TAMPA, Kan. — Three of the four incumbent Hillsborough County School board members facing challengers Tuesday will keep their seats, while the fourth faces a runoff in November.
Nadia Combs, Jessica Vaughn and Henry “Shake” Washington took home more than 50% of the vote, enough to secure victory Tuesday. Incumbent Lynn Gray will be on the ballot again in November for a runoff election against challenger Karen Bendorf.
Despite school board races being nonpartisan, party leaders have weighed in on races leading up to the election.
For the second straight election, Gov. Ron DeSantis, looking to spread his education agenda to local boards, endorsed 23 candidates statewide. The Florida Democratic Party also endorsed several candidates in some districts, like two in Hillsborough who squared off head-to-head.
In District 3, Vice Chair Jessica Vaughn beat out newcomer and DeSantis-endorsed Myosha Powell.
In District 1, Nadia Combs beat out two challengers, including DeSantis-backed Layla Collins. The wife of State Sen. Jay Collins (R-Tampa) raised more money than any other Hillsborough School Board candidate this cycle.
“I say this over and over again, if we invest in our students, we’re going to live in a better society, and I think school boards are the most important thing, and I think this community has said that’s what they care about,” Combs said Tuesday night.
“Its not about politics, it’s not about endorsement, it’s not about money, it comes down to who the candidate is and what they have to offer the community."
In November voters will now weigh in on the District 7 race, as well as a school tax referendum that would raise property taxes to increase local school funding and teacher pay.