Florida

Florida Primary races to watch in Tampa Bay

Published

1 year ago

August 20, 2024

Florida Primary races to watch in Tampa Bay

TAMPA, Fla. — Tuesday is Primary Day in Florida, and we are following a number of races locally and statewide.

Hillsborough County Supervisor of Elections Craig Latimer says the early and mail-in vote so far is on pace with the 2020 primary. But he says unlike four years ago, Tuesday could decide several non-party races that will appear on both Republican and Democratic registered voter ballots.

“This primary election, we are going to choose a public defender, we are going to choose at least two judges and we have the possibility of choosing four school board members at this primary election,” said Latimer. “So if you think, ‘I’ll just wait around to the general and vote on these, you are going to miss.’”

Polls open at 7 a.m. and close at 7 p.m.

Spectrum News will have team coverage of the vote count as it happens.

Below are a number of races to watch:

Florida Senate Democratic Primary

Who will face Sen. Rick Scott in November? Debbie Mucarsel-Powell is running against former attorney Brian Rush, Navy veteran Stanley Campbell and Rod Joseph, an Army veteran.

Mucarsel-Powell appears to have the most support, even speaking during a recent Joe Biden visit to Tampa before he dropped out of the race.

Scott also faces two opponents Tuesday, but both he and Mucarsel-Powell are expected to score easy wins.

Congressional District 13 Democratic Primary

Candidates for U.S. House District 13 gathered for a community conversation about the economy, abortion, Social Security, immigration and national security — hosted by Spectrum Bay News 9 anchor Holly Gregory and Tampa Bay Times political reporter Kirby Wilson.

The candidates are vying to compete in November against Republican Anna Paulina Luna.

Hillsborough State Attorney Democratic Primary

For Hillsborough County District Attorney, Suzy Lopez is running to retain her seat.

She was appointed by Gov. Ron DeSantis after the governor fired Andrew Warren in 2022.

Warren is running against Lopez to win his job back.

Also running against Lopez and Warren is Elizabeth Strauss, a third generation trial attorney from Tampa.

Hillsborough School Board District 1

Incumbent Nadia Combs, a former Hillsborough public school teacher, is opposed by Layla Collins and Julie Magill. Collins cites her volunteer activity and substitute teaching when called open. Magill was born and reared in Tampa Bay.

The candidates recently answered a number of questions posted by Spectrum Bay News 9. You can read the questions and answers here.

Hillsborough School Board District 3

The incumbent, Jessica Vaughn was elected to the board, representing District 3, in 2020. Her opponent Tuesday, Myosha Powell, is originally from New York and moved to Tampa in 2005.

The candidates recently answered a number of questions posted by Spectrum Bay News 9. You can read the questions and answers here.

Hillsborough County Commission District 4

Christine Miller is the Republican incumbent and will be opposed Tuesday by Michael Owen and Cody Powell.

Running for the Democratic nomination are Jonathon T. Chavez and Nicole Payne.

Congressional District 14 Republican Primary

The Democratic primary election was canceled. Incumbent Kathy Castor advanced from the Democratic primary for U.S. House Florida District 14.

Her November opponent will be determined Tuesday. Ehsan Joarder, Neelam Perry, John Peters and Robert Rochford are running in the Republican primary.

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Florida

Coast Guard rescues eight boaters 35 miles off Florida coast in disabled boat

Published

15 hours ago

November 16, 2025

Press Room

Coast Guard rescues eight boaters 35 miles off Florida coast in disabled boat

VENICE, Fla. (CBS12) — A Coast Guard boat crew rescued eight boaters on Saturday after their 26-foot boat broke down 35 miles off the Venice Inlet.

At 9:30 p.m., the US Coast Guard (USCG) says an Air Station Miami aircrew located the disabled vessel in two to three foot seas and sent a boat crew to the boat’s location.

The boat was reported overdue by an officer with the Venice Police Department hours earlier at 1:44 p.m., per USCG.

See also: Florida deputy rushes into blazing trailer to pull residents to safety

The Coast Guard says all eight boaters were brought back to the boat ramp uninjured.

“Before going out on the water, make sure you tell someone where you are going and when you will be back,” said Petty Officer 2nd Class Tyler Beasley, a Station Cortez boarding officer. “We recommend being as specific as possible so rescue crews have a reliable place to start searching in case of emergency. Boaters should always have Coast Guard-approved life jackets, VHF radio, signaling devices, and an emergency position locator beacon or personal locator beacon.”

USCG also highlighted the importance of mariners taking a safety course before going on the water.

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Florida

Ole Miss football fans chant, ‘We want Lane’ as Rebels defeat Florida

Published

1 day ago

November 15, 2025

Press Room

Ole Miss football fans chant, ‘We want Lane’ as Rebels defeat Florida

Ole Miss football took home a win in the “Lane Kiffin Bowl” in Week 12 with a 34-24 come-from-behind win vs. Florida.

Just as the Rebels closed off their 10th win of the season, moving one step closer to appearing in the College Football Playoff for the first time in program history, Ole Miss fans at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium made one thing clear to the Rebels brass and Kiffin: They want Lane.

