A quick snapshot of the election shows a few overlying themes: early voting broke records, races in many areas were too close to call at the end of Election Night and there appears to be a long wait ahead for final answers.
Supervisor of Elections Craig Latimer posted unofficial results for the 2020 General Election at VoteHillsborough.org. It’s a step many counties have yet to accomplish and it offers a precursory look at how local voters used their voice.
According to the Supervisor of Elections these results “do not include provisional ballots, ballots with signature issues that may be cured, or overseas ballots postmarked by Election Day (November 3) which may be received until ten days after the election. In accordance with Florida Statute, the unofficial results will be certified by November 7 after provisional ballots have been canvassed. The certification of Official Results is expected November 13. Results can be found at VoteHillsborough.org.”
These are the initial results that were released as of press time on Nov. 4.
President
In Hillsborough County there are 934,346 registered voters. Of those, 714,286 cast ballots, which resulted in a 76.45 percent voter turnout. According to the unofficial results, Hillsborough voters showed up for Joe Biden, who received 374,714 votes, or 52.69 percent of the votes. Donald Trump received 326,158 votes, or 45.87 percent of the votes. The next-closest candidate was Jo Jorgensen, who received 5,622 votes, or 0.79 percent of the total votes.
Representative
It appears Gus Michael Bilirakis (Rep) is the winner for Representative in Congressional District 12. Bilirakis received 5,549 votes, which was 63.48 percent of total voters. Kimberly Walker (Dem) received 3,192 votes, or 36.52 of the total. Longtime favorite candidate Kathy Castor (Dem) won 223,227 votes in her race for Representative in Congressional District 14, which brought her to 60.25 percent of the total. Christine Y. Quinn (Rep) had 147,276 votes cast, which was 39.75 percent of the total.
Scott Franklin (Rep) pulled slightly ahead of Alan Cohn (Dem) in the Representative in Congress District 15 race. Franklin received 99,545 votes (52.69 percent) while Cohn received 89,372 votes (47.31 percent). One of the tightest races in the county area was for Representative in Congress District 16. Vern Buchanan (Rep) went toe-to-toe with Margaret Good (Dem). Buchanan received 66,286 votes (51.96 percent) and Good received 61,282 votes (48.04 percent).
State Attorney
Andrew Warren (Dem) edged ahead of Mike Perotti (Rep) in the State Attorney, 13th Judicial Circuit race. Warren received 367,573 votes (53.36 percent) while Perotti received 321,344 votes (46.64 percent).
For the full list of unofficial results head to votehillsborough.org.
State Senator
For the State Senator District 19 race Darryl Ervin Rouson (Dem) won 121,052 votes (65.87 percent) while Christina Paylan (NPA) won 62,726 votes (34.13 percent). Kathy Lewis (Dem) pulled ahead of Danny Burgess (Rep) in the State Senator District 20 race. Lewis had 63,094 votes (52.09 percent) and Burgess had 58,024 votes (47.91 percent). In the State Senator District 21 race Jim Boyd (Rep) received 61,116 votes (59.80 percent) while Anthony “Tony” Eldon (Dem) received 41,083 votes (40.20 percent).
State Representative
Mike Beltran (Rep) was ahead in the State Representative District 57. Beltran had 66,900 votes (54.46 percent) and opponent Scott “Mr. H” Hottenstein (Dem) received 55,944 votes (45.54 percent). In District 58 Lawrence McClure (Rep) was ahead for State Representative with 40,743 votes (55.78 percent) with opponent Cleo L. “CL” Townsend Jr. (Dem) receiving 32,304 votes (44.22 percent).
In the State Representative District 59 race Andrew Learned (Dem) inched ahead with 45,479 votes (50.69 percent). Michael Owen (Rep) received 44,241 votes (49.31 percent). In District 60 Jackie Toledo (Rep) received 57,256 votes (54.33 percent) and Julie Jenkins (Dem) received 48,130 votes (45.67 percent).
The State Representative District 62 race had three contenders. Susan L. Valdes (Dem) was ahead with 38,198 votes (57.55 percent). Angel S. Urbina Capo (Rep) received 25,016 votes (37.69 percent). Laurie Rodriguez-Person (NPA) received 3,154 votes (4.75 percent). In the State Representative District 64 race Traci Koster (Rep) received 37,642 votes (53.36 percent) and Jessica Harrington (Dem) received 32,897 votes (46.64 percent).
Sheriff and Property Appraiser
Chad Chronister (Rep) will remain sheriff with 379,713 votes (54.83 percent). Gary Pruitt (Dem) had 248,259 votes (35.85 percent) and Ron McMullen (NPA) had 64,522 votes (9.32 percent). Bob “Coach” Henriquez (Dem) won the (Property Appraiser race with 386,781 votes (56.50 percent). D.C. Goutoufas (Rep) received 297,833 votes (43.50 percent).
Tax Collector
Nancy C. Millan (Dem) pulled ahead in the Tax Collector race with 375,633 votes (54.78 percent). TK Mathew (Rep) had 310,071 votes (45.22 percent).
Board of County Commissioners
District 1 was a very tight race with Harry Cohen (Dem) inching ahead with 91,018 votes (50.73 percent) and Scott Levinson (Rep) having 88,395 votes (49.27 percent). District 3 had Gwen Myers (Dem) winning in a landslide with 88,042 votes (72.34 percent) to Maura Cruz Lanz (Rep) who received 33,671 votes (27.66 percent). In District 6 Patricia “Pat” Kemp (Dem) beat Sandra L. Murman (Rep). Kemp had 358,623 votes (52.62 percent) and Murman had 322,965 votes (47.38 percent).
Other
Voters chose to retain Justice Carlos G. Muniz as Justice of the Supreme Court with a yes of
410,479 votes (65.67 percent). They also chose to retain Judge Drew Atkinson to the District Court Of Appeal with a yes of 418,520 votes (67.34 percent). Judge Morris Silberman was retained to the District Court of Appeal with a yes of 417,816 votes (67.49 percent). Judge Daniel H. Sleet was retained to the District Court of Appeal with 417,510 yes votes (67.53 percent). Judge Andrea Teves Smith was retained in the District Court of Appeal with 452,308 votes (73.17 percent).
Monique Scott received a slight majority of the votes for County Court Judge Group 7 with 336,780 votes (55.18 percent). Bill Yanger had 273,518 votes (44.82 percent).