Donalds projected to win governor; Pasco projections include Nocco and Weightman

November 3, 2026 — Our projections reflect election-night reporting and are not certified results. Vote totals below are snapshots from the stated update times.

PASCO COUNTY, Fla. — Our projections show Byron Donalds winning Florida’s governor’s race and Ashley Moody winning the U.S. Senate contest, while Amendment 3 holds a statewide lead as ballots continue to be counted. Statewide returns.

Locally, our projections include former Pasco Sheriff Chris Nocco winning the Senate District 21 special election and Seth Weightman winning the County Commission District 2 race. The evening also brings a leadership change at the Pasco Sheriff’s Office, where Jeff Harrington has become interim sheriff following Nocco’s resignation.

Donalds leads our statewide projections

Our projection places Republican Byron Donalds in the governor’s office. Other projected statewide winners include Ashley Moody for U.S. Senate, Wilton Simpson for agriculture commissioner and James Uthmeier for attorney general. Blaise Igoglia led the chief financial officer contest in the returns reviewed, with that race still uncalled. Florida results.

Ashley Moody wins U.S. Senate

Moody defeated Democrat Angie Nixon in the Senate race, keeping the seat in Republican hands. Moody joined the Senate in 2025 after Gov. Ron DeSantis appointed her to replace Marco Rubio. Senate election coverage.

Amendment 3 leads as counting continues

Amendment 3, concerning homestead tax exemptions, property assessments and spending restrictions, had 4,451,803 “yes” votes, or 61.47%, against 2,790,785 “no” votes, or 38.53%, in the statewide update marked 8:20 p.m. EST.

With an estimated 86% reported in that update, the measure remained ahead but had not received a verified passage call in the results reviewed. Amendment 3 returns.

Nocco projected to win Senate District 21

Our projection is that Republican Chris Nocco wins the Senate District 21 special election against Democrat Jordan Hensley.

The districtwide returns updated at 8:16 p.m. showed Nocco with 128,564 votes, or 57.75%, and Hensley with 94,053 votes, or 42.25%, with more than 95% reported. Those published returns still listed Nocco as the leader. District 21 returns.

Nocco’s departure from the sheriff’s office took effect late Monday. With DeSantis yet to make an official replacement appointment, the chief judge of the Sixth Judicial Circuit, serving Pasco and Pinellas counties, appointed Jeff Harrington as interim Pasco sheriff, effective at midnight Tuesday.

Harrington, Nocco’s chief of staff, will lead the agency while the governor’s appointment remains pending, according to an agency statement reported by FOX 13. Sheriff leadership transition.

Weightman projected to win County Commission race

Our projection is that Republican Seth Weightman wins the Pasco County Commission District 2 contest against Democrat Stephanie Vazquez.

Vote totals were not yet available on the race results page reviewed for this report. Commission District 2 returns.

Congressional and Florida House projections

Our congressional projections include Gus Bilirakis in District 12, Anna Paulina Luna in District 13 and Laurel Lee in District 15. Pasco election results.

Anna Paulina Luna — Congressional District 13

Our projection shows Anna Paulina Luna winning Florida’s 13th Congressional District.

Laurel Lee — Congressional District 15

Our projection shows Laurel Lee winning Florida’s 15th Congressional District.

Florida House races

In Florida House contests appearing on Pasco ballots, we project Brian Hawkins in District 53 and Walter Price in District 55. Brad Yeager led District 56, which remained uncalled in the returns reviewed. Florida House results.

School board races remain uncalled

Kimberly Coward led the District 1 school board contest with 106,907 votes, or 51.78%, compared with Gino Collura’s 99,572 votes, or 48.22%, in the 8:17 p.m. update. District 1 returns.

In District 3, Matt Geiger had 119,962 votes, or 58.42%, while Mollyana Ward had 85,396 votes, or 41.58%, in the update marked the same time. Both school board contests remained uncalled in the reviewed results. District 3 returns.

Other contests on Pasco ballots

Amendment 1, concerning the Budget Stabilization Fund, is projected to fail. “Yes” led Amendment 2, concerning a tangible personal property tax exemption for agriculture or agritourism, but that measure remained uncalled in the summary reviewed.

Five judicial retention questions also showed “yes” leading: Andrea Teves Smith, Daniel Sleet, J. Andrew Atkinson, Morris Silberman and Carlos Muñiz. The county results page also lists 19 neighborhood development and special district contests. Pasco ballot results.

The Mosquito Control Seat 2 contest between Gregory Fuher and Shanon Holm was awaiting returns on the page reviewed. Mosquito Control returns.