2024 primary election: Andrew Warren to face Suzy Lopez in Hillsborough State Attorney race

TAMPA, Fla. - Ousted Hillsborough State Attorney Andrew Warren is one step closer to getting his job back. On Tuesday night, Warren defeated Tampa defense attorney Elizabeth Martinez-Strauss and will take on current Hillsborough State Attorney Suzy Lopez in November.

Warren was elected as the Hillsborough State Attorney in 2016 and in 2020. He was suspended by Governor Ron DeSantis in 2022, who said the prosecutor violated his oath of office and had been soft on crime.

At that time, DeSantis appointed Lopez, a Hillsborough County judge, to replace Warren.

Warren sued DeSantis claiming his ousting was an "illegal political stunt."

The judge found that the governor was wrong to fire Warren, but said the court lacked the authority to reinstall him as state attorney. Warren appealed the case.

The Florida Supreme Court ruled that the twice-elected Democrat waited too long to bring the case.

In January, Warren scored a win in the fight to get his job back. An appeals court found Warren’s statements were protected by the First Amendment, and a lower court has the authority to reinstate him. However, he has not been reinstated.

"Thanks to the voters and everyone who has continued to support my fight for public safety and democracy," Warren said in a statement Tuesday night. "Democracy is not a spectator sport, and I congratulate Ms. Strauss for throwing her hat into the ring. 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."

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