America Amplified

There were several closely watched races across Hillsborough, Pinellas, Pasco, Hernando, Polk, Manatee and Sarasota counties.

GOP incumbent U.S. Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, who defeated Democrat Whitney Fox, said her first priority for her next term would be securing the southern U.S. border.

State Sen. Blaise Ingoglia, who first won the seat in 2022, is a former chair of the Republican Party of Florida. Meantime, U.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis earned another term in the U.S. House.

U.S. Rep. Laurel Lee kept her District 15 seat by defeating Democratic opponent Pat Kemp. Rep. Scott Franklin (District 18) and Rep. Daniel Webster (District 11) also were victorious.

It included victories by several Republican incumbents in the Tampa Bay area.

Despite concerns they would compete for voter approval, referendums to increase property taxes and renew the Community Investment Tax both passed and will benefit public schools.

Incumbent Republican Vern Buchanan will once again represent District 16 after defeating Democrat Jan Schneider.

Among other measures, Florida voters rejected ballot measures that would have enshrined abortion rights, legalized recreational marijuana, and established partisan school board elections.

More than half of Floridians voted to approve a proposal to allow abortions until fetal viability, but it wasn't enough to meet the 60% mark. That means the current six-week abortion ban remains in effect.

Warren, who was suspended by Gov. Ron DeSantis, lost a contentious race for state attorney to his appointed successor, Suzy Lopez.

Culture war issues ratcheted up tensions during the pandemic years, and Florida continues to lead the nation in book removals.

Republicans swept the races in Sarasota County, winning all the state representative, hospital board and county commission seats.