{"id":195007,"date":"2026-03-17T15:04:08","date_gmt":"2026-03-17T15:04:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/195007\/"},"modified":"2026-03-17T15:04:08","modified_gmt":"2026-03-17T15:04:08","slug":"in-city-of-tampa-redistricting-planning-commission-choses-alternative-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/195007\/","title":{"rendered":"In City of Tampa redistricting, Planning Commission choses ‘Alternative 2’"},"content":{"rendered":"

\""AA crop of a map showing new Tampa City Council districts voted on by the Hillsborough County Planning Commission on March 9, 2026. Credit: Tampa Monitor \/ Tampa Bay Journalism Project<\/a><\/p>\n

Every four years, the Hillsborough County Planning Commission is tasked with rebalancing population density in the four Tampa City Council districts. On March 9, 2026, the Planning Commission voted on Alternative 2, moving the predominantly Hispanic Precinct 345 from the most populous District 7 to District 5.<\/p>\n

The change reduces the population difference between the two from 8.3%, above the 5% threshold to 3.97%, making District 5 the most populous district with 106,002 residents up from 101,007. Districts 4 and 6 populations remain the same, 101,899 and 102,780 respectively. District 7 slides to second most populous with 104,673. All the data is based on ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019\u20132023).<\/p>\n

As\u00a0reported by Leah Burdick with WMNF News<\/a>\u00a0community leaders in West Tampa were concerned with reducing Black representation in district 6 if Alternative 4 had been chosen.<\/p>\n

Michael Randolph with the West Tampa CDC said residents should support alternative two, which he said best protects the community.<\/p>\n

\u201dOnly one precinct is moved. There\u2019s no disruption to the West Tampa or East Tampa Black community. No churches were split, and it had strong support, 440 people backed it compared to the other proposal,\u201d Randolph said.<\/p>\n

According to the Planning Commission they will next forward the approved district boundaries to the Supervisor of Elections office for proclamation. Following that, staff will present the new boundaries to Tampa City Council prior to September. The next City of Tampa Elections will be held March 2, 2027.<\/p>\n

Alternative\u00a01\u00a0(affects 6,073 voters)<\/p>\n

Precinct 151 from District 6 to District 4<\/p>\n

Precinct 169 from District 5 to District 6\u00a0<\/p>\n

Precinct 342 from District 7 to District 5\u00a0<\/p>\n

Alternative 2\u00a0(affects 2,061 voters)<\/p>\n

Precinct 345 from District 7 to District 5<\/p>\n

Alternative\u00a03 (affects 3,245 voters)<\/p>\n

Precinct 249 from District 7 to District 6<\/p>\n

Precinct 250 from District 7 to District 6<\/p>\n

Precinct 320 from District 6 to District 5<\/p>\n

Alternative 4\u00a0(affects 5,020 voters)<\/p>\n

Precinct 141 from District 6 to District 4<\/p>\n

Precinct 207 from District 5 to District 6<\/p>\n

Precinct 345 from District 7 to District 5<\/p>\n

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This article appears in Mar. 12 \u2013 18, 2026<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\n\tRelated\n<\/p>\n

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