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Election Day Live Blog Updates – November 6
5:39 AM ET – Update by Seán Kinane via Associated Press
Donald Trump was elected as the 47th president of the United States on Wednesday.
He is the first person convicted of a felony to win the White House and the first former president to regain power since 1892. The victory marks an extraordinary comeback for a former president who refused to accept defeat four years ago, sparked a violent insurrection at the U.S. Capitol, faced dozens of felony charges and survived two assassination attempts. He will be joined in the new administration by his vice president, Ohio Sen. JD Vance. At 40, Vance will become the highest-ranking member of the millennial generation in government.
5:29 AM ET – Update by Seán Kinane via Associated Press
Donald Trump’s victory in Pennsylvania has put him three electoral votes short of winning the presidency. He could win the White House by capturing Alaska or any remaining swing state.
The AP’s current count has him at 267 of the 270 electoral votes he needs to win the White House. He is leading in key races left to be called, including in Michigan and Wisconsin.
Republicans also reclaimed control of the U.S. Senate, picking up seats in West Virginia and Ohio. Top House races are focused in New York and California, where Democrats are trying to claw back some of the 10 or so seats where Republicans have made surprising gains in recent years.
November 5
9:48 PM ET – Update by Chris Young
Suzy Lopez has won the State Attorney office in Hillsborough County. This comes after Governor Ron DeSantis controversially removed her opponent Andrew Warren in 2022 and replaced him with Lopez. She celebrated her win at a victory party in Ybor. “It’s really, just, it’s emotional. I’m the first duly-elected female state attorney in my hometown, and a win for my office right now is a win for our law enforcement partners, for our community partners, and I can’t wait to see what we’re going to do in the next four years.” Lopez told the media after her big win. In a statement sent to WMNF, Andrew Warren claimed that Lopez cheated and kied, but he hopes Suzy Lopez “grows into this role”
9:10 PM ET – Update by Kiley Petracek
Pinellas voters approved a school property tax that would specifically fund recruiting and retaining teachers. The tax will raise pay for teachers in the Pinellas County schools as well as send more money to arts and reading programs. A similar measure passed in 2020 received close to 80 percent of the vote. Today, with almost all precincts in, the measure looks to have received closer to 67 percent of the vote. Also in Pinellas, Katie Blaxberg won a District 5 School Board seating, defeating a Mom’s for Liberty candidate who was supported by Governor DeSantis and the county GOP executive committee. Blaxberg ran as a moderate Republican who supported the school tax referendum.
Updates by Meghan Bowman
8:30 PM ET – Republican Representative Vern Buchanan won re-election to the U.S. House seat representing Florida’s 16th Congressional District. Buchanan, who has served in the House since 2007, represents a Republican-leaning district southeast of Tampa, including Bradenton and Brandon.
Republican Representative Gus Bilirakis won re-election to the U.S. House seat representing Florida’s 12th District. Democratic Representative Kathy Castor won re-election to the U.S. House seat representing Florida’s 14th District, which is centered around Tampa Bay, including the city of Tampa and the eastern part of St. Petersburg. Among Florida’s Gulf Coast districts, it’s the only one that consistently sends Democrats to Congress. Democrat Maxwell Frost also won re-election in U.S. House District 10, covering Orlando and parts of Central Florida.
The Hillsborough County referendum currently has about 65% of the vote. A yes vote would authorize the school district to levy an annual tax from July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2029. The funds would go toward teacher and staff salaries, academic programs, and distributing funds proportionally to charter schools.
Abortion rights are on the ballot in 10 states today, including Florida. Amendment 4 would enshrine abortion rights into the state’s constitution. It needs 60% support to pass. WSLR spoke to a Harris campaign official in Florida, who said that Amendment 4 was a key factor in driving people to the Harris campaign.
When asked how it influenced voters, the official said, “From personal experience, I’ve been knocking on doors for the Harris campaign, and Amendment 4 comes up almost every time, especially when talking to women. Florida is 52% women, so it’s a major topic in conversations. In the final sprint of this campaign, we’ve been on college campuses speaking with young women, many of whom are voting for the first time, and it’s top of mind for them every time. It’s definitely driving a demographic to the polls that we haven’t seen activated before.”
Floridians also have some other important decisions to make today. Three states will decide whether to legalize the recreational use of marijuana. If one or more of the measures pass, more than half of U.S. states will have some form of recreational marijuana laws on the books. In Florida, Amendment 3 would legalize the recreational use of marijuana for people 21 and older.
