Who is running in Duval County, Florida in 2026
- County Court Judge, Group 13
- Melina Buncome and Octavius A. Holliday Jr.
- School Board, District 2
- Donna Mae Westrich and Donovan Bradley
- School Board, District 4
- Rhodesia "Rho" Butler and James "Coach" Jacobs
- School Board, District 6
- Lindsey Denmark and Clarence "CJ" James
- Atlantic Beach Mayor-Commissioner, Seat 1
- Nancy Staats and Curtis R. Ford
- Atlantic Beach City Commissioner, Seat 4
- Lisa Herrold and Jennifer Lagner
- U.S. Senator
- Angie Nixon, Ashley Moody and Neil J. Gillespie
- Governor and Lieutenant Governor
- David Jolly and Byron Donalds
- Attorney General
- Jose Javier Rodriguez and James Uthmeier
- Chief Financial Officer
- Annette Taddeo and Blaise Ingoglia
- Commissioner of Agriculture
- Joey Mendoza Atkins and Wilton Simpson
- U.S. Representative, District 4
- LaShonda "L.J." Holloway, Aaron Bean, Mike Sell and Todd Schaefer
- U.S. Representative, District 5
- Rachel Grage and John H. Rutherford
- State Representative, District 12
- Benjamin Sandlin and Terrance Freeman
- State Representative, District 15
- Chadd Charland and Dean Black
- State Representative, District 17
- Jacob Guerrero and Jessica Baker
Duval County
Jacksonville and Duval County share one consolidated government, and its mayor, council and sheriff are elected in the spring of 2027, not this November. The only county race on this ballot is a nonpartisan county judge seat.
County Court Judge, Group 13
Vote for oneOpen seat. Judge Mose Floyd is retiring. The candidates finished first and second in the August primary.
Melina Buncome
Seems like good people (best choice in this race)Has spent her career in the public defender's office, where she was felony division chief and now handles the veterans treatment, mental health and drug courts. Wants faster courts and proceedings that are "equitable, accessible, and transparent"; endorsed by Florida Rising.
Sources: Florida Trib, Campaign site, News4JAX, Florida Rising
Octavius A. Holliday Jr.
Seems like good peopleLed the August primary with 37%, and says his time as both a defense lawyer and a prosecutor would bring balance to the bench.
Sources: Florida Trib, News4JAX, St. Johns Citizen
Other judges and districts
Vote for oneAlso on the ballot, and not rated: retention votes for Judges John M. Harris, Scott D. Makar and F. Rand Wallis of the Fifth District Court of Appeal, and seats on the Beach, Cypress Bluff, Tolomato and Trails community development districts, which appear only for voters who live in them.
School board
School board races are nonpartisan, and all three seats on the ballot are open. No one won a majority in August, so each goes to a November runoff. Every Duval voter also decides whether to keep the extra one-mill school tax.
School Board, District 2
Vote for oneOpen seat. Board member April Carney is leaving.
Donna Mae Westrich
Seems like good people (best choice in this race) DemocratWants to take what she learned in the classroom to the district level, with a focus on keeping teachers and cutting screen time for young students. Endorsed by Duval Teachers United, the Florida Education Association, the Duval Democrats and the Northeast Florida Association of Realtors, and says she is running a nonpartisan campaign.
Sources: News4JAX, Florida Trib, Jax Today, NEFAR
Donovan Bradley
Compromised ConservativeLed the August primary with 49% on a platform of more school choice and career and technical education. Endorsed by April Carney, Council member Rory Diamond and the Jacksonville Fraternal Order of Police, and backed by conservative and Republican-aligned political committees.
Sources: Florida Trib, Jax Today, Campaign site
School Board, District 4
Vote for oneOpen seat. A write-in line is also on the ballot. Both candidates are endorsed by the Duval Democrats; the pick goes to the career public school educator.
Rhodesia "Rho" Butler
Seems like good people (best choice in this race) DemocratWants to keep good teachers, protect District 4 schools from closing and show families what the district's schools do well. Endorsed by the Duval County Democratic Executive Committee.
