{"id":375903,"date":"2026-08-19T20:26:13","date_gmt":"2026-08-19T20:26:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/375903\/"},"modified":"2026-08-19T20:26:13","modified_gmt":"2026-08-19T20:26:13","slug":"democrats-gwen-myers-aileen-rodriguez-earn-landslide-victories-in-hillsborough-county-commission-primaries","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/375903\/","title":{"rendered":"Democrats Gwen Myers, Aileen Rodriguez, earn landslide victories in Hillsborough County Commission primaries"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"AGwen Myers (L) and Aileen Rodriguez (center) at C. Blythe Andrews Jr. Public Library in Tampa, Florida on July 9, 2026. Credit: Dave Decker \/ Creative Loafing Tampa Bay<\/p>\n

Voters face a huge decision about Hillsborough County\u2019s future this fall, and we now know the politicians that\u2019ll be trying to get their point across.<\/p>\n

Aileen Rodriguez and incumbent Hillsborough County Commissioner Gwen Myers won their Democratic primaries on Tuesday night by earning 62% and 69% of the vote, respectively.<\/p>\n

Rodriguez, a Republican-turned-Democrat will face right-wing incumbent Commissioner Joshua Wostal<\/a> in District 7; Meyers, currently serving her second term on the Board of County Commissioners (BOCC), will face Republican Luiz Garcia in the general.<\/p>\n

In a statement, Rodriguez thanked voters for their trust and mentioned the \u201ca sun up to sundown work ethic\u201d she learned growing up on a farm.<\/p>\n

\u201cI brought that same tireless energy to this primary campaign, and in November, I will bring it to the County Commission,\u201d she added. \u201cI will fight relentlessly to ensure our infrastructure keeps pace with growth, our natural beauty is preserved, and our county services have the resources they need to keep every zip code safe and prosperous.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"AAileen Rodriguez at C. Blythe Andrews Jr. Public Library in Tampa, Florida on July 9, 2026. Credit: Dave Decker \/ Creative Loafing Tampa Bay<\/p>\n

In the BOCC\u2019s District 7 race, Republican Stacy Hanh defeated incumbent Donna Cameron Cepeda, who once proposed eliminating Sunshine law for Hillsborough County commissioners<\/a>. Hanh will face Dr. Neil Manimala in the general election, which wraps on Election Day, Tuesday Nov. 3.<\/p>\n

Every Hillsborough BOCC candidate who qualified for the November ballot has been invited to a Tampa Tiger Bay Candidate Forum happening on Friday, Aug. 21 in Ybor City<\/a>.<\/p>\n

In Pinellas, incumbent county commissioner Dave Eggers was re-elected to his District 4 seat by earning roughly 80% of the vote.<\/p>\n

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This article appears in August 13 \u2013 19, 2026<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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