Politics

Vote 2024

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2024 elections: The list of candidates and races across the greater Tampa Bay region

WUSF | By Camila Gomez

Published October 19, 2024 at 11:00 AM EDT

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With Election Day nearing, here's a list of the candidates that will be on your ballot.

Though many voters’ eyes are fixed on the presidential race, there are also important local and state contests shaping up around the Tampa Bay area.

In District 13, first-term Congresswoman Anna Paulina Luna is set to face off against Democrat Whitney Fox.

Luna ran unopposed in the Republican primary this summer and is backed by former President Donald Trump.

Fox defeated fellow Democrats Sabrina Busbar, Liz Dahan, John William Liccione and Mark Weinkrantz in the primary.

Prior to running for the House seat, Fox was the director of communications at the Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority. She’s backed by many Democratic legislators in the area, including Kathy Castor and Debbie Mucarsel-Powell.

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Tony D'Arrigo is also a write-in candidate.

Across the bay in District 14, incumbent Kathy Castor will compete against three candidates.

Challenging the Democrat are Republican Robert “Rocky” Rochford, Libertarian Nathaniel T. Snyder and no-party affiliate Christopher Bradley.

Castor has been in office for 11 years. The district includes northeast Hillsborough County and parts of Pasco and Polk counties

In District 15, incumbent Republican Laurel Lee is running against Democrat Pat Kemp, the Hillsborough County Commissioner for District 6.

Lee, who served as Florida’s Secretary of State, won her primary with over 70% of the vote. She’s backed by Trump, Gov. Ron DeSantis, and U.S. Senators Marco Rubio and Rick Scott.

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Kemp ran unopposed in the primaries. She met with President Joe Biden when he visited St. Pete Beach in the aftermath of Hurricane Milton.

Further south, incumbent Republican Vern Buchanan is challenged by Jan Schneider in District 16. Buchanan was elected in 2013 and his son, James Buchanan, is also running for re-election in District 74 for the State House seat.

Schneider ran against Buchanan in the 2022 midterms but lost by 25%. She has not served in public office before.

Check out WUSF’s voter guide for more information on how candidates stand on the issues..

Election Day is Nov. 5. You can still request a mail-in ballot until Oct. 24 and early voting starts on Oct. 21.

You can read more about early voting and polling locations here.

U.S. House of Representatives (In districts serving the greater Tampa Bay and Sarasota area)