeSantis’ remarks on Thursday.

by Mitch Perry and Florida Phoenix July 28, 2025August 10, 2025

The special election to replace Spring Hill’s former Sen. Blaise Ingoglia is set for September

Ingoglia was sworn in as Florida’s CFO this month.

by News Service of Florida July 24, 2025August 5, 2025

Federal judges set to decide if Tampa Bay’s Senate District 16 was racially-gerrymandered

The case is one of a series of legal battles stemming from the 2022 redistricting process.

by Jim Saunders and News Service of Florida July 23, 2025August 19, 2025

Federal judge blocks part of Florida’s new ballot initiative law

In his latest ruling, Walker stopped the state from enforcing HB 1205’s ban against non-Florida residents and non-U.S. citizens collecting petitions.

by Christine Sexton and Florida Phoenix July 10, 2025August 30, 2025

Josh Weil is counting on Pinellas voters for his U.S. Senate bid

He’s focused on fixing the Florida Democratic party and funding voter registration in Pinellas and Miami-Dade.

by Mitch Perry and Florida Phoenix June 18, 2025July 18, 2025

Backers of Florida’s new recreational marijuana initiative say the measure is unlikely to get to voters without help from the courts

Smart & Safe Florida, a PAC sponsoring the proposal, filed an emergency motion for a preliminary injunction on Friday.

by Dara Kam and News Service of Florida June 3, 2025July 5, 2025

Feds give Florida’s Republican party green light to join ballot initiative lawsuit

Critics of a new law say it violates their rights to free speech and due process.

by Christine Sexton and Florida Phoenix June 2, 2025July 22, 2025

A row of white voting booths with 'VOTE' and American flag graphics inside a busy polling place or election office, with people and camera crew visible in the background.

Florida bill requiring voters to show proof of citizenship fails, drawing relief on both sides of the issue

The bill angered voting rights and voting integrity advocates alike.

by Mitch Perry and Florida Phoenix May 9, 2025June 3, 2025

St. Pete consultant responds to critics of massive fundraising in Florida’s special elections

Jackson McMillan’s candidates in deep red districts lost by double digits, despite the campaigns hauling in more than $20 million.

by Mitch Perry and Florida Phoenix April 8, 2025June 29, 2025

Bill making it harder for Florida citizens to put amendments on the ballot heads to house floor

Critics said HB125 would effectively kill the citizen-led amendment process.

by Mitch Perry and Florida Phoenix March 27, 2025April 3, 2025