Election Day is finally here, and voters now have the chance to decide who wins both the gubernatorial and senate races. Will Governor Ron DeSantis or Charlie Crist win the race for governor? Will Marco Rubio or Val Demings dominate in the polls? Stick with ABC Action News to make sure you have all the latest election coverage.
On the ballot, Florida residents will have to make the call on two state constitutional amendments.
Hillsborough County voters will also decide on a surtax referendum to support public transportation and boost funding.
ELECTION 2022 | Full Coverage
Multiple congressional seats are up for grabs as candidates Laurel Lee and Alan Cohn, James Judge and Kathy Castor, and Eric Lynn and Anna Paulina Luna battle it out.
9:00 p.m.
Reporter Kylie McGivern chats with Dustin Chase, Deputy Supervisor of Elections (Pinellas County), about what happens after voters cast their ballots.
8:30 p.m.
Charlie Crist gives concession speech after losing to Ron DeSantis in the 2022 Governor race.
Val Demings gives concession speech after losing to Marco Rubio in the 2022 Senate race.
Marco Rubio gives victory speech after winning 2022 Senate race.
7:57 p.m.
ABC Action News Reporter Kylie McGivern is at the Pinellas County Supervisor of Elections Office in Largo, where a long line of cars wrapped around the building leading up to 7PM, waiting to drop off mail-in ballots.
7:30 p.m.
Anchor Paul LaGrone breaks down election results by county.
7:15 p.m.
Reporter Vanessa Araiza is in Orlando covering Val Demmings for the US Senate race.
Reporter Sophia Hernandez is in Miami covering Marco Rubio for the US Senate race.
7 p.m.
Polls across most of the state are now closed for the Florida general election. Click here to view results as they come in.
6:20 p.m.
Polls close in 40 minutes. Voters who have not voted must be in line at their assigned polling place by 7 p.m. to vote.
5:30 p.m.
Reporter Rebecca Petit is in Tampa following the race for Florida Congressional District 15. It’s regarded as the most competitive race for congress in the state.
Reporter Rochelle Alleyne is outside of Tropicana Field where Eric Lynn, the Democrat running for the US District 13 seat, will be hosting his watch party later tonight.
Reporter Wendi Lane is at the St. Pete Yacht Club where Anna Paulina Luna, the Republican running for the US District 13 seat, is hosting a watch party. Luna supporters hope the new redistricting of Pinellas County District 13 will help her win the vote for Charlie Crist's old congressional seat.
Reporter Jada Williams is in Tampa covering the Florida Senator District 14 race.
Reporter Julie Salamone is in Tampa covering the US Representative District 14 race.
Reporter Sophia Hernandez is in Miami covering Marco Rubio for the US Senate race.
Reporter Vanessa Araiza is in Orlando covering Val Demmings for the US Senate race.
5:14 p.m.
As of 5 PM, more than 122,000 Hillsborough County voters had cast an Election Day ballot and nearly 449,000 had voted in total, using one of our 3 methods to vote. #Turnout #ElectionDay #VoteHillsborough pic.twitter.com/a6rGi3Pb8U
— Craig Latimer 🗳️ (@HillsboroughSOE) November 8, 2022
4:30 p.m.
Reporter Forrest Saunders is covering Ron DeSantis for the Governor’s race at the Tampa Convention Center.
Reporter Stassy Olmos is in Pasco County covering voter turnout.
Reporter Michael Paluska is covering Ron DeSantis for the Governor’s race at the Tampa Convention Center.
Reporter Erik Waxler is in St. Petersburg at Charlie Crist’s election night headquarters covering the Governor’s race.
3:30 p.m.
Reporter Mary O’Connell is in Hillsborough County covering voter turnout.
3:15 p.m.
As the GOP prepares for leadership if they win control of the U.S. Senate and House Tuesday, Florida Senator Rick Scott may be in a top position if former President Donald Trump has anything to say about it. Per The Hill, Trump told Fox News Digital Tuesday that if he is re-elected president, he will endorse Senator Scott to be the new Senate Majority Leader over Senator Mitch McConnell. Trump has been very outspoken about his dislike of McConnell and his wife. Scott has not said if he would seek the top job over McConnell in 2024.
2:06 p.m.
Charlie Crist issued the following statement criticizing the DeSantis Administration’s decision to prevent federal election monitoring in Florida:
“Ron’s whispers of Jim Crow have become shouts. Ron DeSantis would rather have the Proud Boys monitor the polls than our own government. He sides with the violent extremists and insurrectionists to the end. Make no mistake, this governor is trying to scare voters and suppress our voices at the ballot box. And it will not stand.”
10:30 a.m.
Charlie Crist holds a rally in St. Petersburg.
10:17 a.m.
Governor Ron DeSantis casts his vote alongside his family.
Madison, Mason, and Mamie joined us as we cast our votes for freedom. ⁰⁰Proud to be your Governor — Proud to Keep Florida Free! pic.twitter.com/zExvACeRX2
— Ron DeSantis (@RonDeSantisFL) November 8, 2022
10 a.m.
Hillsborough County Supervisor of Elections Craig Latimer announced that as of 10 a.m., 39,850 Hillsborough voters have cast their ballots.
359,965 voters have cast their ballots overall, including early voting and vote-by-mail.
9:27 a.m.
The Department of Justice announced that they sent election monitors out to 24 states to ensure voter protection.
8:49 a.m.
Early voting locations in Lee County remain open due to Hurricane Ian making numerous Election Day polling places unavailable.
8:12 a.m.
Krispy Kreme is offering a free glazed donut to customers on their way to and from the polls.
7:32 a.m.
Pinellas County Supervisor of Elections Julie Marcus announced that 7,778 Pinellas County voters cast their ballots.
7 a.m.
Polls officially open across the Tampa Bay area.
Multiple counties are offering free rides to the polls for those with a valid voter ID:
