A prosecutor backed by the Clearwater Fraternal Order of Police, Elizabeth Constantine, won the Sixth Judicial Circuit bench Tuesday, defeating opponent Stefen Diskey with 75% of the Pinellas County vote and 68% in Pasco County.

Constantine, 38, a prosecutor in the Pinellas State Attorney's Office Gang Unit with 13 years of experience and more than 80 jury trials, will fill the Circuit Judge Group 39 seat being vacated by Judge Daniel D. Diskey, Stefen Diskey's father, who did not seek reelection.

The Clearwater Fraternal Order of Police, the Suncoast Police Benevolent Association, Pinellas County Commissioners Vince Nowicki, René Flowers and Chris Latvala, and Court Clerk Ken Burke all endorsed Constantine.

In a July 31 candidate profile with the St. Pete Catalyst, Constantine described the personal history that drove her career: "I was raised by parents who were deeply addicted to drugs. At the age of 14, my father was killed, resulting in me entering the foster care system."

Jack turns back family law attorney's challenge in Group 44

Incumbent Circuit Judge Elizabeth "Liz" Jack turned back a challenge from Clearwater-based family law attorney Oxalis Garcia in Group 44, taking 73% in Pinellas and 70% in Pasco, according to Tampa Bay Times election night reporting.

Garcia, 46, a managing attorney at Clearwater firm Oxalis & Berry, had mounted her campaign partly on complaints from litigants who sought to have Jack removed from their cases. Garcia had appeared before Jack in at least a half-dozen cases since 2021.

Garcia told the Times on election night, "With limited resources I got 30% of the votes in Pasco. ... I congratulate Judge Jack in retaining her seat."

Jack, who raised $120,000 and secured endorsements from more than 100 attorneys and officials including State Attorney Bruce Bartlett and Public Defender Sara Mollo, told the Times on election night she was "thrilled to be able to continue serving our citizens for the next six years."

Fiorentino defeats defense attorney Wade for County Judge Group 10

Nick Fiorentino captured the County Judge Group 10 seat with 64% of the vote, defeating criminal defense attorney Zachariah Wade, 35, of St. Petersburg.

Fiorentino, 47, a managing partner at Fiorentino Firm P.A. since 2005, was endorsed by Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri and local firefighter and police unions. He ran unsuccessfully for circuit judge in 2024, losing to now-Judge Jen Dubbeld by fewer than 1,000 votes out of more than 650,000 cast.

All three races were decided in the primary because each had only two candidates, with no party labels on the ballot.

The results are unofficial. The Pinellas County Canvassing Board is scheduled to certify official returns Friday. Circuit judges earn $196,898 per year; county judges earn $186,034.