Hillsborough County Democratic Black Caucus holds ‘Meet The Candidates’ forum in July

A crowded room of community members gathered during a Tampa City Council forum at the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Recreation Complex in Tampa, Florida. In the foreground, attendees sit at round tables listening to a presentation, while in the background, a large banner features an illustration of a facility and the facility's name. A bright red Florida Rising banner stands on the right next to window blinds under bright indoor lighting. — Community members during a Tampa City Council forum at the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Recreation Complex in Tampa, Florida on Aug. 16, 2025. Credit: Dave Decker / Creative Loafing Tampa Bay

Early voting in the 2026 primary election kicks off in less than 40 days, and the Hillsborough County Democratic Black Caucus wants the public to Meet the Candidates during a July forum in the College Hill Belmont-Heights neighborhood.

The forum happens Thursday, July 9 inside two community rooms at the C. Blythe Andrews Jr. Public Library, and there’s no-cover to attend.

Angela Birdsong, President of the Hillsborough County Democratic Black Caucus, told Creative Loafing Tampa Bay that her group looks for candidates who share the same values and goals for the Black community, including diversity, equity, inclusion and Black history.

The caucus will include candidates across Hillsborough districts answering questions and sharing campaign viewpoints. Guests also have the option to register for a Zoom link.

Races covered at the Hillsborough County Democratic Black Caucus forum include those for U.S. Congress, Florida State Representative, Hillsborough County School Board and Hillsborough County Commission.

Every qualified Democrat running for office has been given an invitation to speak and answer the public’s questions at the meet and greet.

Birdsong told CL that former Tampa City Councilmember Mike Suarez who is running for Florida House of Representatives District 64 and Kathy Castor, running inside the new district lines of Florida’s 14th Congressional District are unable to make it to the event.

Birdsong wants Hillsborough residents to have the opportunity to meet candidates ahead of the primary elections, which kicks off Aug. 3 with early voting and wraps on Election Day, Aug. 18.

Those voting by mail must request a ballot by Aug. 6.

Birdsong hopes the forum also gives constituents a chance to put a face on the people who want their vote. “A lot of people never get to meet a candidate or an elected official, so we want to give them that opportunity,” she added.

The forum is also a way for the Hillsborough County Democratic Black Caucus to figure out who to endorse for the primary and general election.

And non-Democrats are welcome to hear the candidates out, too.

Data from the Hillsborough County Supervisor of Elections lists 212,664 Non-Party-Affiliated voters. Because Florida is a closed primary state, NPA voters are ineligible to participate in a Democratic or Republican party primary election.

The deadline to register for or change parties for the summer midterm elections is July 20.

“We have to try to educate our young people, especially on that, because we want them to vote during the primary to get our candidates through to the general,” said Birdsong

The recent redistricting for Florida has been an issue for the Democratic Party but Birdsong and Florida Democrats plan to get together with the party for the Leadership Blue Conference in Orlando on July 17-19.

“So we’re going to get together, strategize and get ready for the midterms, canvas, knock on doors and call our voters,” Birdsong said.

This Leadership Blue Conference will be a way for Democrats to strategize for the recent redistricting and will feature keynote speaker Pete Buttigieg, former Transportation Secretary under President Joe Biden, right before midterms begin.

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This article appears in June 25 – July 01, 2026.

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