August 18 primary result: Elizabeth Arnold won the six-way Republican primary for the open seat with 28 percent, per the Supervisor of Elections' unofficial results, and advances to the November 3 ballot, where a qualified write-in line also prints.
Elizabeth Arnold · Republican▾
Per Suncoast Searchlight, Arnold is a retired executive from Florida Power Corp., where she handled cash management and efficiency improvements. Her campaign site says she spent over two decades with Florida Power Corporation, rising to Director managing major financial operations, after earlier efficiency-review work for the City of St. Petersburg.
Priorities: Conservation: 'Protect What We Have' by preserving Old Florida rural lands and fighting overdevelopment in sensitive areas · Infrastructure first: 'We cannot keep approving development without the roads, drainage, and emergency services to support it,' · Public safety: improve EMS response times and better pay for EMS personnel (per the votelizarnold.com)
Raised $20,148 · per Supervisor of Elections filings
Sari Lindroos-Valimaki · Democratic▾
Per Suncoast Searchlight, Lindroos-Valimaki works in cybersecurity and previously ran for the county's at-large District 7 commission seat in 2024.
Priorities: Reassess the county's long-term plan · Prevent development-related loss of natural land · Restore integrity in governance: 'We need integrity back in government, and decency,' (per the Suncoast Searchlight)
Raised $11,406 · per Supervisor of Elections filings
August 18 primary result: incumbent Amanda Ballard won the Republican primary 67.5 to 32.5 percent over Edward Bailey, per the Supervisor of Elections' unofficial results, and meets Democrat Charles Smith on the November 3 ballot.
Amanda Ballard · RepublicanIncumbent▾
Per her official Manatee County commissioner biography on mymanatee.org, Ballard worked for nearly eight years as an attorney in the local child welfare system before being elected to the County Commission in November 2022; she holds a J.D. from the University of South Carolina School of Law and was admitted to the Florida Bar in 2015.
Priorities: Housing affordability and reducing homelessness · Addiction recovery and job training · Strengthening families in Manatee County (per the official commissioner biography on mymanatee.org)
Raised $56,521 · per Supervisor of Elections filings
Charles B. Smith Sr. · Democratic▾
Business executive and co-founder, president and CEO of Manatee Harvesting Co. Inc., per his campaign site. At age 26 he became the first African American elected to the Palmetto City Commission, was re-elected four times and served as Vice Mayor, and he previously served as a Manatee County Commissioner, including as 2nd Vice Chairman and Port Authority Commissioner, per his campaign site. Charles B. Smith Sr. appears on the November 3, 2026 ballot for Manatee County Commissioner District 2, per the Supervisor of Elections' official qualified-candidate list.
Priorities: Improving housing conditions · Encouraging smart growth that benefits all residents · Revitalizing the local economy and fostering business growth (per the campaign site)
Raised $8,475 · per Supervisor of Elections filings
August 18 primary result: incumbent Mike Rahn won the Republican primary 67.5 to 32.5 percent over Glen Gibellina, per the Supervisor of Elections' unofficial results, and advances to the November 3 ballot, where a qualified write-in line also prints.
Mike Rahn · RepublicanIncumbent▾
Per his official Manatee County commissioner biography on mymanatee.org, Rahn worked for over 35 years as a residential mortgage leader in the Manatee/Sarasota market and is a former U.S. Marine Corps officer who served 13 years including in Operation Desert Storm; he was elected to the County Commission in November 2022, served as its Chair in 2024, and previously served on the Manatee County Planning Commission (2016-2022).
Raised $65,450 · per Supervisor of Elections filings
August 18 primary result: Tara Poulton won the Republican primary with 38.3 percent over Edward Ference, John Calovich and Tony Barrett, per the Supervisor of Elections' unofficial results, and meets Democrat Reggie Bellamy on the November 3 countywide ballot.
Tara Poulton · Republican▾
District Chief of Staff for Congressman Vern Buchanan (FL-16), overseeing district operations across Manatee County and southern Hillsborough County, per her campaign website tarapoulton.com and her VoterFocus (Manatee County Supervisor of Elections) filing; her career also includes roles at the Manatee Chamber of Commerce and DeSoto County government, per her campaign website.
