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2018 Primary Election: Snapshot of the top races in Tampa Bay and Florida

Posted at 1:38 PM, Aug 27, 2018
and last updated 2018-08-28 18:04:23-04

 

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Here's a look at the top races that voters in Tampa Bay will decide on Aug. 28.

The polls are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Click on each county below for polling locations in your area:

Manatee | Hardee | Highlands | Citrus | Hernando | ​​​​​​​Pasco | ​​​​​​​Polk | ​​​​​​​Pinellas | ​​​​​​​Hillsborough

Governor

Democrats are looking to win the governor's office for the first time in twenty years. Former U.S. Representative Gwen Graham has the best name recognition as the daughter of former governor and Senator Bob Graham.  She's emphasized that she's the only mom in the race.

Philip Levine is a multi-millionaire who has highlighted his work as the former mayor of Miami Beach. 

Jeff Greene is a billionaire from Palm Beach who argues he's the best one to stand up to President Trump and his policies.

Andrew Gillum is the mayor of Tallahassee and likes to point out he's the only candidate who doesn't have personal or family money to pay for his campaign. 

Chris King is a businessman from Central Florida who has emphasized creating jobs. 

In the Republican race for governor, Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam was considered the front-runner to succeed Rick Scott. But when Congressman Ron DeSantis received the endorsement from President Trump, the scale tipped in favor of DeSantis. While Putnam has the support of Republican Party officials, Trump has come to Florida to campaign for DeSantis.
 
U.S. Senate

Governor Rick Scott easily won the Republican primary in the senate race, defeating Roque De La Fuente, who has run for a number of offices.  Now we're set for the showdown against Democrat, Senator Bill Nelson, and they're already running ads against each other.

Attorney General

In the race for Attorney General, the Democrats have the choice between two attorneys from Tampa. Sean Shaw is a state representative and Ryan Torrens runs his own law firm.

Shaw received endorsements from many Democratic Party officials. On the Friday before the election, a judge in Tallahassee ruled Torrens acted improperly in qualifying for the election and should be removed from the ballot. Torrens is appealing the ruling.

The Republicans have two candidates to choose from to replace Pam Bondi as Attorney General. Former Tampa judge Ashley Moody has the endorsement of Bondi and other state Republican leaders. State Representative Frank White is from Pensacola and a lawyer for an automotive chain owned by his family

Agricultural Commissioner

Three Democrats are in the contest for agriculture commissioner.

Nicole Fried is from Fort Lauderdale and works as a lobbyist for the Broward County School District. She made news when Wells Fargo closed her campaign account because she received campaign contributions from the medical marijuana industry.

Jeffrey Porter is the mayor of Homestead.

Roy Walker is from Plant City and is president of the South Florida Audubon Society. 

There are four Republicans trying to follow Adam Putnam as agriculture commissioner.

Matt Caldwell is a state representative from Fort Myers, who also got the endorsement of the National Rifle Association.

Denise Grimsley is a state senator from Sebring and the vice president of a hospital in that area.

Mike McCalister is a former U.S. Army colonel.

Baxter Troutman is a former state representative from Winter Haven.