Hillsborough voters choose an elected school superintendent and renew the half-cent school sales tax
The superintendent will be elected in a partisan race starting in 2028; the school tax continues from 2029 through 2038.
TAMPA - Hillsborough County voters on Tuesday, Nov. 3, chose to elect, rather than appoint, the county's school superintendent and kept the half-cent sales tax that pays for school repairs and construction, according to unofficial results from the county Supervisor of Elections.
Referendum 1 passed with 287,996 votes (58.10%) to 207,669 (41.90%). Under Chapter 2026-196, Laws of Florida (HB 4027), the School Board will no longer appoint the superintendent; voters will elect one in a partisan race for a four-year term, starting with the 2028 general election. The post became appointed after a 1966 referendum, the law notes.
Referendum 3 passed with 306,289 votes (61.55%) to 191,375 (38.45%). It continues the half-cent school capital sales tax, first approved by county voters in 2018, for 10 years from Jan. 1, 2029, through Dec. 31, 2038, for air conditioning, construction, security and other maintenance, under a School Board resolution.
In the nonpartisan School Board races, Daniela Simic won District 2 (52.17%) over Brittany Lyssy, and Karen Perez won District 6 (56.90%) over Kenneth "Ken" Gay.
The results do not yet include provisional ballots, mail ballots awaiting a signature fix or overseas ballots, the elections office says. Turnout was 63.11%.
Voters also approved a larger County Commission elected only by district; that story is in Local Politics.
Source: Hillsborough County Supervisor of Elections, 2026 General Election unofficial results (page last updated 10:14 p.m. Nov. 3, read Nov. 4); Chapter 2026-196, Laws of Florida; School Board of Hillsborough County Resolution 2026-001.