Voters across The Laker/Lutz News coverage area demonstrated their enthusiasm in Election 2020 — casting their ballots through Vote By Mail or in person at early voting sites or in their precincts on Election Day.
Pasco County reported a turnout of 77.8% of its 389,317 registered voters, with a total of 303,214 ballots cast, according to unofficial voting results.
Hillsborough County reported a turnout of 76.45% of the county’s 934,346 registered voters, casting a total of 714,286 ballots.
These are unofficial tallies for both counties. The final result must include overseas ballots, provisional ballots and ballots that had signature issues that were cured — before they are certified, which is when they become official.
Visits by The Laker/Lutz News to polling locations during Early Voting and on Election Day revealed smooth operations at numerous sites across the newspaper’s coverage area in Lutz, Land O’ Lakes, Wesley Chapel and Zephyrhills.
Incumbents fared better in Pasco County than they did in Hillsborough County.
Pasco County voters gave Kurt Browning four more years as superintendent of Pasco County Schools. They also reelected Kathryn Starkey in District 1 and Jack Mariano in District 5, on the Pasco County Commission.
In Hillsborough County, voters reelected Lynn Gray for four more years in the District 7 seat on the Hillsborough County School Board, and elected Jessica Vaughn for the District 3 seat.
Voters rejected Tammy Shamburger’s bid for reelection in District 5, selecting Henry “Shake” Washington instead. They also turned down incumbent Steve Cona’s bid for reelection in District 1, choosing challenger Nadia Combs instead.
Other big decisions in Hillsborough, included the reelection of Sheriff Chad Chronister and Property Appraiser Bob “Coach” Henriquez.
Hillsborough voters also selected Nancy C. Millan as the county’s next tax collector.
Voters chose Harry Cohen in the District 1 race for Hillsborough County Commission; Gwen Myers for District 3, on the board; and Pat Kemp in District 6.
Incumbent Andrew Warren won another term in the race for State Attorney in the 13th Judicial Court.
In state legislative races, voters chose Danny Burgess to fill the vacancy in Senate District 20.
Amber Mariano won her re-election bid in House District 36, as did Ardian Zika in House District 37, and Randy Maggard in House District 38.
Statewide, voters narrowly supported an amendment to the Florida Constitution that will gradually raise the state’s minimum wage to $15 an hour.
They overwhelmingly favored an amendment allowing a property tax discount for spouses of deceased veterans who had suffered permanent, combat-related injuries.
They approved an amendment that gives people more time to transfer their accrued benefits of the Homestead Property taxes to another property, and they supported a requirement that all voters in Florida must be citizens.
But, they rejected proposed amendments that would have allowed all voters to vote for primary elections for state legislators, governor and cabinet, and they turned down a proposed amendment to require voters to approve proposed constitutional amendments twice before they could take effect.
Constitutional amendments require approval by 60% of the voters
In federal races, voters approved the reelection of U.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis for another term in Florida’s 12th congressional district.
In the presidential contest, Pasco County voters supported Donald J. Trump, with 59.38% of the vote, compared to 39.32% for Joe Biden.
Hillsborough County voters favored Biden, who received 52.69% of the vote, compared to 45.87% for Trump.
National news outlets have projected Joe Biden and Kamala Harris as the next president and vice president of the United States.
As of Nov. 9, President Donald J. Trump had not conceded, according to national news reports, and he intended to pursue court challenges.
The Associated Press reported that the Biden ticket received nearly 75.7 million votes; while Trump’s ticket secured nearly 71.1 million.
Biden’s ticket received the most-ever votes for a president, while Trump’s ticket received the second-highest, according to national news reports.
ELECTION RESULTS
National
President*
Joseph R. Biden: 75.7 million; 290 electoral votes
Donald J. Trump: 71.1 million; 214 electoral votes
* Results reported by the Associated Press; President Donald J. Trump had not conceded as of Nov. 9, according to national reports, and is challenging the results.
