Jane Castor’s historic victory drew national attention last night, including from a couple 2020 presidential contenders.

New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker and South Bend, Ind., Mayor Pete Buttigieg, both running to be the Democratic nominee for president, called Castor after last night’s win in the Tampa mayor’s race. Castor hasn’t listened to all her voicemails since her landslide win over retired businessman David Straz, said Adam Smith with the Castor campaign, so there may be more congratulatory notes from across the country for the city’s first LGBTQ mayor.

Like Castor, Booker and Buttigieg are groundbreaking political figures with roots in local government. Booker was the mayor of Newark before he became the first African American to represent New Jersey in the U.S. Senate. Buttigieg, or Mayor Pete as he’s often called, is the first openly gay mayor in Indiana.

RELATED: Jane Castor wins big in Tampa mayor race

Jane Castor would make history as Tampa’s first openly gay mayor

The calls from presidential nominees immediately also gave Castor a taste of what it’s like to lead a city in the political hotbed of the country’s most closely watched swing state.

The national spotlight didn’t end last night for Castor. She will appear on MSNBC this afternoon, according to an executive producer for the network.



