Democrats celebrated a historic midterm performance across the country Tuesday, but Florida charted its own course. Republican Byron Donalds defeated Democrat David Jolly in the governor’s race, Ashley Moody won a U.S. Senate seat, and Sydney Gruters took Florida’s 16th Congressional District over Kelly Kirschner. Even in races that ended closer than expected, the Suncoast stayed reliably red.
The biggest local story, though, is Amendment 3. The property tax measure passed on the strength of affordability concerns, and it comes with a price tag. Sarasota County could be forced to trim roughly $241 million over two years, which means tough decisions about police, public works, parks, and social services. Local reporters and officials are urging residents who backed the amendment to stay engaged and watch the budget process closely, because the choices ahead will be made in county chambers, not in Washington.
There was a school board shift as well, with Heidi Brandt defeating Jimmy Glover in a race many saw as a choice between a more conservative direction and the status quo. Between the budget cuts, the congressional turnover, and the school board change, the next two years on the Suncoast will be shaped by decisions happening much closer to home than the headlines suggest.
What local service would you most want protected from budget cuts? Let us know in the comments.
