Voters Turn Out for Local, National Elections

By Laura Mulrooney

On Tuesday, November 3, voters in Pinellas County voted for candidates from the president to property appraiser, and on six state amendments.

Over 560,000 eligible voters utilized their right to vote in Pinellas – a near 80% turnout.

Multiple local and national-level organizations stepped up efforts to increase voter turnout and voter registration this year, making the election one for the history books.

The Biden/Harris and Trump/Pence tickets received the most and second-most votes, respectively, of any presidential election in 120 years, according to the US Elections Project, a nonpartisan data website run by University of Florida professor Michael McDonald.

According to the Associated Press, “as of Sunday, the tallied votes accounted for 62% of the eligible voting-age population in the U.S. That’s a 0.4 percentage point increase so far over the rate hit in 2008,” and votes in some U.S. counties are still being tallied.

“While the results illustrate the deep divisions in our country, and the inequities caused by gerrymandering, systemic racism and other political maneuverings, there may still be some positive glimmers in this election,” said Ingrid Bredenberg, organizer of Gulfport Votes 100%, a non-partisan effort to engage local voters. “Significantly more people than ever voted in this election. More than 146.6 million people cast ballots, up from just under 129 million in 2016. More youth voted than ever before, up 10% in some states. Unlike 2016, the winner [of the presidential race] won both the electoral vote and the popular vote.”

Gulfport increased voter registration by 5.2%, though official voter turnout numbers for the city had not been released by press time.

“Whatever the actual numbers, the real work is how people choose to respond and find areas of common interest and respect,” said Bredenberg. “This will be the hard work of a democratic system that allows people to vote for their representatives, both local and national, and then have to live with the outcomes.”

GV100’s ComeUnity party in the Village Courtyard on

election night rounded out this season’s efforts to get 100% of eligible Gulfport residents registered and to the polls to cast their vote.

After months of organizing and rallying, the block party helped voters shake off their election day stress during a fun, free, family friendly event featuring live music.

“Patriotism is not the people of the party, it’s the act of voting,” Councilmember Paul Ray said to the crowd gathered at the ComeUnity party on Tuesday, November 3.

District 69’s State Representative and Gulfport resident Jennifer Webb held a watch party at the Peninsula Inn

Some Gulfport residents and business owners held an impromptu dance party in front of Custom House Decor and Brenda McMahon Gallery on Saturday, November 7, after the announcement of the presidential election results.

Laura Mulrooney

on election night, with Gulfport’s Mayor Sam Henderson, Vice Mayor Michael Fridovich and Councilmembers Paul Ray and April Thanos coming to show their support.

Webb conceded to former St. Pete Beach Commissioner Linda Chaney early in the evening, saying that statistically, she would not be able to pull ahead in the race.

“I am not a stranger to public service,” Webb told the crowd. “This was just one way of serving. There are many ways to serve. I will stay engaged like I have been and continue to make sure that we’re putting our community first.”

On Saturday, November 7, shortly after media outlets announced the presidential election results, local business Custom House Decor posted a party invitation on their Facebook page.

“We’re planning a celebration tonight in Gulfport that the election has been decided. Very impromptu. Come join us,” read the post.

Brenda McMahon, owner and operator of Brenda McMahon Gallery, kept the gallery’s doors open past closing, providing a place for those who wanted to celebrate the presidential election results.

“I heard the announcement today and there was all this energy on the street,” said McMahon. “I turned to my friend and said, ‘We have to have a dance party.’

“After four years of heartbreak and difficulty, this party is about releasing all of that energy,” McMahon continued. “It’s about humanity and compassion coming back to the White House and to our lives.”

Said Gulfport resident Jill Jenkins on Saturday, “We’ve got the best party on the block.”

District 69's State Representative and Gulfport resident Jennifer Webb held a watch party at the Peninsula Inn on election night, conceding early to opponent Linda Chaney.

Laura Mulrooney