Naya Young Wins Tampa City Council District 5 Seat With Nearly 61% Vote

Naya Young, a 33-year-old grassroots activist and political newcomer, won the Tampa City Council District 5 runoff with nearly 61% of the vote to Thomas Scott’s roughly 39%, according to unofficial results. She will fill the remainder of the term of the late Gwendolyn Henderson, who died in June, ending a stretch in which the district lacked direct representation during the city’s budget process. Tuesday’s tallies included early voting, vote-by-mail and Election Day precincts (but not provisional ballots or mail ballots pending signature cure) and will be certified Oct. 30; voter turnout was low at about 11% (roughly 5,000 votes). Young, executive director of the Tampa Heights Junior Civic Association and a Howard University graduate, ran on housing, development, diversity, youth empowerment, economic development, transit and affordable housing, and drew support from progressive groups despite being out-fundraised. Scott, a former Hillsborough County commissioner and City Council member with endorsements from local political figures, led the September primary and raised more campaign funds but was unable to overcome Young’s runoff surge. Barring complications finalizing ballots, Young is projected to represent roughly 45,000 residents across downtown Tampa, Ybor City and parts of East and West Tampa and will be sworn in to complete Henderson’s term.