Pasco County
Pasco Superintendent of Schools
Kurt S. Browning: 64.54%
Cynthia Thompson: 35.46%
Pasco County Commission, District 1
Kathryn Starkey: 61.30%
Jessica Stempien: 38.70%
Pasco County Commission, District 5
Jack Mariano: 58.83%
Brandi Geoit: 34.46%
Victor Rodriguez: 6.71%
State Rep. District 36
Amber Mariano: 63.38%
Daniel Endonino: 36.62%
State Rep. District 37
Ardian Zika: 62.83%
Tammy Garcia: 37.17%
State Rep. District 38
Randy Maggard: 58.71%
Brian Staver: 41.29%
Hillsborough County results
Hillsborough County Sheriff
Chad Chronister: 54.83%
Gary Pruitt: 35.85%
Ron McMullen: 9.32%
Property Appraiser
D.C. Goutoufas: 43.50%
Bob “Coach” Henriquez: 56.50%
Tax Collector
TK Mathew: 45.22%
Nancy C. Millan: 54.78%
Hillsborough County Commission, District 1
Scott Levinson: 49.27%
Harry Cohen: 50.73%
Hillsborough County Commission, District 3
Maura Cruz Lanz, 27.66%
Gwen Myers, 72.34%
Hillsborough County Commission, District 6
Sandra L. Murman, 47.38%
Patricia “Pat” Kemp, 52.62%
Hillsborough County School Board, District 1
Nadia Combs: 63.91%
Steve Cona: 36.09%
Hillsborough County School Board, District 3
Mitch Thrower, 38.87%
Jessica Vaughn: 61.13%
Hillsborough County School Board, District 5
Tammy Shamburger, 44.64%
Henry “Shake” Washington: 55.36%
Hillsborough County School Board, District 7
Lynn Gray: 53.73%
Sally Harris: 46.27%
State Attorney, 13th Judicial Circuit
Mike Perotti: 46.64%
Andrew Warren: 53.36%
National, state results
President, vice president
Votes were still being counted in some states on Nov. 9, in the presidential election.
Hillsborough County: Donald J. Trump: 45.87%; Joseph R. Biden: 52.69%
Pasco County: Donald J. Trump, 59.38%: Joseph R. Biden, 39.32%
U.S. Congress, District 12
Multi-county results: Gus Michael Bilirakis: 62.89%; Kimberly Walker: 37.11%
Hillsborough results: Gus Michael Bilirakis: 63.48%; Kimberly Walker: 36.52
Pasco results: Gus Michael Bilirakis: 63.49%; Kimberly Walker: 36.51%
U.S. Senate District 20
Multi-county results: Danny Burgess: 54.84%; Kathy Lewis, 45.16%
Hillsborough County: Danny Burgess: 47.91%; Kathy Lewis: 52.09%
Pasco County: Danny Burgess: 59.21%; Kathy Lewis: 40.79%
State Rep. District 36
Amber Mariano: 63.38%
Daniel Endonino: 36.62%
State Rep. District 37
Ardian Zika: 62.83%
Tammy Garcia: 37.17%
State Rep. District 38
Randy Maggard: 58.71%
Brian Staver: 41.29%
Constitutional amendments (60% approval required to pass)
Amendment 1: Citizen requirement to vote in Florida
Statewide: Yes: 79.3%; No: 20.7%
Pasco: Yes: 84.86%; No: 15.14%
Hillsborough: Yes: 77.02%; No: 22.98%
Amendment 2: Raising Florida’s minimum wage
Statewide: Yes: 60.8%; No: 29.2%
Pasco: Yes: 55.79%; No: 44.21%
Hillsborough: Yes: 60.03%; No: 39.97%
Amendment 3: All voters vote in primary elections for state legislature, governor and cabinet
Statewide: Yes: 57.01%; No: 42.99%
Pasco: Yes, 60.59%; 39.41%
Hillsborough: Yes, 57.63%; No, 42.37%
Amendment 4: Voter approval of constitutional amendments
Statewide: Yes: 47.53%; No: 52.47%
Pasco: Yes: 50.76%; No: 49.24%
Hillsborough: Yes: 48.71%; No: 51.29%
Amendment 5: Limitation on Homestead Property Taxes, increased portability to transfer accrued benefit portability period
Statewide: Yes: 74.49%; No: 25.51%
Pasco: Yes: 76.48%; No: 23.52%
Hillsborough: Yes: 75.59%; No: 24.41%
Amendment 6: Ad valorem discount for spouses of certain deceased veterans who had permanent, combat related injury
Statewide: Yes: 89.7%; No: 10.27%
Pasco: Yes: 90.32%; No: 9.68%
Hillsborough: Yes: 88.17%; No: 11.83%
Sources: The Florida Division of Elections, Pasco County Supervisor of Elections and Hillsborough County Supervisor of Elections.
Published November 11, 2020
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