We’re also watching other amendments in the state tonight, including Amendment 1, which would change school board elections from nonpartisan to partisan starting in 2026, and Amendment 2, which would provide a state constitutional right to hunt and fish.
There are still some races that have yet to be called, but they are close. Florida holds 28 seats in Congress. In the 13th Congressional District, which covers a large part of Pinellas County, Republican incumbent Anna Paulina Luna is facing Democrat Whitney Fox. In the 15th District, which covers parts of Hillsborough, Pasco, and Polk counties, Republican incumbent Laurel Lee is facing Democratic challenger Pat Kemp. Neither of these races has been called yet.
Every seat in the U.S. House is up for election today, and every seat matters because it will determine who gets control. A party must hold 218 seats to secure the majority. Right now, Democrats narrowly control the Senate, but Republicans are favored to take control of the chamber following this election.
Here in Florida, we are waiting for the call for the race between Republican incumbent Senator Rick Scott and Democratic challenger, former Representative Debbie Mucarsel-Powell.
As for the presidential race, we likely won’t know the outcome for some time. We’ll have to wait for results from several battleground states. In Georgia, polls were supposed to close at 7:00 p.m., but some counties extended their hours due to non-credible bomb threats. Earlier today, North Carolina polls closed. We’re also watching Pennsylvania, which will close at 8:00 p.m., and Arizona, Michigan, and Wisconsin, which will close at 9:00 p.m. Nevada will close at 10:00 p.m.
7:30 PM ET
Some of the races here in the state of Florida are just too early to call, but we do have some statewide results coming in.
Republican Representative Gus Bilirakis won re-election to the U.S. House seat representing Florida’s 12th district, which falls along the Gulf Coast just north of Tampa Bay and covers part of the region struck by Hurricane Milton last month. Bilirakis has served in the House since 2007. Other races called by the Associated Press include U.S. House District 10, which covers Orlando and Central Florida. Democrat Maxwell Frost won that seat, and Kathy Castor won in Hillsborough in Tampa for Representative in Congress, District 14.
Polling places opened across Florida at 7:00 this morning, and nearly 8.3 million ballots were cast by mail and in early voting.
Florida holds 28 seats in Congress, but there are a few more important races that we are watching. In the 13th Congressional District, which covers a large part of Pinellas County, Republican incumbent Anna Paulina Luna faces competition from Democrat Whitney Fox. In the 15th District, which covers parts of Hillsborough, Pasco, and Polk counties, Republican incumbent Laura Lee is up against Democratic challenger Pat Kemp.
Every seat in the U.S. House is up for election today, and every seat matters because it will determine who controls the House. A party must hold 218 seats to secure the majority. As of this morning, there are 220 Republicans, 212 Democrats, and three vacancies. So it’s close and could flip.
The Senate is currently narrowly controlled by Democrats, 51 to 49, but Republicans are favored to take control of the chamber following this election. Thirty-four seats are up for grabs tonight. Democrats are defending seven seats in swing states and
trying to win in two safe Republican states: Texas and Florida. In Texas, Republican incumbent Senator Ted Cruz is facing off against Democratic rival Representative Colin Allred. Here in Florida, Republican incumbent Senator Rick Scott faces Democratic challenger, former Representative Debbie Mucarsel-Powell.
We’re also watching the amendments tonight. Amendment 4 would enshrine abortion rights into the state’s constitution, and Amendment 3 would legalize the recreational use of marijuana. We’re also watching Amendments 1 and 2. Amendment 1 would change school board elections from nonpartisan to partisan beginning in 2026, and Amendment 2 would provide a state constitutional right to hunt and fish.
When it comes to the presidential race, we may not know the results for quite some time, as we’ll have to wait for those results from several battleground states. In Georgia, polls were expected to close at 7:00, just like in Florida, but some of thosecounties’ results will likely come in around 8:00 after the state received non-credible bomb threats. Earlier today, North Carolina polls closed, and Pennsylvania closes at 8:00, which all eyes are on tonight. Arizona, Michigan, and Wisconsin will close at 9:00, and Nevada around 10:00.
Kentucky has been called for Trump, Indiana has been called for Trump, and Vermont goes to Harris.
Currently in Florida, Trump is leading by about four points.
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Florida Amendments
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