Sources: Campaign site, Florida Trib, Ballotpedia
James "Coach" Jacobs
Seems like good people DemocratA registered Democrat who led the August primary with 39%, running on living wages for teachers and staff, school safety and more middle school sports. Endorsed by the Duval Democrats and by Republican Council member Matt Carlucci.
Sources: Campaign site, Ballotpedia, Florida Trib
School Board, District 6
Vote for oneOpen seat. Board member Charlotte Joyce is term-limited. Both candidates carry ties we weigh against, a real estate career on one side and police and realtor backing on the other, so no pick here.
Lindsey Denmark
CompromisedCalls student discipline her "primary goal" and wants schools focused on academics, not "political or personal ideologies." Endorsed by Charlotte Joyce, April Carney and state Sen. Clay Yarborough.
Sources: Campaign site, News4JAX, Florida Trib, Jax Today
Clarence "CJ" James
CompromisedEndorsed by the Fraternal Order of Police, the firefighters union and the Northeast Florida Association of Realtors. His campaign took down an AI-generated image of Black supporters from his Facebook page after Action News Jax reported on it.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Florida Trib, Action News Jax
School millage question
Vote for oneWe describe what it does and don't make a recommendation.
- One-mill school property tax: Keeps the current extra one mill of property tax ($1 for every $1,000 of taxable value) for school operating costs, including pay for teachers, security and support staff, academic programs, arts, athletics and student activities. It would run from July 1, 2027 to June 30, 2031. Charter schools get a proportionate share, and the district must report each year on how the money is spent.
Atlantic Beach elections
City races are nonpartisan. Jacksonville's city offices are not on the ballot until 2027, and Jacksonville Beach and Neptune Beach have no contested city races on this ballot.
Mayor-Commissioner, Seat 1
Vote for oneNancy Staats
Seems like good people (best choice in this race)Wants to undo the 2024 cut in residential lot widths, tighten tree canopy protection and keep Atlantic Beach Elementary open. Takes donations only from individuals, not PACs or developers, to avoid conflicts of interest.
Sources: News4JAX, Campaign site, Beaches Beacon
City Commissioner, Seat 4
Vote for oneOpen seat. Both candidates look like solid residents; the pick is close.
Lisa Herrold
Seems like good people (best choice in this race)Her priorities are managing growth while keeping the town's character, the city's finances, and infrastructure and public safety. Wants the tree mitigation fund used to replant trees on public and private land.
Sources: News4JAX, Beaches Beacon
Jennifer Lagner
Seems like good peopleLists growth management, stormwater upgrades and tree protection as priorities, and says the city should look for savings in its own budget before cutting services.
Sources: News4JAX, Beaches Beacon, Campaign site
State and federal
Duval County is split between two congressional districts and several state house districts, so check your sample ballot to see which are yours. No state senate race in Duval is contested this year.
U.S. Senator
Vote for oneAshley Moody was appointed in January 2025 to fill Marco Rubio's vacated seat.
Angie Nixon
Seems like good people (best choice in this race) DemocratRunning on the idea that health care, child care and housing are human rights, and won the August primary in an upset over Alexander Vindman. A member of the Democratic Socialists of America, endorsed by Reps. Maxwell Frost, Ilhan Omar, Rashida Tlaib and Ayanna Pressley.
Sources: The 19th, The Guardian, Wikipedia
Ashley Moody
Not good people RepublicanAs attorney general she joined the Texas lawsuit to throw out the 2020 presidential results in four swing states. On taking her Senate seat she promised to "fight for President Trump to deliver the America First agenda on Day 1."
Sources: Wikipedia, PBS NewsHour, WUSF
Neil J. Gillespie
Not enough info No partyRunning on overhauling the courts, border security and weakening the two-party system. He has filed many lawsuits of his own, including against The Florida Bar.