As captured by the ESPN broadcast, “We want Lane” chants broke out in the Ole Miss student section after Kiffin has been linked to the Florida open head coach vacancy, on top of numerous other Power Four conference openings. It appeared not to faze him, as he remained locked in on the final 60 seconds of the game:

Given what he has done in seven seasons at Ole Miss, Kiffin has become a regular on coaching hot boards as positions become available across college football.

On top of his ties to the state of Florida, former Gators coach Steve Spurrier, who told USA TODAY Sports’ Blake Toppmeyer last month that he is a fan of Kiffin and thinks he is a “very good coach.”

“I wanted to be Steve Spurrier,” Kiffin said during a recent appearance on the “Pardon My Take” podcast. “When I watched him and his offenses in the visor and kind of the way he’d throw jabs at other coaches and team and stuff, I was like, Steve Spurrier is the man. That’s what I want to be.”

Kiffin himself has talked at length about his name being tossed around in the coaching carousel, including saying on an appearance on ESPN’s “The Pat McAfee Show” that he will never “make a decision based on money” and that he hasn’t made one based on money in his coaching career.

The win over Florida moved Ole Miss’ record to 54-19 overall under Kiffin.

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Florida High QB Jayme Miller’s breakout season continues in playoff debut vs Baldwin

Published

2 days ago

November 15, 2025

Press Room

Florida High QB Jayme Miller’s breakout season continues in playoff debut vs Baldwin

Sophomore quarterback Jayme Miller led Florida High to a 42-31 playoff victory over Baldwin with four touchdowns.
The win snapped a four-game losing streak for the Seminoles, who are now 5-6 on the season.
Florida High advanced to the second round of the FHSAA 2A state tournament.
The Seminoles will next face the Bolles Bulldogs in Jacksonville.

He’s just a sophomore.

But that doesn’t matter.

Florida High quarterback Jayme Miller has balled out in the biggest moments of his football career thus far.

In his playoff debut, the 16-year-old diced up the Baldwin Indians’ defense with four touchdowns in the FHSAA Class 2A first round on Friday, Nov. 14.

“There were definitely nerves,” said Miller, who got his first start in August’s season opener versus Godby.

“I was a little nervous. Not as hype and energetic. Once we got things going and got momentum, I was more excited and energized.”

Behind Miller’s scores, the fourth-seed Seminoles (5-6) prevailed over the fifth-seed Baldwin (7-4) 42-31 at Mike Hickman Stadium in Tallahassee’s Southwood area. The Seminoles are a perfect 4-0 at home this season.

Miller tossed three touchdown passes, one apiece to Jaylan Lurry, Gabriel Miley, and Derrick Caldwell, and rushed 25 yards to the endzone.

Entering Friday, the young signal caller had completed 148 passes on 210 attempts for 2,122 passing yards, 19 passing touchdowns against five interceptions in 10 games. He added 37 carries for 182 rushing yards and four touchdowns on the ground.

“Coming out in the first half, there were a bunch of mistakes ― mental mistakes. And I came out in the second half and responded and played pretty well,” Miller recapped his performance versus Baldwin.

Florida High ends four-game losing streak in first-round triumph vs Baldwin

The Seminoles’ playoff opening victory over Baldwin ended a four-game losing streak.

Florida High hadn’t won a game since Oct. 3, a 40-38 triumph over Chiles.

The four-game skid saw Florida High fall by two or more possessions in three of those games.

“We’ve had to play through adversity all year long ― whether it’s been injuries and things that we couldn’t control,” Florida High head coach Jarrod Hickman told the Tallahassee Democrat. “The schedule’s been so challenging.”

It looked like the Seminoles turned a corner on Friday as they outscored Baldwin 28-21 in the second half. Florida High running back Mike Jones had two explosive touchdown rushes to put the game on ice.

“I’m proud of this group,” Hickman said. “It’s been the second half of some football games that we’ve had chances to win. And I certainly thought we came out and won the second half tonight, and that really helped us.”

Florida High advances to second round of FHSAA football 2A state tournament

Next for the Seminoles is a trip to Jacksonville.

They will face the Bolles Bulldogs (10-1) for the second round of the FHSAA 2A state tournament next Friday, Nov. 21, at 7:30 p.m., per MaxPreps.

“Just got to keep on,” Miller said. “I definitely think it’s winnable.”

Bolles hosted and walloped Walton on Friday, 63-13, for its eighth straight win of the season.

“Everybody knows Bolles across the state,” Hickman previewed the Sweet 16 matchup. “They’ve got an outstanding group of players, an outstanding coach, and you’ve got to go on the road. We’ve been in tough places this year. So, it’s really about us trying to come and play the best football we can play, get it to the second half, and see what we can do.”

Gerald Thomas, III is a multi-time award-winning journalist for his coverage of the Florida A&M Rattlers at the Tallahassee Democrat.

Follow his award-winning coverage on RattlerNews.com and contact him via email at GDThomas@Tallahassee.com or on the app formerly known as Twitter @3peatgee.

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