Polls Closing Soon In Hillsborough County 2026 Primary Election: Candidates, How To Vote

HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, FL — Voters in Tampa and across Hillsborough County have just a few more hours to get to the polls to cast their ballot in the 2026 primary elections.

Polling locations, which opened at 7 a.m., will be open until 7 p.m. ET.

After the polls close, Patch will publish the results as they are reported by the Manatee County Supervisor of Elections office. Check back to this story for up-to-date results.

Though the polls close at 7 p.m., those already in line at the time will be allowed to vote. Those who arrive at their polling place after 7 p.m. will be turned away.

If you’re not sure where to vote, you can look up your polling station on the Hillsborough County Supervisor of Elections website.

Be sure to bring a photo ID with you if you vote in person.

Candidates

Hillsborough County voters will have a say in a number of races, including Democratic and Republican nominees for governor, U.S. Senate and U.S. House of Representatives, and state legislative races in Tuesday’s primary election.

They’ll also make decisions in local contests, including county commission and school board races.

While some races might be decided Tuesday, many candidates will move on to the Nov. 3 general election.

A sample ballot for the primary can be found here.

The following candidates are on the ballot Tuesday:

Democrats Only:

U.S. Senator

• Angie Nixon (DEM)
• Alexander Vindman (DEM)

Representative in Congress - District 12

• Darren McAuley (DEM)
• Kimberly Overman (DEM)

Representative in Congress - District 15

• Christopher Irizarry (DEM)
• Robert People (DEM)

Governor

• Evelyn Castillo-Bach (DEM)
• Thomas Eloy Fernandez (DEM)
• Dayna Marie Foster (DEM)
• David Jolly (DEM)
• Dotie Joseph (DEM)
• Stephann Norman (DEM)

Chief Financial Officer

• Earle Ford (DEM)
• Annette Taddei (DEM)

Commissioner of Agriculture

• Joey Mendoza Atkins (DEM)
• Donald A. “Don” Prichard (DEM)

State Senator - District 20

• Gerald Baldi (DEM)
• John Houman (DEM)

State Representative - District 64

• John Rodriguez (DEM)
• Luis Salazar (DEM)
• Mike Suarez (DEM)

Board of County Commissioners - District 3

• Twanda E. Bradley (DEM)
• Gwen Myers (DEM)

Board of County Commissioners - District 7

• Aileen Rodriguez (DEM)
• Cindy Stuart (DEM)

Republicans Only:

U.S. Senator

• Chris Gleason (REP)
• Ashley Moody (REP)
• Neelam Taneja Perry (REP)
• Ernest “Ernie” Rivera (REP)

Representative in Congress - District 14

• Mike Beltran (REP)
• Michael Marcel (REP)
• John Peters (REP)
• Robert “Rocky” Rochford (REP)
• Gavriel E. Soriano (REP)
• Kevin M. Steele (REP)
• Ergin “Batman” Tek (REP)
• Bea Valenti (REP)

Governor

• Jay Collins (REP)
• Byron Donalds (REP)
• James Fishback (REP)
• Jim Holcomb (REP)
• Arthur Joseph McCaffrey (REP)
• Daniel Nokovich (REP)
• Paul Renner (REP)
• Rachel Rodriguez (REP)
• James W. Shaw (REP)
• Caneste Succe (REP)
• Bobby Williams (REP)

Chief Financial Officer

• Frank William Collige (REP)
• Blaise Ingoglia (REP)

Commissioner of Agriculture

• Wilton Simpson (REP)
• Matt Taylor (REP)

State Representative - District 64

• Amaro Lionheart (REP)
• Angel Ramos (REP)
• Dan Weldon (REP)

Board of County Commissioners - District 5

• Donna Cameron Cepeda (REP)
• Stacy Hahn (REP)

Nonpartisan & Municipal Ballot

State Senator - District 16

• Fentrice Driskell (DEM)
• Michele K. Raynor (DEM)

State Representative - District 62

• Kyandra Darling (DEM)
• Wengay “Newt” Newton (DEM)

State Representative - District 63

• Jacqueline Coffie-Leeks (DEM)
• Robin L. Lockett (DEM)
• Conrad Schupay (DEM)

13th Judicial Circuit - Group 7

• Luis “Louie” Aguila
• Sara Peacock

13th Judicial Circuit - Group 13

• Nina McGucken Alvarez
• Jim Wimsatt

Hillsborough County School Board - District 2

• Brittany Lyssy
• Daniela Simic
• Chris Taylor

Hillsborough County School Board - District 6

• Kenneth “Ken” Gay
• Karen Perez
• Sally Harris “Ms. Sally” Williamson

Referendums

• Referendum to increase the maximum tax of the Country Place Special Dependent Tax District
• Referendum to increase the maximum tax of the East Lake Park Special Dependent Tax District
• Referendum to increase the maximum tax of North Lakes Special Dependent Tax District
• General Obligation Bond reference for Temple Terrace Public Safety Complex with police and fire stations

How to Vote in Hillsborough County

Polling places are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Tuesday. If you are in line at 7 p.m., you will be allowed to vote, but if you arrive at the polling place after 7 p.m., you will not be allowed to vote.

In order to cast your ballot in the 2024 primary election, you’ll need to bring a valid and current photo and signature ID to your polling station.

Acceptable forms of ID in Florida include:

• Florida driver license
• Florida ID card (issued by the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles)
• U.S. passport
• Debit or credit card
• Military ID
• Student ID
• Retirement center ID
• Neighborhood association ID
• Public assistance ID
• Veteran health ID (issued by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs)
• Concealed weapon license (issued pursuant to F.S. 790.06)
• Employee ID card issued by any branch, department, agency or entity of the federal government, the state, a county, or a municipality.

If your photo ID doesn't contain your signature, an additional ID with your signature is required.

Without proper identification, you may still vote with a provisional ballot, which will later be evaluated by a canvassing board for eligibility.

Voters are welcome to bring a sample ballot to the polling place marked with their choices so there are no delays in voting.

When you arrive at the polls:

1. Check in with your valid and current photo and signature ID.
2. Receive your paper ballot and proceed to a privacy booth.
3. Using the black pen provided, completely fill in the oval next to each of your selections.
4. Review your ballot. If you wish to make changes, request another ballot.
5. If you have any questions, ask a poll worker before you insert the ballot in the scanner. Once a ballot has been accepted, it cannot be retrieved.