Tampa Election Results 2026: Hillsborough County Commission, School Board Races [LIVE UPDATES]

HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, FL — Polls have closed on Election Day across Hillsborough County, though anyone still in line at the time of their 7 p.m. closure will still be allowed to cast a ballot.

Voters in the Tampa area had a say in governor, U.S. Senate and U.S. House of Representatives, and state legislative races, along with local contests, in the Nov. 3 midterm election.

They also made decisions on state constitutional amendments and county charter referendums on Tuesday.

In Hillsborough County, the local races of note included the Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioners and the Hillsborough County Public Schools Board.

Find the latest vote tally updates below:

(Note: Because the state has two time zones, preliminary election night results won’t be released until 8 p.m. EST. Be sure to check back here and refresh this page for the latest as results begin to flow in.)

Hillsborough County Races

County Commission, District 1

County Commission, District 3

County Commission, District 5

County Commission, District 7

School Board, District 1

School Board, District 6

Check back here with Patch for local results as they’re reported throughout the night.

Most Florida polling places were open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. EST on Election Day, while some counties in the Panhandle are open until 8 p.m. EST because they're in the Central Time Zone. Expect results to start being released at 8 p.m.

Other Issues And Candidates

Hillsborough County Referendums

No. 1 — Providing for an Elected, Rather Than an Appointed, Superintendent of Schools

Shall Chapter 2026-196, Laws of Florida, which provides that the Superintendent of Schools for Hillsborough County Public Schools shall no longer be appointed by the School Board, but shall be elected in a partisan election for a term of four years, beginning with the 2028 general election, become effective?

Choices:

• Yes
• No

No. 2 — Amending the County Charter to Increase Number of County Commissioners, All Elected From Single-Member Districts

Shall the Hillsborough County Charter be amended to increase the number of members of the Board of County Commissioners from seven to nine members, with an increase to 11 members once the county has a population of at least 2.5 million, and require all county commissioners to be elected to office from single-member districts by electors residing in each of those districts only?

Choices:

• Yes
• No

No. 3 — One-Half Cent Sales Surtax for Public School Air Conditioning and Capital Improvements

Shall a one-half-cent school capital outlay sales surtax be continued for a 10-year levy by the School Board of Hillsborough County beginning Jan. 1, 2029, to fund air conditioning replacement and repairs, capital improvements and construction of other schools, building enhancements for school security and other maintenance needs?

Choices:

• Yes
• No

Country Run Special Tax District — Increase Special Assessment From $50 to $75

In order to continue existing and future maintenance needs, shall the Board of Trustees of the Country Run Special Tax District increase the future assessed tax from $50 to $75 and authorize, at its discretion, increases of $25 per year in subsequent years, not to exceed $200?

Choices:

• Yes
• No

Other Hillsborough County Races

In addition to the county commission and school board contests, some Hillsborough County voters will also decide municipal and special district races, depending on where they live.

Temple Terrace City Council (Vote for no more than three)

• Alison McGillivray Fernandez
• Ryan Gessman
• Karen Michalski
• Eugene Papantonious
• Amber Treat

Community Development Districts (CDD)

The following community development district races will also appear on some Hillsborough County ballots:

• Avelar Creek CDD, Seat 3: Frank B. Franco and Sebastian Johnson.
• Avelar Creek CDD, Seat 4: Julie Campbell and Edwin Guillot.
• Cory Lakes CDD, Seat 5: Pallu Gupta and Cynthia McIntyre.
• Covington Park CDD, Seat 2: Stephen J. Brown and Rick L. Reidt.
• Diamond Hill CDD, Seat 2: Linda L. Dunn and John I. Pollard.
• Fishhawk Ranch CDD, Seat 4: India Crawford and Dennis Moore.
• Harbor Bay CDD, Seat 2: Daniel J. Leventry and John Vollbrecht.
• Hidden Creek CDD, Seat 2: Zoe Anene and Barbara A. Kargol.
• Hidden Creek CDD, Seat 5: Harry Payton Gibson, Thomas H. Marrone and Elizabeth "Liz" Santeramo.
• K-Bar Ranch II CDD, Seat 4: Kamolika Batabyal and Michele Emery.
• Lake St. Charles CDD, Seat 1: Ginny Gianakos, Stephanie Hinson and Ana Loney.
• Lake St. Charles CDD, Seat 2: Yvonne Brown, Barbara A. Kirby and Toni Kristina Rhodus.
• River Bend CDD, Seat 3: Lance C. Belka and Shannell McMiller Brown.
• Rivercrest CDD, Seat 1: Robert F. Fuhrmeister IV and Joseph A. McGee Sr.
• Shell Point CDD, Seat 2: Jayce E. Donley and Brittany Schwartznauer.
• South Fork III CDD, Seat 3: Scott Corder and Dustin Heflin.
• South Fork III CDD, Seat 5: Darryl F. Drew and Jessica Ocasio.
• Southshore Bay CDD, Seat 2: Diane C. Anderson and Kathleen Robinson.
• Spring Lake CDD, Seat 1: Danny R. Donegan Jr. and Kenneth A. Hoefle.
• Triple Creek CDD, Seat 1: Marc Carlton and Mirtha Amalia Moreno.
• Triple Creek CDD, Seat 2: David Galloway, Shannon Lewis and Jodi Steel.
• Waterleaf CDD, Seat 2: Alex Auld and Palmer Johnson.
• Waterleaf CDD, Seat 3: Nichole Ann Hawkins and Matthew Lenard.

Florida Constitutional Amendments

• Amendment 1 — Budget Stabilization Fund: Would raise the fund’s maximum balance from 10% to 25% of general revenue collections, require annual transfers under specified conditions and allow withdrawals for critical state needs.
• Amendment 2 — Agricultural Property Tax Exemption: Would exempt qualifying tangible personal property used for agricultural production or agritourism on agricultural land, beginning with the 2027 tax year.
• Amendment 3 — Property Taxes: Would increase the homestead exemption for non-school taxes to $150,000 in 2027 and $250,000 in 2028, with inflation adjustments afterward; establish a delayed increase for certain new residents; allow further local increases; reduce the annual assessment-growth cap for non-homestead property from 10% to 5%; and restrict how local governments use property tax revenue, with exceptions.

Voters could select Yes or No on each of these local referendums and constitutional amendments

Follow along with Patch throughout the night on the biggest issues around town.