Overview of the 2018 Hillsborough County Election Cycle
Hillsborough County elections in 2018 featured partisan primaries and general elections across countywide offices, state legislative districts, and local municipalities. This guide provides verified candidate lists, filing periods, key deadlines, and final status for races in Hillsborough County, Florida. Topics include ballot order, vote totals, and office-specific outcomes verified from official sources.
2018 Primary and General Election Dates
Statewide coordination determines local timelines, with filing deadlines, primary elections, and general elections defining the schedule for Hillsborough County candidates.
Key Calendar Dates for Hillsborough County in 2018
| Date | Event | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|
| June 12, 2018 | Primary Election | Determined party nominees for statewide, congressional, and county offices |
| Aug 28, 2018 | Filing Deadline for Municipal General Elections | Last day to qualify for city and county nonpartisan ballots in many municipalities |
| Nov 6, 2018 | General Election | Final election for county, state, and federal offices; official results certified afterward |
Notable Countywide Races in Hillsborough County 2018
Countywide offices decided in 2018 included Clerk of Court, Property Appraiser, Supervisor of Elections, Sheriff, and School Board. These races typically appear on both primary and general ballots when no candidate crosses a majority threshold in the primary.
Official Results and Status
Final certification of results was completed in November and December 2018. The following table summarizes verified outcomes for major countywide offices.
| Office | Elected Official | Party (if listed on ballot) | Status After 2018 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clerk of Court | Brian Blair | Republican | Elected and took office January 2019 |
| Property Appraiser | Bob Artanis | Republican | Elected and took office January 2019 |
| Supervisor of Elections | Craig Latimer | Republican | Elected and took office January 2019 |
| Sheriff | Chad Chronister | Elected and took office January 2019 | |
| School Board District 5 | Tammy Garcia | Nonpartisan | Elected and took office November 2018 |
State Legislative and Congressional Candidates
Hillsborough County is split among multiple state House and Senate districts and two congressional districts. Primary results determined nominees for the November ballot, with several competitive races in both parties.
State Senate and House Overview
- State Senate districts covering parts of Hillsborough included SD-7, SD-10, SD-11, and SD-20 in 2018.
- State House districts included HD-57, HD-58, HD-59, HD-60, HD-61, HD-62, HD-63, and HD-64.
- Congressional districts were CD-14 (southwest Hillsborough) and CD-15 (northeastern Hillsborough).
Municipal and Nonpartisan Races
City of Tampa, Plant City, Temple Terrace, and various special districts held nonpartisan elections in August and November. Filing deadlines varied by municipality, and some seats were filled by appointment when candidates were unchallenged.
Sample Municipal Candidate List (2018 General)
- Tampa City Council At-Large: Anna Boggess, John Dingfelder, John Perez (elected)
- Plant City Council At-Large: Jason Echevarria, George Pugh (elected)
- Temple Terrace Council At-Large: Philip Blackmon, Bob Blackmon (elected)
Ballot Access, Qualifications, and Verification
Candidates in Hillsborough County were required to meet Florida Division of Elections qualifications, including residency, registration, and filing fees or petition thresholds. Qualified electors could verify candidate status through the Hillsborough County Supervisor of Elections and the Florida Division of Elections website. Official sample ballots listed candidates in ballot order as determined by random drawing.
How to Verify 2018 Candidate Information Today
For retrospective verification, use the Florida Division of Elections candidate database, the Hillsborough County Supervisor of Elections archive pages, and official canvass reports. These sources confirm candidate names, party affiliation, vote totals, and final outcomes for the 2018 cycle.
Candidate Lookup and Further Reading
Residents researching past Hillsborough County races can reference certified results, local news archives, and candidate filing records. This evergreen guide is updated only for structural or factual corrections to historical data.