Priorities: Fiscal responsibility - holding the line on government spending to address affordability · Environmental protection, including opposing the proposed Manatee County cruise terminal over ecosystem concerns · Responsible growth and economic development with taxpayer protection (per the tarapoulton.com)
Raised $45,901 · per Supervisor of Elections filings
Reggie J. Bellamy · Democratic▾
Executive Director of the Palmetto Youth Center, U.S. military veteran, and former Manatee County Commissioner, per his campaign website reggiebellamy.com; he is not the current officeholder - the county's two at-large commission seats are held by George Kruse and Jason Bearden, per mymanatee.org.
Priorities: Infrastructure-first growth - roads, sewer, and stormwater addressed before development approvals · Environmental protection balancing economic growth with stewardship of water resources and ecosystems · Fiscal accountability - cutting waste, improving efficiency, and transparent use of taxpayer dollars (per the reggiebellamy.com)
Raised $9,725 · per Supervisor of Elections filings
August 18 result: incumbent Cindy Spray (34.2 percent) and Sharon Jefferson (26.8 percent) advance to a November 3 runoff, per the Supervisor of Elections' unofficial results and WUSF.
Sharon Jefferson▾
Jefferson has been an educator in Manatee County for more than 26 years and currently teaches social studies at Sugg Middle School, per Suncoast Searchlight, which also reports she serves as education chair for the Manatee County NAACP.
Priorities: Support Title I schools and economically disadvantaged students · Improve teacher retention · Address students' mental and emotional needs and eliminate educational gaps (per the Suncoast Searchlight)
Raised $3,221 · per Supervisor of Elections filings
Cindy SprayIncumbent▾
Spray is the sitting School Board of Manatee County District 2 member; Suncoast Searchlight does not detail her professional occupation outside the board. No campaign website or questionnaire response was found as of September 8, 2026.
Priorities: 'Putting students first' through increased classroom resources and teacher support · Transportation improvements and school security · School choice, including extending millage funding to charter schools (per the Suncoast Searchlight)
Raised $26,426 · per Supervisor of Elections filings
August 18 result: Jonathan Mullis (35.3 percent) and Camden Bedinghaus (34.1 percent) advance to a November 3 runoff, per the Supervisor of Elections' unofficial results.
Camden T. Bedinghaus▾
Per Suncoast Searchlight, Bedinghaus is the 23-year-old director of the Turning Point USA Manatee County Hub and works as an independent journalist for Coastal Conservative News; his personal website describes him as a Christian conservative author, speaker, and independent journalist.
Priorities: Declare a 'reading emergency' and refocus on common-sense academics, citing that nearly half of district students cannot read at grade level, per camforschoolboard.com · Accountability and transparency, including more parental access to information (a parent portal to view lesson plans), per camforschoolboard.com and Suncoast Searchlight · Teach real-world skills such as personal finance, budgeting, and economics, per camforschoolboard.com
Raised $5,200 · per Supervisor of Elections filings
Jonathan Mullis▾
Per his campaign site votemullis.com, Mullis is owner and CEO of Physical Therapy Doctors of Florida in Bradenton with over 17 years as a small business owner; Suncoast Searchlight likewise describes him as a physical therapist and business owner.
Priorities: Academic excellence: proficiency in reading, writing, math, and science, per votemullis.com · Expand vocational and technical programs with real-world work exposure, per Suncoast Searchlight · Support teachers by reducing administrative burdens, plus school safety and fiscal responsibility, per votemullis.com
Raised $27,863 · per Supervisor of Elections filings
This race was not on the August 18 primary ballot: all three candidates appear on the November 3 general ballot, per the Supervisor of Elections' certified general-election list.
Scott Johnson▾
Scott Johnson appears on the November 3, 2026 ballot for Manatee County Mosquito Control District Group 1, per the Supervisor of Elections' official qualified-candidate list. No campaign website or questionnaire response was found as of September 3, 2026; the official election filing is the only verifiable source for Scott Johnson.
