TAMPA, FL — Taryn Sabia’s campaign for Tampa Mayor is off to a strong start, raising more than $20,000 in just 29 days from 114 unique donors, an early show of broad, grassroots support from across the community.
The early fundraising success underscores the growing momentum behind Sabia’s campaign and her message that Tampa needs a fresh, shared vision, one that prioritizes people over politics and delivers real solutions to the affordability crisis facing working families.
“I’m running for Mayor because the same problems we were talking about 20 years ago are still here and in many cases, they’ve only gotten worse,” said Taryn Sabia. “Families are being squeezed by rising housing costs, long commutes, and a city that too often feels like it’s being shaped without them. Tampa’s problems won’t be solved by the old playbook. They’ll be solved by bringing the community into the conversation and building solutions together.”
Sabia, an urban designer, educator, and mom of two, has spent more than two decades working with cities across the country to plan for smart growth, affordable housing, and transportation solutions. Her campaign is focused on lowering everyday costs, improving transit options, supporting small businesses, and ensuring Tampa’s growth reflects the needs of its residents, not just special interests.
While Sabia’s campaign is powered by grassroots donors, recent fundraising reports from former Mayor Bob Buckhorn tell a different story. In a recent statement, Buckhorn said his campaign is about “neighbors coming together around a shared vision… where every neighborhood is lifted up.”
However, his campaign finance filings for January 2026 – March 2026 reveal that more than $329,100, over 82% of his total $400,010 raised, has come from corporate donors, not individuals.
Sabia’s campaign is offering a clear contrast.
“This campaign is about the people who are feeling the pressure every day, the parents budgeting for groceries, the workers stuck in traffic because we don’t have real transit options, and the small business owners trying to navigate a broken system,” Sabia said. “I believe Tampa can be a city where young people can afford to stay, families can thrive, seniors can age in place, and small businesses can succeed. That’s the kind of city we should be building together.”
With strong early momentum and a growing coalition of grassroots supporters, Sabia’s campaign is continuing to build toward a people-first vision for Tampa’s future.
Learn more about Taryn and her campaign by visiting: tarynformayor.com.
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Taryn Sabia is an urban designer, educator, and community advocate with more than 20 years of experience helping cities plan for people-centered growth.
She serves as Assistant Dean for Research at the University of South Florida’s College of Design, Art & Performance, where she chairs the Bachelor of Science in Design program and teaches courses on urban design policy, climate adaptation, transportation systems, and citizen engagement. Taryn previously directed the Florida Center for Community Design and Research.
Taryn is a co-founder of Urban Charrette, a Tampa-based nonprofit dedicated to empowering residents to shape their neighborhoods through collaborative design. She has planned and facilitated over 200 public charrettes and workshops and has advised more than 30 mayors nationwide on community-driven planning and development.
Born legally blind, Taryn brings a unique perspective to accessibility, mobility, and inclusive design. She holds a Master of Architecture from the Rhode Island School of Design, a Master of Urban and Community Design from USF, a Master of Education from Harvard University, and a Bachelor’s degree in Visual Art from Eckerd College.
Taryn is running for Tampa Mayor to address Tampa’s affordability crisis, improve transportation options, support small businesses, and bring people together around a fresh vision for the city’s future.