Hillsborough County Primary Elections 2026: Check Election Date, Polling Hours, Key Candidate, Result Date, Last Winner, Voter ID Rules, How to Check Registration & All You Need to Know

Hillsborough County Primary Election 2026: Hillsborough County voters head to the polls for the 2026 Primary Election on Tuesday, August 18. The county has a population of about 1.46 million, making it one of Florida’s largest and most closely watched local election areas. The 2026 contest includes County Commission, School Board, judicial and other local races with more than 200 Hillsborough County candidates qualified for local offices for the 2026 election cycle.

When is Hillsborough County Primary Election 2026?

The Hillsborough County Primary Election is Tuesday, August 18, 2026. Early voting ran from August 3 through August 16, with 27 early voting locations operating from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Hillsborough County Primary Election 2026: Election Date & Time

Election Day is August 18, with voting available from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m as voters who are still in line at 7 p.m. are allowed to cast their ballots. 

Hillsborough County Primary Election 2026: Polling Hours

Polling places are open for 12 hours, from 7 a.m. through 7 p.m. and voters must use the polling place assigned to their precinct on Election Day. The county warns that voting at the wrong polling location can prevent a ballot from being counted. 

Hillsborough County Primary Election 2026: What Is On The Ballot?

The ballot varies according to a voter’s party affiliation and address.

• County Commission races, including Districts 5 and 7.
• Hillsborough County Public Schools Board races.
• Nonpartisan judicial contests.
• Universal Primary Contests in specified legislative districts.
• Local referendum questions in some areas.
• Other local offices and special taxing district contests. 

Hillsborough County Primary Election 2026: Who Can Vote?

Florida uses a closed-primary system, but some races are open to all registered voters.

• Registered Republicans can vote in Republican primary contests.
• Registered Democrats can vote in Democratic primary contests.
• No-party-affiliation voters can vote in nonpartisan races and qualifying universal primary contests.
• Voters must have registered or changed party affiliation by July 20, 2026 to participate in a party primary. 

Hillsborough County Primary Election 2026: Key Candidates to Watch

Several County Commission races stand out:

County Commission

• District 5
• Neil Manimala (D)
• Donna Cameron Cepeda (R)
• Stacy Hahn (R)
• District 7
• Aileen Rodriguez (D)
• Cindy Stuart (D)
• Joshua Wostal (R)

Hillsborough County School Board

• District 2
• Brittany Lyssy
• Daniela Simic
• Chris Taylor
• District 4
• Patricia “Patti” Rendon
• Rendon is the incumbent and won the seat without appearing on the ballot after the primary was canceled. 
• District 6, At-Large
• Karen Perez
• Kenneth Gay
• Sally Harris

Hillsborough County Primary Election 2026: When Is The General Election?

The 2026 General Election will take place on Tuesday, November 3, 2026 and early voting is scheduled for October 19 through November 1.

Hillsborough County Primary Election 2026: Do You Need a Photo ID?

Yes. Voters should bring current identification containing a photo and signature.

• A Florida driver’s license is acceptable.
• A Florida identification card is acceptable.
• Other approved photo-and-signature IDs may also be used.
• Photos or copies of identification on a phone are not accepted.
• A voter without acceptable ID may cast a provisional ballot. 

Hillsborough County Primary Election 2026: When Do Polls Open and Close?

Polls open at 7 a.m. and close at 7 p.m. on August 18. The 12-hour voting window gives voters substantial flexibility, but anyone voting in person should confirm their assigned precinct before leaving home. 

When Will Hillsborough County Primary Election Results Be Announced?

Unofficial results are expected to begin appearing after the 7 p.m. poll closing, as precinct results are transmitted to the elections office while Hillsborough County says unofficial election-night results are securely transmitted from precincts and later checked before results become official. 

Hillsborough County Primary Election 2026: Last Year Result

The most useful recent benchmark is the 2024 General Election.

• Hillsborough County recorded 857,714 registered voters and 679,041 ballots cast, producing a 79.17% turnout rate. 
• Donald Trump received 342,017 votes, or 50.68%.
• Kamala Harris received 321,455 votes, or 47.63%.
• Trump’s countywide margin was 20,562 votes, or roughly 3.05 percentage points. 
• The county’s population was about 1.46 million, with a median household income of $60,566.

Those numbers show why turnout and local candidate organization could matter significantly in 2026. The county is large, politically competitive and demographically diverse, with 29.1% of residents identified as Hispanic/Latino in the supplied demographic data.

Hillsborough County Primary Election 2026: Important Dates

The dates above are based on Hillsborough County’s official 2026 election schedule. 

Disclaimer: Election information can change. Verify polling locations, ballot details, deadlines and official results with the Hillsborough County Elections office.