Who is running for Orange County School Board District 1 in 2026?

The Orange County School Board District 1 race was decided at the 2026 primary - Melissa Lopez Marantes won the seat - and does not appear on the November 3, 2026 ballot. 2 candidates were on the primary ballot: Melissa Lopez Marantes and David Shepard. Candidate information follows official Orange County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.

Orange County, Florida

Orange County School Board District 1

Florida › Orange County › Orange County School Board District 1

Decided at the 2026 primary — Melissa Lopez Marantes won the seat

DECIDED August 18: Melissa Lopez Marantes won outright with 60 percent over David Shepard, per unofficial results. This race will not appear on the November 3 ballot.

Winner

Melissa Lopez Marantes

Nonpartisan

Attorney, educator, and executive director/co-founder of the Orlando Center for Justice; former adjunct professor at UCF, FAMU Law alumna and Edgewater High School graduate, per melissaforkids.com.

2026 priorities

Strengthening public education through academic excellence, transparency, and listening to parents and staff, per melissaforkids.com
Student safety and mental wellness, per melissaforkids.com
Protecting arts programs and equitable opportunities for all students, per melissaforkids.com

Source: candidate campaign site, roster verified 2026-08-19.

Reported fundraising: $18,331 (county campaign-finance filings).

Campaign site →

Also ran in the primary

David Shepard

Nonpartisan

Profile

Firefighter and paramedic with over 14 years of public safety experience; has trained new paramedics and taught CPR, per electdavidshepard.com.

Student safety, drawing on emergency response and prevention expertise, per electdavidshepard.com
Career pathways: trade careers and internships alongside college options, per electdavidshepard.com
Restoring practical life skills programs and expanding vocational education access, per electdavidshepard.com

Campaign site →

Verify this race
Candidate roster from official Orange County Supervisor of Elections filings, last verified 2026-08-19. Bios and priorities carry their attribution inline.
Cross-check with the official Florida Division of Elections, or see the full Orange County sample ballot and your exact ballot by address.