Sources: PantherNOW, Campaign blog
Governor and Lieutenant Governor
Vote for oneOpen seat. Also on the ballot: Scott Eckhard Jewett and Nicole Skelly (Libertarian), and five no-party tickets: Charles Burkett and Ruben A. Coto, Frank J. Russo and Rachel Rodriguez, Moliere "Moe" Dimanche and Benjiman Rojas, Dean Ocean Abrams and Joe Van Vactor, and Jeffrey Peter "Dr. Jeff" Datto and Juan Santana.
David Jolly
Seems like good people (best choice in this race) DemocratLeft the Republican Party and spent years as a TV analyst criticizing Trump and MAGA. Running on property insurance reform, more money for public schools and a pause on AI data centers, and opposes Amendment 3 because sheriffs and cities fear losing public safety money.
Sources: Wikipedia, Campaign site, WESH 2
Byron Donalds
Not good people RepublicanEndorsed by Donald Trump and JD Vance. Running on the Amendment 3 property tax cuts and school choice.
Sources: Wikipedia, WESH 2, Campaign site
Attorney General
Vote for oneJose Javier Rodriguez
Seems like good people (best choice in this race) DemocratPromises to be "an independent-minded enforcer of the law, not a hyper-political hack servant of the powerful." Lost his Senate seat in 2020 by 32 votes after an illegal "ghost candidate" scheme siphoned votes from him; endorsed by firefighters, teachers and the Florida AFL-CIO.
Sources: DAGA, Campaign site, Ballotpedia
James Uthmeier
Not good people RepublicanHelped run the 2022 flights that took migrants from Texas to Martha's Vineyard. A 2026 grand jury found $10 million in Medicaid settlement money was misappropriated through the Hope Florida Foundation and named him, then the governor's chief of staff, as the center of it. It charged no one.
Sources: American Immigration Council, CBS News, WUSF
Chief Financial Officer
Vote for oneAnnette Taddeo
Seems like good people (best choice in this race) DemocratSays "Florida needs a watchdog, not a lapdog for the governor," and promises public report cards grading insurers on payouts and claim denials. Criticizes the no-bid contracts and daily costs at the "Alligator Alcatraz" detention camp.
Sources: Campaign site, WFSU, WLRN
Blaise Ingoglia
Compromised RepublicanAs CFO he launched audits of local government spending, including on diversity programs. Opponents fault him for running millions in taxpayer-funded ads during election season and for not auditing the roughly $1 billion spent on the Everglades immigration detention site.
Sources: Florida Trib, Wikipedia
Commissioner of Agriculture
Vote for oneJoey Mendoza Atkins
Seems like good people (best choice in this race) DemocratHas given legal help to migrant farmworkers and DACA recipients, and is running to keep farmland from being turned into data centers and to bring grocery costs down.
Sources: Sparker's Soapbox, Campaign site
Wilton Simpson
Not good people RepublicanPassed the Florida Wildlife Corridor Act as Senate president, a real conservation win. Endorsed by Trump, DeSantis and dozens of sheriffs.
Sources: Wikipedia, Campaign video
Constitutional amendments and Supreme Court retention
Yes or noWe describe what each amendment does and don't make recommendations. A Florida constitutional amendment needs 60% yes to pass.
- Amendment 1: Lets the state keep up to 25% of general revenue in its rainy-day fund (the budget stabilization fund), up from 10%. The Legislature would have to put in $750 million a year, or whatever it takes to reach 25%, unless certain conditions are met, and could pull money out for critical state needs.
- Amendment 2: Exempts equipment and other tangible personal property on agricultural land from property tax, when it is used for farming or agritourism and owned by the landowner or leaseholder. Starts in 2027.
- Amendment 3: Raises the homestead exemption on non-school property taxes to $150,000 in 2027 and $250,000 in 2028, then adjusts it for inflation, and lets counties and cities go as high as the full value of the home. People who move to Florida after December 31, 2026 get the bigger exemption only from their fifth year. It also cuts the yearly cap on assessment increases for non-homestead property from 10% to 5%, and limits what counties and cities can spend property taxes on (public safety, schools, infrastructure, natural resources, debt, pensions, and operations). Takes effect January 1, 2027.
