Federal Monitors Sent to 5 Florida Counties as Midterm Polls Open

Polls opened across Florida on Tuesday in the 2026 midterm general election, with races for governor, U.S. Senate, St. Petersburg mayor and Amendment 3 drawing attention in the Tampa Bay area. The Florida Division of Elections reports that voter turnout reached 54% in the last midterm general election four years ago.

The U.S. Department of Justice is sending federal election monitors to all 50 states for the first time. Hillsborough County is one of five Florida counties affected. A spokesperson for the Hillsborough County Supervisor of Elections told Creative Loafing Tampa Bay that the office is aware of the monitors, who may move between precincts during the day.

Voter turnout in Florida reached 63% in 2018, the last year the state saw a close race for governor. Turnout hit 78.9% in Florida during the 2024 presidential election.

At a watch party in St. Petersburg for mayoral candidate Charlie Crist, former candidate Kevin Batdorf, who endorsed Crist after the primary, spoke with WMNF's Daria Mironova. "Well, I think transparency is key, because we haven't had that," Batdorf said. "So that's number one. His plan for the future of St. Pete, I've looked at it, I agree with it, and it's the complete opposite of what the other candidate has offered."

WMNF's Valerie Smith spoke with voters outside a precinct in Palmetto Beach. One voter said, "I'm very happy and excited because I'm waiting for this day .. You know, for better change for my community, for my family, you know, for schools, for the county, and for the state too."

WMNF scheduled live reports during the Freak Show and Dream Clinic at 7:30, 8:30 and 9:30 p.m. Live Election Night coverage from the BBC and Democracy Now! was set to begin at 6:00 p.m. on The Source, WMNF's HD-3 channel. Amy Goodman was to interview WMNF news director Seán Kinane about Florida results during the evening.