Rodney O'Quinn▾
Per kellerspestcontrol.com/about-us, O'Quinn is the sole owner and president of Keller's Pest Control, a Bradenton-based family pest control company he joined as a service technician in 1997; his Manatee County candidate filing (VoterFocus) lists a kellerspestcontrol.com email as his contact. No campaign website or questionnaire response was found as of September 6, 2026.
Charles Richards▾
Land management professional since 1984 and owner of Rick Richards Inc, an ecological management company specializing in native plant restoration, per his campaign site. He previously served as a Fire Commissioner for the Myakka City Fire Control District, per his campaign site. Charles Richards appears on the November 3, 2026 ballot for Manatee County Mosquito Control District Group 1, per the Supervisor of Elections' official qualified-candidate list.
Priorities: Favors biological control methods over excessive chemical spraying · Emphasizes cost-effective solutions and efficient budget management · Proposes more community education on mosquito management (per the campaign site)
Raised $1,200 · per Supervisor of Elections filings
Gerald Baldi (Democratic), Jim Boyd (Republican) are on the November 3 ballot for Florida Senate District 20; Jim Boyd is the sitting member, per the Florida Senate' official roster. Major-party nominees were chosen at the August 18 primary or advanced unopposed; minor-party and no-party-affiliation candidates qualify directly for the November ballot. The field is the Florida Division of Elections' certified 2026 General Election candidate list. This seat is elected by district; only the district covering your address appears on your ballot.
Gerald Baldi · Democratic▾
Gerald Baldi's career has spanned advertising, real estate, financial services and banking, according to his campaign site. He has been an organizer of community rallies with Indivisible Manatee, per The Bradenton Times.
Priorities: Protecting clean water and Florida's natural heritage · Lowering energy costs and increasing energy independence · Increasing government transparency and accountability (per the campaign site)
Jim Boyd · RepublicanIncumbent▾
Jim Boyd works in insurance and investments and earned a bachelor's degree from Florida State University in 1978, according to the Florida Senate's official biography page. He served in the Florida House from 2010 to 2018 and earlier on the Palmetto City Council and the North River Fire District board, per the same page, and the Florida Senate's Majority Leader is slated to become Senate president for the 2026-28 term, per the Observer. No campaign website or questionnaire response was found as of September 11, 2026.
James Buchanan (Republican), Martin Hyde (No Party Affiliation), Lew Wasserman (Democratic) are on the November 3 ballot for Florida Senate District 22. Not on the November ballot: Joe Gruters, the sitting member per the roster. Major-party nominees were chosen at the August 18 primary or advanced unopposed; minor-party and no-party-affiliation candidates qualify directly for the November ballot. The field is the Florida Division of Elections' certified 2026 General Election candidate list. This seat is elected by district; only the district covering your address appears on your ballot.
James Buchanan · Republican▾
James Buchanan is a two-term member of the Florida House of Representatives from District 74, running for Florida Senate District 22 to succeed term-limited Sen. Joe Gruters, according to Florida Politics. He has been endorsed by the Florida Chamber of Commerce and Senate Republican leadership. No campaign website or questionnaire response was found as of September 11, 2026.
Martin Hyde · No Party Affiliation▾
Martin Hyde is an independent candidate running to succeed Sen. Joe Gruters in Florida Senate District 22. A Sarasota resident of 27 years born in the United Kingdom, he brings nearly 40 years of business experience, per his campaign site.
Priorities: Local representation independent of party and developer influence · Direct constituent engagement through town halls and meet-and-greets (per the campaign site)
Lew Wasserman · Democratic▾
Lew Wasserman is the Democratic candidate for Florida Senate District 22, covering all of Sarasota County and southern Manatee County, an open seat left by retiring Sen. Joe Gruters. He previously had a career in the entertainment industry, per WMNF. No campaign website or questionnaire response was found as of September 11, 2026.
