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3 races to watch in Hillsborough and Pinellas counties

Local, state and federal offices are on the ballot.

News

Florida&#x27;s primary election day has arrived, with local, state and federal offices on the ballot. Why it matters: Voters in Hillsborough and Pinellas counties will go to the polls today to choose which candidates advance to the general election on Nov. 3 and, in some races, who wins outright.

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Try your hand at our news quiz!Why it matters: Email us a screenshot of your perfect score to tampa@axios.com, and you could get a shout-out in a future newsletter.

Kindergarten vaccine exemptions rose in Florida: CDC

Thousands of children entered kindergarten in Florida without protection from preventable diseases.

Nearly 6% of kindergartners in Florida were <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="exempt" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2026/08/17/kindergarten-vaccine-rates-fall" data-vars-content-id="5e63f873-151a-48dd-bc04-b9da3acddb56" data-vars-headline="Kindergarten vaccine exemptions rose in Florida: CDC" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2026/08/17/kindergarten-vaccine-rates-fall" target="_self">exempt</a> from one or more vaccines during the 2025–2026 school year, well above the national average, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Why it matters: Thousands of children entered elementary school across the Sunshine State without protection from preventable and potentially deadly diseases, including measles and polio.

Tampa among few major cities with rising homicides in 2026

Deadly crime in Tampa is bucking a national trend among the largest cities in the country.

Politics

Tampa saw an uptick in homicides during the first half of the year that was among the highest in the country for major cities, according to preliminary data reviewed by Axios.Why it matters: Deadly crime in Tampa is bucking a national trend among the largest cities in the country, which are mostly recording dips in homicides.

Here's who advanced in key Hillsborough, Pinellas races

Unofficial results are, showing who is poised to advance to the general election.

The unofficial results are in.<ul><li>Here&#x27;s who appears on track to advance to the general election in key races and who looks to have won outright.</li></ul>

Welch, Crist on track for St. Pete Mayor runoff

The runoff will take place during the general election on Nov. 3.

St. Petersburg&#x27;s crowded <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="mayoral race" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/tampa-bay/2026/07/16/st-petersburg-mayor-race-charlie-crist-ken-welch-ad" data-vars-content-id="67612dd0-130c-4c7a-a1fa-efc2de53706f" data-vars-headline="Welch, Crist on track for St. Pete Mayor runoff" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/tampa-bay/2026/07/16/st-petersburg-mayor-race-charlie-crist-ken-welch-ad" target="_self">mayoral race</a> is headed to a runoff between incumbent Mayor Ken Welch and former Gov. and U.S. Rep. Charlie Crist, according to <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="unofficial results" data-vars-click-url="https://enr.votepinellas.gov/FL/Pinellas/126780/web.345435/#/summary" data-vars-content-id="67612dd0-130c-4c7a-a1fa-efc2de53706f" data-vars-headline="Welch, Crist on track for St. Pete Mayor runoff" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://enr.votepinellas.gov/FL/Pinellas/126780/web.345435/#/summary" target="_blank">unofficial results</a>. Why it matters: Tuesday&#x27;s primary teed up a high-stakes showdown between an unusually vulnerable incumbent and a former governor looking to make a political comeback.

Crist campaign gets boost from PACs with utility ties

The city's next mayor could help decide who powers St. Petersburg for decades to come.

St. Petersburg is mulling whether to break from Duke Energy.<ul><li>But former Gov. Charlie Crist — a leading candidate in the city&#x27;s mayoral race — has raked in cash from lobbyists tied to the state&#x27;s largest utilities, the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Tampa Bay Times reports" data-vars-click-url="https://www.tampabay.com/news/florida-politics/elections/2026/08/14/st-petersburg-mayor-charlie-crist-florida-ken-welch-duke-energy/" data-vars-content-id="f2ef68e8-8f53-4397-a53d-9c3c607a61f5" data-vars-headline="Crist campaign gets boost from PACs with utility ties" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.tampabay.com/news/florida-politics/elections/2026/08/14/st-petersburg-mayor-charlie-crist-florida-ken-welch-duke-energy/" target="_blank">Tampa Bay Times reports</a>. </li></ul>Why it matters: The city&#x27;s next mayor could help decide who powers St. Petersburg for decades to come.

Inside the Florida property tax amendment's court-ordered rewrite

Amendment 3 would bring relief to homeowners' tax bills but would cost local governments billions.

The ballot measure that would drastically reduce property taxes in Florida has gotten its <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="court-ordered rewrite" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/miami/2026/08/04/florida-property-tax-referendum-ballot-language-rewrite-homestead-exemption" data-vars-content-id="eb34768d-ab10-4b09-9d76-1d5ea3f950c2" data-vars-headline="Inside the Florida property tax amendment&#x27;s court-ordered rewrite" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/miami/2026/08/04/florida-property-tax-referendum-ballot-language-rewrite-homestead-exemption" target="_self">court-ordered rewrite</a>.Why it matters: If approved by voters, Amendment 3 would bring relief to homeowners&#x27; tax bills — but would <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="cost local governments billions" data-vars-click-url="https://www.floridapolicy.org/posts/voter-guide-what-floridians-should-know-about-amendment-3" data-vars-content-id="eb34768d-ab10-4b09-9d76-1d5ea3f950c2" data-vars-headline="Inside the Florida property tax amendment&#x27;s court-ordered rewrite" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.floridapolicy.org/posts/voter-guide-what-floridians-should-know-about-amendment-3" target="_blank">cost local governments billions</a>.

Charlie Crist's no-show looms over St. Petersburg mayor forum

The event underscored just how messy the mayor's race has become.

