The 2020 elections are still nearly two years away, but races continue to take shape in the Tampa Bay region.
Rep. Jackie Toledo, R-Tampa, and Rep. Wengay Newton, D-St. Petersburg, have opened campaign accounts in recent days to defend their seats again in 2020, according to the state Division of Elections website.
Toledo captured nearly 52.3 percent of the vote in the Nov. 6 election as she won a second term in Hillsborough County’s District 60. Meanwhile, Newton defeated two challengers in the Aug. 28 Democratic primary and did not face a general-election opponent in House District 70, which is made up of parts of Hillsborough, Manatee, Pinellas and Sarasota counties.
Also in recent days, Odessa Democrat Jessica Renee Harrington opened an account to run in 2020 in House District 64, which is held by Rep. James Grant, R-Tampa, and includes parts of Hillsborough and Pinellas counties.
Outside of the Tampa Bay area, Miami Gardens Democrat Christopher Benjamin has opened a campaign account to run in 2020 for what will be an open seat in Miami-Dade County’s House District 107. Rep. Barbara Watson, D-Miami Gardens, will not be able to run again in District 107 because of term limits.
Miami Democrat Hubert Campbell earlier opened an account to run for the seat.
