TAMPA, FL – Close to 500 people gathered this evening for the Political Hob Nob and Straw Poll hosted by the Tampa Bay Chamber and presented by St. Joseph’s Hospital of BayCare Health System. Held this year at the Glazer Family JCC, the straw poll opened as early as 4pm and continued for two hours. A steady stream of attendees cast their votes on-location, while others opted for the online version. Tonight's straw poll included candidates in Hillsborough, Pasco and Pinellas Counties.
Click here to see full results of 2024 Hob Nob Straw Poll in federal, state and local races.
The Chamber’s premier event is hosted every two years, aligned with the election cycle. It’s part of a series of activities and advocacy work done on behalf of the business community’s interests and the 1,400 member companies of the Chamber. “It’s more important than ever to provide voters with direct access to candidates running for public office,” said the Co-Chair of the Chamber’s Policy Council, Lorena Hardwick. “This event makes it possible to hear what the candidates are proposing on key issues of importance to the voter. Our Chamber serves as a bridge, providing that access, and it’s a responsibility we take seriously.”
A key component of the Chamber’s biennial Hob Nob is the access constituents have with political candidates vying in races at all levels of government. Between 300 – 400 constituents and 50+ candidates participate in meet & greets and the informal Q&A sessions. The Chamber does not endorse or support candidates. Straw poll results do not reflect the opinion of the organization, membership, or imply an endorsement of a candidate.
Here’s a full list of Candidates who participated in the Tampa Bay Chamber’s 2024 Hob Nob:
Daniel Ackroyd-Isales for Pasco County Commission, District 4
Patricia Altagracia Alonzo for Hillsborough County Commission, District 2
Jennifer Barbosa for U.S. Congress, FL CD - 15
Karen Bendorf for Hillsborough County School Board, District 7
Kimberly Berfield* for Florida State House, District 58
Chris Boles for Hillsborough County Commission, District 6
Rocky Brancato for Public Defender, Circuit 13
Linette "Starr" Brookins for Hillsborough County Court Judge, Group 11
Johnny Bush for Hillsborough County School Board, District 7
Kathy Castor for U.S. Congress, FL CD - 14
Linda Chaney for Florida State House, District 61
Billy Christensen for Hillsborough County Supervisor of Elections
Karl Cieslak for Florida State House, District 54
Nick Clemente for Florida State House, District 66
Layla Collins for Hillsborough County School Board, District 1
Nadia Combs for Hillsborough County School Board, District 1
Victor Crist* for Hillsborough County Clerk of Circuit Court
Lindsay Cross for Florida State House, District 60
Dr. Jim Davison for Hillsborough County Commission, District 6
Cornelius Demps for Circuit Court Judge, Sixth Judicial Circuit Court, Group 14
Christine Edwards for Hillsborough County Court Judge, Group 11
Nick Fiorentino for Circuit Court Judge, Sixth Judicial Circuit Court, Group 14
Christina Fitzpatrick for Pasco County Commission, District 4
Jen Flebotte for Hillsborough County School Board, District 7
Kenneth Gay for Hillsborough County School Board, District 5
Karen Gonzalez Pittman for Florida State House, District 65
Lynn Gray for Hillsborough County School Board, District 7
Dianne Hart for Florida State House, District 63
Bob Henriquez for Hillsborough County Property Appraiser
Berny Jacques for Florida State House, District 59
Dee Jones for Hillsborough County Court Judge, Group 21
James Judge for U.S. Congress, FL CD - 15
Craig Latimer for Hillsborough County Supervisor of Elections
Laurel Lee* for U.S. Congress, FL CD - 15
John Liccione for U.S. Congress, FL CD - 13
Suzy Lopez for State Attorney, Circuit 13
Julie Magill for Hillsborough County School Board, District 1
Elizabeth Martinez Strauss for State Attorney, Circuit 13
Lisa McLean for Public Defender, Circuit 13
Christine Miller for Hillsborough County Commission, District 4
Ed Montanari for Florida State House, District 60
Tuan Q. Nguyen for U.S. Senate
Melissa Nordbeck for Hillsborough County Commission, District 2
Neelam Perry for U.S. Congress, FL CD - 14
Kirk Phillips for Florida State House, District 56
Myosha Powell for Hillsborough County School Board, District 3
Rocky Rochford for U.S. Congress, FL CD - 14
Sean Shaw for Hillsborough County Commission, District 6
Matt Smith for Hillsborough County Court Judge, Group 21
Rico Smith for Florida State House, District 67
Kate Spurlock for Circuit Court Judge, Sixth Judicial Circuit Court, Group 9
Cindy Stuart for Hillsborough County Clerk of Circuit Court
Jessica Vaughn for Hillsborough County School Board, District 3
Andrew Warren for Florida State Attorney, Circuit 13
Henry Washington for Hillsborough County School Board, District 5
Mark Weinkrantz for U.S. Congress, FL CD - 13
Melony Williams for Hillsborough County Clerk of Circuit Court
*Indicates the candidate's campaign representative(s) attended on their behalf.
The Chamber also produces a series of candidate interviews published on its policy webpage to inform and increase voter engagement in advance of the general election in November. For more information, contact the Tampa Bay Chamber's Communications Department.
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