Some races remained tight until all mail-in ballots were counted.
Both Florida and Hillsborough County went red in the 2016 election.
The state’s 29 electoral college votes went to President-Elect Donald Trump and incumbent Marco Rubio (R) was re-elected for another term in the United States Senate.
Hillsborough County similarly reinstated its Republican leaders. On the local level, United States Congressman Rep. Dennis Ross, District 15, was re-elected. In the House of Representatives, incumbent Rep. Dan Raulerson also was re-elected.
Ross took to Twitter to celebrate his re-election, congratulating his fellow Republicans.
“Thank you (District 15) for your support and confidence,” he wrote. “It’s a new day in America! Congratulations to Donald Trump and Mike Pence! Let’s get to work!”
Other parties, such as the race for State Attorney between incumbent Mark Ober and challenger and political newcomer Andrew Warren, remained close until the end. The Hillsborough County Supervisor of Elections office reported that Warren won by just 4,719 votes.
Ober addressed supporters at a watch party Tuesday, Nov. 8, at Pepin Hospitality.
“I am so honored that you would be here with me tonight,” Ober said. “I cannot thank you enough. What a blessing we have in this nation … to vote. For each and every one of you that have stood beside me, God bless you. I’m so honored to stand shoulder to shoulder with you and the work you have done for this community.”
Voters in Hillsborough County cast 605,529 ballots total, making up 71.25% of the county’s 849,843 registered voters.
Amendments needed 60% approval ratings to pass. Amendments 2, 3 and 5 passed. Amendment 1, related to solar energy, was defeated at the state level.
Results
United States Senator
*Marco Rubio (R) Total Votes Percent of Votes
Hillsborough County 282,749 48.09%
Statewide 4,821,997 52.02%
Patrick Murphy (D) Total Votes Percent of Votes
Hillsborough County 279,848 47.59%
Statewide 4,105,164 44.28%
Representative in Congress, District 15
*Dennis A. Ross (R) Total Votes Percent of Votes
Hillsborough County 87,822 55.29%
Statewide 182,498 57.49%
Jim Lange (D) Total Votes Percent of Votes
Hillsborough County 71,022 44.71%
Statewide 134,945 42.51%
State Attorney
13th Judicial Circuit Total Votes Percent of Votes
Mark Ober (R) 282,826 49.59%
*Andrew Warren (D) 287,545 50.41%
Florida House State Representative
District 58 Total Votes Percent of Votes
*Daniel D. Raulerson (R) 36,615 58.55%
Jose N. Vazquez Figueroa (D) 25,918 41.45%
Clerk of Circuit Court And Comptroller
Total Votes Percent of Votes
Eric Seidel (R) 265,062 46.64%
*Pat Frank (D) 303,271 53.36%
Property Appraiser
Choice Total Votes Percent of Votes
Todd Jones (R) 243,003 43.11%
*Bob Henriquez (D) 320,721 56.89%
Board of County Commissioners
District 6 Total Votes Percent of Votes
Tim Schock (R) 250,116 44.45%
*Pat Kemp (D) 312,597 55.55%
Retention of Supreme Court Justices
Justice Charles T. Canady Total Votes Percent of Votes
*Yes 347,469 67.68%
No 165,953 32.32%
Justice Jorge Labarga Total Votes Percent of Votes
*Yes 336,691 66.00%
No 173,481 34.00%
Justice Ricky L. Polston Total Votes Percent of Votes
*Yes 342,104 67.40%
No 165,456 32.60%
Retention of District Court of Appeal
John Badalamenti Total Votes Percent of Votes
*Yes 344,636 68.48%
No 158,618 31.52%
Marva L. Crenshaw Total Votes Percent of Votes
*Yes 346,756 69.17%
No 154,589 30.83%
Patricia J. Kelly Total Votes Percent of Votes
*Yes 360,159 72.18%
No 138,780 27.82%
Nelly N. Khouzam Total Votes Percent of Votes
*Yes 332,861 67.58%
No 159,666 32.42%
Matt Lucas Total Votes Percent of Votes
*Yes 343,706 70.12%
No 146,489 29.88%
Robert Morris Total Votes Percent of Votes
*Yes 333,963 68.30%
No 154,973 31.70%
Steven Travis Northcutt Total Votes Percent of Votes
*Yes 333,694 68.26%
No 155,161 31.74%
Samuel Salario Jr. Total Votes Percent of Votes
*Yes 340,861 69.74%
No 147,923 30.26%
Craig C. Villanti Total Votes Percent of Votes
*Yes 336,533 68.95%
No 151,517 31.05%
Douglas Alan Wallace Total Votes Percent of Votes
*Yes 338,540 69.46%
No 148,831 30.54%
Circuit Judge
13th Judicial Circuit Group 24 Total Votes Percent of Votes
Gary Dolgin 191,179 39.72%
*Melissa Polo 290,138 60.28%
School Board Member
District 7 Total Votes Percent of Votes
*Lynn Gray 236,724 50.13%
Cathy James 235,519 49.87%
Amendments
Amendment 1: Solar
Hillsborough County Total Votes Percent of Votes
Yes 263,597 46.17%
*No 307,285 53.83%
Statewide Yes 4,529,894 50.77%
Amendment 2: Medical Marijuana
Hillsborough County Total Votes Percent of Votes
*Yes 427,552 72.60%
No 161,403 27.40%
Statewide Yes 6,473,649 71.27%
Amendment 3
Hillsborough County Total Votes Percent of Votes
*Yes 465,158 81.09%
No 108,473 18.91%
Statewide Yes 7,447,709 83.77%
Amendment 5
Hillsborough County Total Votes Percent of Votes
*Yes 439,081 77.38%
No 128,319 22.62%
Statewide Yes 6,848,691 78.29%
*denotes winner
Contact Emily Topper at etopper@plantcityobserver.com.