Michael Owen (Republican), Luther Keith Wilkins (Democratic) are on the November 3 ballot for Florida House District 70; Michael Owen is the sitting member, per the Florida House of Representatives' official roster. Major-party nominees were chosen at the August 18 primary or advanced unopposed; minor-party and no-party-affiliation candidates qualify directly for the November ballot. The field is the Florida Division of Elections' certified 2026 General Election candidate list. This seat is elected by district; only the district covering your address appears on your ballot.
Michael Owen · RepublicanIncumbent▾
Michael Owen is a small business owner who has lived in Hillsborough County for more than 40 years and attended Bloomingdale High School, according to his campaign site. He previously served as the Hillsborough County Commissioner for District 4, per Florida Politics.
Priorities: Keep taxes low and oppose fee increases · Invest in roads and infrastructure to address traffic congestion in the county · Require a more stringent approval process for development to manage growth (per the campaign site)
Luther Keith Wilkins · Democratic▾
Luther Keith Wilkins served 12 years in the U.S. Army and Army National Guard, including work safeguarding nuclear assets, per his campaign site. He has a background in business, real estate, marketing and insurance, and is challenging incumbent Rep. Michael Owen for a second time, per WMNF.
Priorities: Increasing teacher pay and modernizing school buildings · Expanding workforce housing supply with responsibly planned growth · Improving veterans' access to VA healthcare, mental health services and jobs (per the campaign site)
Ocean Fitts (Democratic), Joseph Hoolihan (No Party Affiliation), Jordan Varnadore (Republican) are on the November 3 ballot for Florida House District 71. Not on the November ballot: William Cloud "Will" Robinson Jr., the sitting member per the roster. Major-party nominees were chosen at the August 18 primary or advanced unopposed; minor-party and no-party-affiliation candidates qualify directly for the November ballot. The field is the Florida Division of Elections' certified 2026 General Election candidate list. This seat is elected by district; only the district covering your address appears on your ballot.
Ocean Fitts · Democratic▾
Ocean Fitts is a Palmetto resident running for Florida House District 71, according to Pulse of Manatee. The campaign centers on improving affordability, strengthening government accountability and providing stable leadership for Manatee County, per the Bradenton Times. No campaign website or questionnaire response was found as of September 11, 2026.
Priorities: Improving affordability for Manatee County residents · Strengthening government accountability (per The Bradenton Times)
Joseph Hoolihan · No Party Affiliation▾
Joseph Hoolihan is a Bradenton real estate professional and business consultant with more than 20 years of experience in sales, customer service and business development, according to the Bradenton Times. He is running for Florida House District 71 with no party affiliation.
Jordan Varnadore · Republican▾
Jordan Varnadore is a lifelong Manatee County resident who graduated from Palmetto High School in 2006, according to the Bradenton Journal. He is vice president of marketing at GarrettRichard, a Palmetto-based commercial insurance and PEO brokerage he co-founded with his father. No campaign website or questionnaire response was found as of September 11, 2026.
William "Bill" Conerly (Republican), Harvey Shifrin (Democratic) are on the November 3 ballot for Florida House District 72; William "Bill" Conerly is the sitting member, per the Florida House of Representatives' official roster. Major-party nominees were chosen at the August 18 primary or advanced unopposed; minor-party and no-party-affiliation candidates qualify directly for the November ballot. The field is the Florida Division of Elections' certified 2026 General Election candidate list. This seat is elected by district; only the district covering your address appears on your ballot.
William "Bill" Conerly · RepublicanIncumbent▾
William "Bill" Conerly is the Republican candidate for Florida House District 72 on the November 3, 2026 ballot, per the Florida Division of Elections' certified 2026 General Election candidate list. William "Bill" Conerly is a sitting member for the district, per the Florida House of Representatives' official roster. Bill Conerly is a Lakewood Ranch resident and engineer who previously served in the U.S. Army before his 2024 election to the Florida House, according to Florida Politics. No campaign website or questionnaire response was found as of September 11, 2026.
Harvey Shifrin · Democratic▾
Harvey Shifrin is an attorney and certified public accountant with decades of professional experience, according to Florida Politics. He is the Democratic candidate for Florida House District 72, covering eastern and southern Manatee County. No campaign website or questionnaire response was found as of September 11, 2026.
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