President-elect Donald Trump’s historic comeback was the big news of Tuesday’s election. But a lot happened locally and around Florida, too.

Some examples:

A handful of well-known politicians — Wengay Newton, Ed Montanari, Charlie Justice, Andrew Warren, Cindy Stuart — on both sides of the gulf lost. Where could we see them next?

Nearly 90 percent of Pinellas voters favored 12-year term limits for county commissioners. Given the overwhelming popularity, will we see more deadline initiatives in the coming years?

The shift of Hispanic voters to the Republican Party continued. Can the Florida Democratic Party win them back?

Three other takeaways from Tuesday’s election:

Education wins

Education in the Tampa Bay area was a big winner in Tuesday’s election — and that’s good for everyone.

Hillsborough voters overwhelmingly supported a property tax to help raise pay for teachers and school staff. The additional tax will raise about $177 million a year. The owner of a $375,000 home with the $25,000 standard exemption will pay about $350 annually. The extra money will allow the county to attract and retain good teachers and pay enough to attract bus drivers and other employees who keep the district running smoothly.

The successful vote came just two years after a slim majority shot down a similar tax. But starting in 2022, the district made some tough but necessary decisions to close schools and put other parts of its fiscal house in order. The district still has a lot of hard work to do, but Tuesday’s election results indicate voters believe it’s on the right track.

Hillsborough voters also re-elected school board member Lynn Gray, another solid decision to ensure a well-run district. Gray is steeped in education policy, understands the district’s challenges, works in college with other board members and has close ties to business and government leaders. It’s good for students, teachers and the district as a whole. Pinellas County voters agreed to double the property tax that supports teacher salaries, arts programs and other student experiences. Originally approved in 2004, voters have raised the tax every four years. On Tuesday, they voted to raise it from 50 cents to $1 for every $1,000 of assessed property value. Pinellas school leaders have made a strong case for the increase, assuring voters that most of the money will go to teachers and bragging about the district’s recent A rating from the state.

Pinellas voters also wisely elected first-time school board candidate Katie Blaxberg. Blaxberg, facing an opponent backed by the polarizing group Moms for Liberty, articulated a sensitive approach to school issues. Given the all-too-frequent and often pointless culture war battles plaguing school boards in recent years, she refreshingly said she “wants to make school board meetings boring again.”

In Pasco County, voters chose John Legg to replace a retiring school superintendent. Legg has the education, experience and knowledge to keep the district growing in the right direction. Public schools are fundamental to a vibrant and well-functioning society. They help build solid citizens who contribute to the economy and community. But those schools need enough money and the right people. Voters in the Tampa Bay area chose well on Tuesday.

Florida Legislature: No real election

They are called elections, but they are not competitive. The Florida Legislature came through Tuesday’s general election largely unchanged. For the most part, Democrats held their seats and Republicans held theirs. Democrats were targeting eight House seats to flip, needing just five to break Republican supermajority control. But nearly every incumbent won their seat, meaning Republicans will keep their supermajorities in both the state House and Senate for the next two years, allowing them to advance their agenda without much opposition. Republicans have controlled statewide offices in Tallahassee since Governor Jeb Bush was first elected in 1998. This partly reflects the impact of gerrymandered seats and special interest campaign donations. But the result is that Floridians in Democratic and Republican districts don’t really have a choice. How is no control over an opposing political party good for Florida?

Hillsborough’s hallmark

With the rising cost of housing, insurance and other day-to-day basics, the 2024 election largely revolved around pocketbook issues. But Hillsborough County voters chose to dig deeper for another 15 years to fund key public works projects, from road and school improvements to public safety investments. Voters approved local referendum no. 1, which will give Hillsborough County and its three cities — Tampa, Temple Terrace and Plant City — hundreds of millions of dollars annually for infrastructure projects, including parks, libraries and other high-value items. By renewing the Community Investment Levy with 52% of the vote, residents made a significant investment in the future of this region and sent a sign of confidence to people and employers looking to relocate to the Tampa Bay area. The result was a squeak, but it got the job done.