Pinellas voters face open governor race and three state amendments today

Polls across Pinellas County opened at 7 a.m. And will remain open until 7 p.m. Today as residents in St. Petersburg, Clearwater, Largo, and Pinellas Park cast their ballots in the 2026 midterm election. Florida voters are selecting a new governor in an open seat because the incumbent is not running for re-election. The race features candidates from the Republican, Democratic, Libertarian, and No Party Affiliation columns, representing a significant decision for state leadership as the state moves into the next legislative cycle.

The state ballot also includes three constitutional amendments that will determine how Florida manages its finances and tax exemptions. Amendment 1 proposes increasing the amount of funds retained in the budget stabilization fund from 10 percent to 25 percent of net general revenue. Amendment 2 seeks to exempt agricultural-related tangible personal property, such as farm equipment and tools, from property taxes. Amendment 3 focuses on local government and property taxes, proposing to increase the homestead tax exemption, decrease the cap on assessed value increases for non-homestead properties, and limit how municipalities can spend property tax revenue.

Voters in every U.S. House district in Florida are also deciding who will represent them in Congress for the next two years. All House seats in the state are on the ballot, as are various state and local offices that vary by county. These local elections include contests for state senate and state house seats, special state legislative races, and positions on the state supreme court and intermediate appellate courts. School board and municipal government elections are also taking place in communities across the state, allowing residents to influence local governance directly.

The national context for today’s vote is defined by a referendum on the current administration. With all 435 House seats and 35 Senate seats up for grabs, the outcome will determine which party controls Congress for the remainder of the term. Democrats currently hold 214 House seats and need a net gain of three to secure a majority, while Republicans can afford to lose no more than two. In the Senate, Democrats hold 45 seats and need a net gain of four to take control, a threshold that makes the election particularly competitive in states like Florida, Georgia, and Michigan.

Florida is using a new congressional map following mid-decade redistricting, a change that affects the dynamics of the House races. While Republicans aimed to beat the typical midterm pattern of seat losses, the new districts may not vote as originally drawn. In the governor’s race, Florida is identified as a competitive contest alongside Texas and Iowa. The state’s political landscape is closely watched as a bellwether for national trends, with both parties investing heavily in advertising and ground game efforts.

Voters are arriving at polling places in Pinellas County to exercise their right to choose in a day that spans multiple levels of government. More than 57 million people had already voted via early or mail-in ballots before today, surpassing totals from four years ago in many states. On the ground, the mood is described as one of caution and anticipation, with voters weighing issues of high prices and economic direction. A majority of adults believe the country is heading in the wrong direction, a sentiment that is influencing choices at every level of the ballot.

In the Senate, the special election for the remainder of the term vacated by Marco Rubio is a key component of the Florida ballot. Ballotpedia lists Ashley B. Moody as the incumbent Republican candidate on the ballot for this special election. This race is part of a broader national effort to maintain or shift control of the upper chamber. Republicans currently hold 53 seats, and the outcome in Florida will contribute to the final tally as the chamber determines its leadership and committee assignments for the upcoming session.

Administrative challenges have marked the run-up to Election Day, with federal judges issuing temporary orders regarding the certification of votes. A federal judge temporarily barred a plan intended to prevent noncitizen voting, a move that critics said could risk disenfranchising eligible voters. The U.S. Postal Service added staff and hours to ensure that mail ballots are counted on time, a logistical effort that is crucial for states with high rates of absentee voting. These measures aim to ensure that the process remains smooth despite the high volume of ballots being processed.

Financial stakes are high for both parties, with the 2026 elections likely to be the most expensive in history. Republican committees outraised and outspent their Democratic counterparts at the committee level, aided by funds from groups affiliated with the president and other major donors. However, at the candidate level, Democrats outraised their opponents, indicating a different strategy for ground-level campaigning. A significant portion of Republican television ad spending went to districts the president won by wide margins in the last presidential election, reflecting a defensive posture in those areas.

As polls close at 7 p.m., the focus shifts to the counting of ballots and the early returns that will emerge in the evening. The outcome of the governor’s race and the three statewide amendments will be known as the state totals are tallied, providing the first major picture of the political shift in Florida. For Pinellas County, the day represents a comprehensive update to local and state leadership, with the results of school board and municipal races also contributing to the broader political landscape. The election concludes the first half of the current term and sets the stage for the final two years of congressional control.