Hillsborough, Pinellas elections are set. Here are 5 takeaways
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Illustration: Annelise Capossela/Axios
Friday's candidate qualifying deadline set up a competitive election season for Tampa Bay.
Why it matters: Local and state elected officials shape everything from housing, to transit and roads, law enforcement, funding for community projects, and election administration.
Here are five of our biggest takeaways:
GOP vs. Dem. battles in every legislative race
State of play: Florida Democrats fielded a candidate in every state House and Senate district for the first time in decades.
- While Republicans sat out 22 races across Florida, none are in Tampa Bay, which Gov. Ron DeSantis has said is no longer a "swing region."
- All incumbent state representatives and senators in Hillsborough and Pinellas counties have challengers.
Yes, but: There are significant fundraising gaps in many of these races.
The intrigue: Michael Owen resigned from the Hillsborough Board of County Commissioners to announce a last-minute bid for a state House seat that covers parts of southern Hillsborough and northern Manatee counties.
Election skeptics running for supervisor seats
The top elections administration officials in both Hillsborough and Pinellas have drawn opposition from two election integrity skeptics, the Tampa Bay Times reported.
Zoom in: Hillsborough Supervisor of Elections incumbent Craig Latimer, a Democrat, will face Republican Billy Christensen, a real estate agent from Seffner, in November.
- In Pinellas, Republican incumbent Julie Marcus will face fellow Republican Chris Gleason in the Aug. 20 primary election.
School board intrigue
Elections for Pinellas School Board feature three candidates seeking to flip the board to a conservative majority, per the Times: private Christian school owner Danielle Marolf, Palm Harbor University High counselor Erika Picard and business owner Stacy Geier.
District 1 Hillsborough School Board member Nadia Combs is trailing in fundraising behind challenger Layla Collins, a veteran and wife of Republican state Sen. Jay Collins.
- In District 2, liberal incumbent Jessica Vaughn faces self-described parental rights supporter Myosha Powell.
- Four candidates qualified for the District 5 seat held by Henry "Shake" Washington, while third-term incumbent Lynn "Teacher" Gray faces three challengers.
Between the lines: Vaughn, Combs, and Pinellas incumbents Laura Hine and Eileen Long were among 14 school board candidates across the state whom DeSantis said last year he was targeting for defeat this November. School board races are nonpartisan.
County Commission races take shape
In Hillsborough, Republican Commission Chair Ken Hagan has so far outraised both primary challenger Melissa Nordbeck and Democrat Patricia Altagracia Alonzo.
- Five candidates — two Republicans, two Democrats and an independent — have qualified to succeed Owen in District 4.
- Democrat Sean Shaw faces an August primary challenge in District 6, while two Republicans vie to face him in November.
In Pinellas, voters will weigh in on two races.
- District 3 Commissioner Charlie Justice (D) drew two Republican challengers.
- Business owner Chris Scherer (R) and former Indian Rocks Beach Mayor Joanne "Cookie" Kennedy (D) will face off in November in District 1.
Several candidates win by default
In Hillsborough, Sheriff Chad Chronister (R) and Tax Collector Nancy C. Millan (D) were reelected without a qualified opponent.
- In Pinellas, four constitutional officers ran unopposed. Republicans held onto the Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller, Sheriff, Property Appraiser and Tax Collector offices.
- County commissioners René Flowers (D) and Chris Latvala (R) also kept their seats.