With just over 90 percent of the vote counted in the state attorney general’s race in Tampa, Lopez was projected to win with 52.7 percent of the vote, while Warren won 47.3 percent, according to the study. Associated Press.

Lopez was appointed to the position in August 2022 after suspending Warren, a progressive attorney general who issued a public statement refusing to enforce certain state laws, including abortion laws, that he publicly opposed.

Throughout her campaign, Lopez touted her record not only as Hillsborough’s district attorney, but also for her time as Tampa’s Second District Court of Appeals and Hillsborough County judge.

“I am the only state’s attorney in over two decades to be of record in a Florida state courtroom. I am the only person in this race who has ever tried a case in criminal court on behalf of the people of Hillsborough County,” she said.

In 2020, Warren won re-election as Hillsborough County District Attorney with the support of 53% of his voters. But in August 2022, DeSantis suspended him indefinitely for indicating he would not enforce restrictions on abortion and gender therapy. The governor claimed Warren had “flagrantly violated” his oath of office.

After his impeachment, Warren announced on January 8 that he would not run for re-election. But he reversed course in April, announcing in a video that he was running a campaign dedicated to “keeping neighborhoods safe” and criminal justice reform and maintaining the rule of law without political bias.

Warren released a statement on election day, saying he was “proud of the race we ran.”

“The best candidate doesn’t always win, especially when the other side cheats — by illegally suspending you, then spending millions of dollars lying about you. But today’s result does not change the facts: we made Hillsborough safer, improved the system and fought for our freedoms and values. I only want what’s best for our community, and I hope that Ms. Lopez will grow in this role to become an effective and independent state’s attorney — not beholden to the governor or the sheriff, but accountable to the people,” Warren said. .

During his two years in office, Lopez tried to roll back several policies created by Warren and called for harsher penalties, such as the death penalty, for those convicted of serious crimes. In August 2024, Lopez’s office released statistics showing a drop in crime in Hillsborough, such as a 15% drop in sexual violence and a 46% drop in robbery.

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Throughout his campaign, Lopez highlighted his dedication to public safety, advocating for victims and working with law enforcement agencies.

Lopez’s victory marks a victory for voters who favored a prosecution approach aligned with state mandates and a preference for sticking to established laws.