<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="St. Petersburg mayoral" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/tampa-bay/2026/06/23/st-petersburg-mayor-election-forum-takeaways" data-vars-content-id="112d1803-c31f-48f8-b608-25519c4f322b" data-vars-headline="Charlie Crist&#x27;s no-show looms over St. Petersburg mayor forum" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/tampa-bay/2026/06/23/st-petersburg-mayor-election-forum-takeaways" target="_self">St. Petersburg mayoral</a> hopefuls found some common ground during a candidate forum this week when they seized on their opponent Charlie Crist&#x27;s absence to criticize him.Why it matters: The event underscored <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="just how messy" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/tampa-bay/2026/07/16/st-petersburg-mayor-race-charlie-crist-ken-welch-ad" data-vars-content-id="112d1803-c31f-48f8-b608-25519c4f322b" data-vars-headline="Charlie Crist&#x27;s no-show looms over St. Petersburg mayor forum" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/tampa-bay/2026/07/16/st-petersburg-mayor-race-charlie-crist-ken-welch-ad" target="_self">just how messy</a> the mayor&#x27;s race has become with three weeks still left to go until the Aug. 18 primary election.<ul><li>And that will likely only intensify in the lead-up to the Nov. 3 runoff that will pit the top two vote-getters against each other. </li></ul>

Florida's property tax amendment lacks champions

Don't expect Gov. Ron DeSantis to become its marquee messenger.

Opposition is mounting to the state&#x27;s <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="sweeping property tax overhaul" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/tampa-bay/2026/06/02/florida-puts-property-tax-overhaul-on-ballot-as-local-officials-sound-alarm" data-vars-content-id="9b71826c-7e25-4cc2-b445-8cff8268f988" data-vars-headline="Florida&#x27;s property tax amendment lacks champions" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/tampa-bay/2026/06/02/florida-puts-property-tax-overhaul-on-ballot-as-local-officials-sound-alarm" target="_self">sweeping property tax overhaul</a> — and its once-biggest champion is nowhere to be found.Why it matters: The constitutional amendment, if passed by 60% of voters, would leave some local governments <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="starved for revenue" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/hollywood/2026/06/25/property-tax-cut-could-cost-hollywood-services" data-vars-content-id="9b71826c-7e25-4cc2-b445-8cff8268f988" data-vars-headline="Florida&#x27;s property tax amendment lacks champions" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/hollywood/2026/06/25/property-tax-cut-could-cost-hollywood-services" target="_self">starved for revenue</a> as they scramble to maintain services and offset billions of dollars in losses.

Donalds towers over a sleepy Florida governor's race

Florida's race for governor has plenty of candidates but little competition.

Almost a month before the Aug. 18 primary, the race to be <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Florida&#x27;s next governor" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2025/07/01/byron-donalds-florida-governor-fundraising" data-vars-content-id="a18d9567-a82b-4e5c-85de-95dc801a1035" data-vars-headline="Donalds towers over a sleepy Florida governor&#x27;s race" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2025/07/01/byron-donalds-florida-governor-fundraising" target="_self">Florida&#x27;s next governor</a> is shaping up to be a dud.Why it matters: The contest to lead the nation&#x27;s third-most populous state is bloated with candidates who lack name recognition and front-runners whose <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="sizable polling leads" data-vars-click-url="https://www.realclearpolling.com/polls/governor/republican-primary/2026/florida?utm_source=chatgpt.com" data-vars-content-id="a18d9567-a82b-4e5c-85de-95dc801a1035" data-vars-headline="Donalds towers over a sleepy Florida governor&#x27;s race" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.realclearpolling.com/polls/governor/republican-primary/2026/florida?utm_source=chatgpt.com" target="_blank">sizable polling leads</a> have sapped much of its drama.

Hillsborough DOGE targets county's health care plan

The report says it identified more than $670 million in "potential waste."

Hillsborough County&#x27;s version of <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="DOGE" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/tampa-bay/2025/07/16/hillsborough-wants-to-doge-dozens-of-nonprofits" data-vars-content-id="98d953c1-35d4-4179-a6a6-c9a6da604b44" data-vars-headline="Hillsborough DOGE targets county&#x27;s health care plan" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/tampa-bay/2025/07/16/hillsborough-wants-to-doge-dozens-of-nonprofits" target="_self">DOGE</a> has published findings from its &quot;limited&quot; review of the county&#x27;s finances, identifying more than $670 million in what it deems &quot;potential waste.&quot;Why it matters: The <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="report" data-vars-click-url="https://hillsboroughdoge.com/" data-vars-content-id="98d953c1-35d4-4179-a6a6-c9a6da604b44" data-vars-headline="Hillsborough DOGE targets county&#x27;s health care plan" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://hillsboroughdoge.com/" target="_blank">report</a>, which isn&#x27;t a forensic or financial audit, arrives a week after <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="the county discussed" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/tampa-bay/2026/06/15/how-nixing-property-taxes-could-affect-hillsborough-county" data-vars-content-id="98d953c1-35d4-4179-a6a6-c9a6da604b44" data-vars-headline="Hillsborough DOGE targets county&#x27;s health care plan" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/tampa-bay/2026/06/15/how-nixing-property-taxes-could-affect-hillsborough-county" target="_self">the county discussed</a> how to offset the potential revenue loss from a constitutional amendment to overhaul Florida&#x27;s property tax system.

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Axios Latino

A bar chart that shows the cities with the largest homicide increases from Jan. 1 to June 30, 2026. Honolulu has the highest increase at 85.7%, followed by San Diego at 81.3% and Orlando at 66.7%. The smallest increase shown is Denver at 30%.

Politics 🇺🇸

Here's who advanced in key Hillsborough, Pinellas races

Welch, Crist on track for St. Pete Mayor runoff

3 races to watch in Hillsborough and Pinellas counties

Crist campaign gets boost from PACs with utility ties

Tampa among few major cities with rising homicides in 2026