Democrat leads by razor-thin margin in Tampa special state Senate election
Democrat Brian Nathan is leading his Republican opponent by a razor-thin margin in the Tampa-area special state Senate election to replace Jay Collins.
With most precincts reported, Nathan, a union leader and Navy veteran, led former state Rep. Josie Tomkow by less than half a percentage point, 50.2% to 49.8%. One precinct has yet to report its election day totals. Not all mail-in ballots have been counted, either.
If the margin remains less than half a percentage point, that triggers a machine recount. The recount would be held days later, according to the Hillsborough Supervisor of Elections.
A victory by Nathan would represent an upset in a district that Collins, a Republican, won by almost 10 points in 2022. Collins left the seat vacant in August when Gov. Ron DeSantis appointed him lieutenant governor.
https://www.tampabay.com/news/florida-politics/elections/2026/03/24/tampa-special-election-josie-tomkow-brian-nathan-republican-democrat/