HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, Fla. — Incumbent Suzy Lopez has won the race for Hillsborough County State Attorney after ousted former State Attorney Andrew Warren conceded.
Lopez will continue her role as the first female state attorney in the county. She was appointed by Gov. Ron DeSantis in 2022 after he unseated Andrew Warren over claims that he failed to prosecute certain crimes.
In a statement on Election Day, Warren said: “I'm proud of the race we ran. The best candidate doesn't always win, especially when the other side cheats—illegally suspending you, then spending millions of dollars lying about you. But today's result doesn't change the facts: I made Hillsborough safer, improved the system, and fought for our freedoms and values. I want only what's best for our community, and I hope Ms. Lopez grows into this role to become an effective and independent state attorney—not beholden to the governor or sheriff, but accountable to the people.”
The two previously clashed at debates with Lopez saying DeSantis’ claims about Warren rang true and she found he failed to prosecute certain cases such as resisting an officer without violence and trespassing.
Before being Hillsborough’s top prosecutor, she was an attorney for the Second District Court of Appeal in Tampa, the assistant state attorney and a judge in Hillsborough County.
Lopez’s campaign centered around her achievements in the role so far, and she presented herself as a tough-minded prosecutor who sticks to Florida laws. She previously told 10 Tampa Bay that she's the most qualified because she's a career prosecutor.
"I am the only state attorney in over two decades to go on the record in a courtroom for the state of Florida. I'm the only person in this race who's ever tried a case in criminal court on behalf of the people of Hillsborough County," she said.
At a previous debate between the two candidates, Lopez said gun violence is partially important to her. She said diversion can be appropriate for minor crimes but juveniles should know they will be tried as adults if they "make the adult decision to pick up a firearm."
She stressed that the role of the state attorney is to "put bad guys behind bars" and to "not be a social worker."
Lopez said she goes to every crime scene involving a death and meets with victim's families as she believes "crime victims advocacy should always remain in the forefront."
She was born and raised in Hillsborough County and went to Middlebury College. She earned her law degree from Suffolk University. Lopez's other goals include maintaining strong relationships with local law enforcement and preventing gun violence with a focus on career offenders, according to her website.