Naya Young at WMNF in Tampa, Florida on Oct. 17, 2025. Credit: Ray Roa / Creative Loafing Tampa Bay
One of Tampa’s most crowded single-seat elections is finally over, and Naya Young is headed for Tampa City Hall.
The graduate of Middleton High School, University of South Florida and Howard University defeated lifelong Tampa politico Thomas Scott in Tuesday’s runoff election.
Tampa’s city charter (Sec. 8.21) says, “The successful candidate shall take office immediately upon certification.” A representative for the Hillsborough Supervisor of Elections told Creative Loafing Tampa Bay that their office will certify the election results on Friday, Oct. 31 at 2 p.m. Alan Clendenin, Tampa City Council Chairman, told CL that Young will be sworn at city council chambers on Friday, Oct. 31 after the SOE certifies the results.
Young’s victory comes 141 days after the death of Councilwoman Gwen Henderson, whose passing triggered the special election.
The race, at one point, included 13 official candidates, plus one write-in.
In last month’s primary, Young, a 33-year-old grassroots activist and former Executive Director of the Tampa Heights Junior Civic Association, finished in second place with 13.29% of the vote.
With 26 of 28 precincts reporting, about half an hour after polls closed on Tuesday, she had earned 3,053 votes (61%). Scott had 1,963 votes (39%).
Scott’s loss ends his bid for a return to city council where he served from 2007-2011. He also served as a Hillsborough County Commissioner from 1996-2006, but had not won an election since beating the late Frank Reddick for the same District 5 seat in 2007.
Young has never held elected office, and her victory comes despite a huge fundraising gap.
As previously reported, Scott’s campaign raised a total of $62,695, while Young’s only brought in $26,643. Despite the smaller dollar figure, Young had 201 individual donations while Scott had only 138.
Scott’s donations came largely from developers and contractors who donated roughly 57% of his campaign cash. His largest donors also found ways to skirt contribution limits by donating through PACs.
For Young, development-related interests donated just $2,406 (about 9%); her highest category of contributors was educators, who donated a combined $4,508 (about 17%).
As residents get priced out of homes and rentals while development booms around them, Scott was asked to tell voters why they should trust him. He told this reporter that throughout his political life, “developers, realtors, ordinary people,” have given to his campaigns because of his leadership, experience and integrity.
“People are supporting me because they believe Tom Scott is reasonable, is fair, and is a person who will listen to everybody and then make a prudent decision for the community,” he added.
Former Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn, who donated to Scott’s campaign and is likely to run for a third term, was asked about the fundraising gaps between the candidates and told CL that businesses “crave Rev. Scott’s calm and stable presence.”
Asked about her lower fundraising total, Young called her haul a “small but mighty number,” adding that her campaign has been able to get a lot done with the donations.
“I think it’s just a true testament to people in the city and individuals who really just believe in wanting something new, wanting a fresh perspective—not wanting to continue going on like politics as usual,” Young said. “We need something new in the city, and I’m proud of that number.”
This is a developing post.
Subscribe to Creative Loafing newsletters.
Follow us: Google News | NewsBreak | Reddit | Instagram | Facebook | BlueSky
This article appears in Oct. 23 – 29, 2025.
Related