NewsTampa Bay TimesNovember 3, 2026Hillsborough County
Florida Voters Consider Governor, School Board Seats, and Local Tax Measures in 2026 General Election
Photo: Tampa Bay Times
About 40% of registered Florida voters cast early ballots ahead of the 2026 general election, deciding key races including the governor's office and local school board seats. Voters are also weighing property and sales tax referendums for school funding, while districts across the state navigate enrollment declines, school closures, and curriculum shifts.
Read the full story at Tampa Bay TimesWhy It Matters
The outcome of local tax referendums, school board elections, and ballot measures will directly influence public school funding levels, employee pay, capital construction projects, and school governance structures in districts across Florida.
Key Facts
- About 40% of registered Florida voters cast ballots by the end of early voting for the 2026 general election.
- Governor candidates Byron Donalds and David Jolly hold differing views on vouchers and charter schools.
- Hillsborough and Pasco counties each have two school board seats up for consideration, while Pinellas has one.
- Amendment 3, if passed, could impact school-related services such as resource officers, crossing guards, and before- and after-school programs due to proposed property tax changes.
- Twenty-one school districts, including Pasco and Polk, asked communities to approve property taxes mostly to bolster employee pay.
- Ten districts, including Hillsborough, called sales tax referendums to support capital projects like construction.
- Hillsborough voters are deciding whether to resume electing their school district superintendent after nearly 60 years of appointment.
- Pasco County school board is considering closing Fox Hollow Elementary School at the end of the academic year.
- Hernando County school board is discussing leasing land to cell tower developers to increase revenue.
- Palm Beach County school district is seeking the decertification of two former employees convicted of crimes against children.
- Osceola County school district plans to install vape detectors in middle and high schools using state opioid settlement funds.
- St. Lucie, Brevard, DeSoto, Hardee, and Highlands counties experienced school closures or early dismissals due to severe flooding.
- Researchers tracked more than 27,000 Miami-Dade County children across different prekindergarten programs over nearly two decades.
Who's Mentioned
locationPasco County“Local school district with board seats, tax requests, and meeting agenda item”OrganizationNewberry Elementary“School converted to charter status by parents and teachers”locationMiami-Dade County“Location where researchers tracked prekindergarten children”locationDeSoto“School district that canceled classes due to severe flooding”locationSarasota County“Local school district with a watched race in contention”locationPolk“School district asking communities to approve property taxes”PersonByron Donalds“Republican candidate for governor”locationHernando County“Local school district with a race in contention and cell tower leasing discussio”locationHardee“School district that canceled classes due to severe flooding”OrganizationBoca Ciega High“Pinellas County school investigated after calls regarding armed masked people”locationHighlands“School district that canceled classes due to severe flooding”locationHillsborough County“Local school district with board seats and tax referendums up for vote”locationOsceola County“School district aiming to put vape detectors in schools”locationBrevard County“School district that canceled classes due to flooding”PersonDavid Jolly“Democratic candidate for governor”OrganizationThe Conversation“Publisher of research summary on prekindergarten programs”locationMarion County“Location of private school where a teacher was arrested”locationSt. Lucie County“School district dealing with severe flooding”OrganizationTampa Bay Times Education Hub“Reporter of Florida schools and universities news”OrganizationFox Hollow Elementary School“Pasco County school facing a potential closure decision”locationPalm Beach County“School district seeking employee decertification and hosting micro-school projec”locationPinellas“Local school district with a school board race”locationAlachua County“Location of Newberry community where an elementary school converted to charter s”