Conservative pitches falter in Hillsborough despite GOP majority
Add Axios as your preferred source to
see more of our stories on Google.
Photo illustration: Axios Visuals. Photo: Courtesy of Hillsborough County
Republicans dominated last year's elections — for the White House, the Florida Legislature and even the Hillsborough Board of County Commissioners.
- But despite fewer seats, local Democrats have still had a say in shaping the agenda — thanks to rifts within the GOP.
Why it matters: Twice now, GOP commissioners have broken ranks to help sink hot-button proposals: one to make Hillsborough a test kitchen for the state's DOGE task force, another to remove fluoride from its water.
- Commissioner Joshua Wostal has tried to rally his colleagues around red-meat conservative issues; each time, they've left him hanging.
Catch up quick: In February, Wostal made a resolution to stop adding fluoride to Hillsborough's water.
- Even with Commissioner Gwen Myers (D) absent, Commissioner Harry Cohen — the lone Democrat — got backup from Republican Commissioners Ken Hagan and Chris Boles to sink the motion.
- A month later, Hagan and Commissioner Christine Miller (R) joined Democrats to defeat another Wostal resolution — this one inviting a state DOGE audit.
Driving the news: Wostal took to X after the fluoride vote and openly questioned whether Hagan and Boles were even Republicans.
- He didn't go as far with Miller, who torpedoed his state DOGE audit but has teamed up with him on other occasions.
- She has filed her own resolution, which commits the county to cooperating with DOGE but stops short of explicitly requesting an audit.
Yes, but: Asked about Miller's proposal, Wostal tells Axios, "As long as we get DOGE'd, I'm happy."
What's next: Commissioners will consider Miller's resolution at today's meeting, which starts at 9am. You can watch live on the county's YouTube channel.
Zoom out: The GOP divide isn't only playing out on the county level. Since January, the governor's office and state Legislature have been at odds on a number of issues, from immigration to insurance and tax relief.
The bottom line: With few Democrats left, the only obstacle Republicans face toward enacting their agenda is themselves.