- Supreme Court: Justice Carlos G. Muñiz is up for a yes-or-no retention vote. We haven't profiled him.
U.S. Representative, District 4
Vote for oneLaShonda "L.J." Holloway
Seems like good people (best choice in this race) DemocratThe Democratic nominee for this seat for the third time, after 2022 and 2024. Wants to expand Medicare and lower drug prices; endorsed by civil rights lawyer Ben Crump.
Sources: WJCT, Florida Trib
Aaron Bean
Not good people RepublicanEndorsed by Donald Trump. The American Conservative Union Foundation gave his voting record a 95% rating and its Award for Conservative Excellence.
Sources: Ballotpedia, House press release
Mike Sell
Not enough info ForwardThe Florida Forward Party nominee, running on ranked-choice voting, congressional term limits and lower living costs. Says he answers "to no party bosses and no major donors."
Sources: News4JAX, Campaign video
Todd Schaefer
Not enough info IndependentRunning with no party affiliation after a write-in campaign for this seat in 2024. We found nothing on his positions.
Sources: Ballotpedia
U.S. Representative, District 5
Vote for oneRachel Grage
Seems like good people (best choice in this race) DemocratWon the Democratic primary with over 65%, after running for the state house in 2024. Running on affordability, drug prices, protecting Medicare and Medicaid, and the property insurance crisis.
Sources: Florida Trib, Campaign video
John H. Rutherford
Not good people RepublicanOn January 7, 2021, he voted to object to the 2020 electoral votes from Arizona and Pennsylvania. Endorsed by Donald Trump and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.
Sources: WLRN, Florida Trib
State Representative, District 12
Vote for oneOpen seat. Rep. Wyman Duggan is term-limited.
Benjamin Sandlin
Seems like good people (best choice in this race) DemocratWants "public money for public schools only" and housing built for Florida families rather than Wall Street investors, and opposed state laws curbing public unions and targeting transgender students. Endorsed by the state Democrats' progressive, public education and environmental caucuses.
Sources: News4JAX, Florida Trib, iVoterGuide
Terrance Freeman
Compromised RepublicanSays "we must get the government out of the way so the private sector can continue to grow," and lists tax relief, support for first responders and apprenticeships as priorities. Endorsed by Sheriff T.K. Waters, Americans for Prosperity Action and Associated Industries of Florida.
Sources: City of Jacksonville, Ballotpedia, Ballot Brief
State Representative, District 13
Vote for oneOnly a write-in line runs against her.
Audrey Gibson
Seems like good people (best choice in this race) DemocratReturning to the House after two decades in the Legislature. Has worked with the Jacksonville Job Corps Center and in Mayor Donna Deegan's administration.
Sources: Wikipedia
State Representative, District 15
Vote for oneA write-in line is also on the ballot.
Chadd Charland
Seems like good people (best choice in this race) IndependentRunning on "equity, equality, and the environment," against industrial data centers and a proposed ethanol plant, and against police mass surveillance with license plate readers and drones. Endorsed by the Florida AFL-CIO and the Florida Education Association.
Sources: Campaign site
Dean Black
Not good people RepublicanWas a Trump delegate at the 2020 Republican convention and a Trump campaign surrogate. Endorsed by the Florida Chamber of Commerce and Associated Industries of Florida.
Sources: Help FL Vets, Campaign site, Ballotpedia
State Representative, District 17
Vote for oneWe know almost nothing about Jacob Guerrero. Rep. Baker's NRA backing and ties to a lobbying firm put the two near even, and ties lean to the Democrat.
Jacob Guerrero
Not enough info (best choice in this race) DemocratThe Democratic nominee. He has no campaign website or social media and did not answer the News4JAX questionnaire.
Sources: News4JAX, Florida Democratic Party
Jessica Baker
Compromised RepublicanSponsored a bill for life without parole when a police officer is killed by manslaughter, and backed the 2024 tax package and teacher raises. Rated "A" and endorsed by the NRA.
Sources: Wikipedia, Campaign site, NRA-PVF