Local races highlight Primary Election Day

TAMPA, Fla. — Residents will turn out across the Bay area Tuesday to cast votes on Primary Election Day.

The only statewide race on the ballot is for the Senate seat held by Republican Rick Scott, who will learn who he’ll face in November.

But plenty of local races will be the main motivator to get people to the polls, including school board seats, judges, commissioners and local representatives.

At the voter deadline for the primary, Republicans outnumbered Democrats 5.3 million to 4.3 million in Florida, with 3.5 million voters choosing not to register with a party.

In the Bay area, Hillsborough County had the biggest turn out of early voters. It’s the largest county in the area and more than 25,000 people cast their ballots early.

Pasco had more than 9,000 people vote early and Pinellas had the fewest, with 4,000.

Residents can still cast ballots Tuesday.

Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.