FL Senate, House Primary Elections: Top Races In Tampa Region

TAMPA, FL — A crowded field of Florida House and Senate candidates were stumping for still-undecided voters Monday as Democrats battle to overcome the Legislature's Republican majority of 76 House members to the Democrats' 42 members and 23 senators to the Democrats' 16.

Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday.

Tampa Bay races attracting attention include the newly redrawn District 62 Florida House seat, which includes Brandon, Riverview and South St. Petersburg.

This race pits veteran politician and former state Rep. Wengay "Newt" Newton against current House District 70 state Rep. Michele K. Rayner and political newcomer Jesse Philippe, all running on the Democratic ticket.

A professional photographer by profession, Newton of St. Petersburg served on the St. Petersburg City Council before he was elected to service in the House representing District 70 from 2016 to 2020.

Rayner, also hailing from St. Petersburg, made history in 2020 when she was elected to the House District 70 seat as the first openly gay Black member of the Florida Legislature. Prior to her election to the House, Rayner was a well-known Pinellas County civil rights and social justice attorney.

Born to a single Haitian mother in North Miami, Philippe is a former Marine whose six years of service included a tour in Iraq. After serving in the military, he went back to school to earn his law degree and now has his own legal practice in St. Petersburg.

Other House seats up for grabs include the District 65 House seat currently held by current House speaker Chris Sprowls, R-Palm Harbor, who cannot run again due to term limits.

Republicans Karen Gonzalez Pittman, Jake Hoffman and Michael C. Minardi have thrown in their hats for the seat, which includes northern Pinellas County.

The winner will face the lone Democrat, Jen McDonald, running for the seat in the Nov. 8 general election.

Political watchers will also monitor the Senate races of incumbents District 23 Florida Sen. Danny Burgess and District 20 Sen. Jim Boyd, both facing fellow Republicans in the primary.

The newly redrawn District 20 includes Manatee and part of Hillsborough counties.

Boyd and Houman will face off in a universal election in which all voters can participate regardless of party because there is no Democratic candidate for the office.