Andrew Warren secured the Democratic nomination for Hillsborough State Attorney with 71 percent of the vote, setting up a November election against Republican Suzy Lopez.

Andrew Warren took another step closer to reclaiming his role as Hillsborough State Attorney after securing the Democratic nomination in a sweeping victory in Tuesday night’s primary.

Warren secured 71 percent of the vote, compared to the 29 percent garnered by party challenger Elizabeth Martinez Strauss. He will now face Republican Suzy Lopez in the November election. Warren received support from several current and former state and local officials, including Congresswoman Kathy Castor, former Florida Commissioner of Education Betty Castor, former Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink, and House Minority Leader Fentrice Driskell, among others. Organizations such as the SEIU Florida and the West Central Florida Central Labor Council of AFL-CIO also gave backing to Warren.

“Thanks to the voters and everyone who has continued to support my fight for public safety and democracy. Democracy is not a spectator sport, and I congratulate Ms. Strauss for throwing her hat into the ring,” Warren said after the race was called. “My focus remains where it always has been: getting back in office so we can reverse the alarming increase in crime that’s happened under my illegally appointed successor. To do that, we need a true leader committed to serving this community, not the Governor’s political agenda.”

First elected in 2016, Warren is seeking a third term after he was suspended and removed from office by Gov. Ron DeSantis in 2022 after the governor accused Warren of incompetence and dereliction of duty following his dismissal from office by Executive Order.

Notably, the governor claimed that Warren pledged not to enforce the state’s recently passed abortion law, as well as signed letters stating that he would not enforce laws prohibiting sex changes for minors. The suspension has been highly politicized and seen as a flagship moment of action for DeSantis, who directly referenced his removal of Warren during a Republican primary debate.

During a press conference earlier this year, DeSantis suggested that he would wield his newly-formed ‘Florida Freedom Fund political action committee to target the Hillsborough County State Attorney race.