Republican congressman Greg Steube of Sarasota easily won his reelection bid Tuesday as county voters approved a renewal of a tax to fund schools for another five years.
The 46-year-old Steube has represented Florida’s 17th House district — covering Sarasota, Charlotte and parts of Lee counties — in the U.S. House since 2019.
He’s an Army veteran and law school graduate who advocates for seniors, farmers and recently urged the Army Corps of Engineers to dredge Sarasota Bay to keep open a coastal inlet called Midnight Pass.
Steube defeated Democratic Manny Lopez with 61% of the vote.
RELATED: How the Tampa Bay area voted in key state local, state races
RELATED: How Florida voted on constitutional amendment proposals
RELATED: How Florida voted on the U.S. State and House seats
RELATED: Trump wins White House. How Florida voted for president
School referendum
Sarasota County voters approved the tax referendum to secure funding for schools.
Eighty-four percent of voters agreed to renew a millage surtax from 2026 to 2030, expected to generate more than $100 million in revenue annually.
“I want to thank the community for their continued support in voting to maintain the millage referendum," said Superintendent Terry Connor.
"This funding, in place for over 22 years, has enabled the school district to recruit and retain high-quality educators, enhance technology, improve school safety and support the arts, among other key priorities."
Loading...
He described the funding as "critical" and said it will remain in effect through June 30, 2030.
The funding is also shared with charter schools proportionate with student enrollment. Property owners are taxed $1 for every $1,000 of property owned.
State House
In other races, Republican incumbent Rep. Fiona McFarland defeated teacher Derek Reich with 56% of the vote in state House District 73.
Reich, who teaches economics and government at Sarasota High School, sought to win a legislative seat and previously faced off against McFarland in 2022.
In District 74, Republican James Buchanan of Venice won reelection to a fourth and final term over Democrat Nancy Simpson, an urban planning consultant.
Two first-time candidates faced off for District 75’s seat, and Republican Danny Nix came away the victor. The Realtor’s campaign received contributions from developers Pat Neal and Carlos Beruff.
Nix’s opponent, Tony Dunbar, a lawyer who worked in New Orleans and has written more than a dozen mystery novels, moved to Florida to retire and took just 36% of the vote.
District 75 includes southern Sarasota County and northeast Charlotte County, including Englewood, Manasota Key and Port Charlotte.
In District 76, which was redrawn before this year’s election, Republican Vanessa Oliver edged retired TV journalist Jim Blue. District 76 includes North Fort Myers, the eastern part of Charlotte County, and all of DeSoto County.
Oliver, a lawyer who now runs a private ambulance transport company, comes from a political family. Her father is state Rep. Michael Grant, who's retiring this year in District 75.
District 73 - Sarasota
McFarland, Fiona (REP) * Incumbent - 56.35%
Reich, Derek (DEM) - 43.65%
District 74 - Sarasota
Buchanan, James (REP) * Incumbent - 64.72%
Simpson, Nancy M.H. (DEM) - 35.28%
District 75 - Sarasota
Dunbar, Tony (DEM) - 65.61%
Nix, Danny (REP) - 34.39%
District 76 - Sarasota
Oliver, Vanessa (REP) - 70.62%
Blue, Jim (DEM) - 29.38%
