Lee County

Gov. DeSantis appointed Persons-Mulicka in May 2026 after Tommy Doyle retired. She is married to County Commissioner David Mulicka and is the daughter of School Board Chair Armor Persons, who is on this same ballot.

No pick. We found nothing on Elliot Taylor and nothing about Pendergrass's record either way.

No pick. We found nothing on DeMaria Artis, and Hamman's chamber of commerce job is a conflict we can't weigh against nothing.

Also on the ballot, and not rated: a yes-or-no retention vote for Florida Supreme Court Justice Carlos G. Muñiz; Lehigh Acres Municipal Services Improvement District Seat 4 (Mike Bonacolta, Derek Felder); and seats on several fire districts (Alva, Bonita Springs, Fort Myers Beach, Fort Myers Shores, Iona-McGregor, North Fort Myers, South Trail), the Captiva Erosion Prevention District, and about a dozen community development districts. See the sample ballot.

Covers parts of Fort Myers, North Fort Myers and eastern Cape Coral. Jordan had about 35% in August and Beougher 28%. Toss-up between two decent candidates; we pick Jordan, who voted against a budget that put most cuts on teachers.

Persons had about 43% in August and Johnson 31%. Toss-up between two decent candidates; we pick Johnson, the classroom paraprofessional. Persons is the father of the Supervisor of Elections running the count.

Ashley Moody was appointed in January 2025 to fill Marco Rubio's vacated seat.

Open 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.

We 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.

Open seat; Rep. Byron Donalds is running for governor. Covers most of coastal Lee and part of Collier. Seth Haskin (no party) is also on the ballot; we haven't profiled him.

Covers parts of Sarasota, Charlotte and Lee counties. Michael J. Quirk (no party) is also on the ballot; we haven't profiled him.

Open seat; Senate President Kathleen Passidomo is term-limited. Covers Collier, Hendry and eastern Lee.

Covers DeSoto County and parts of Charlotte and Lee. We know little about Carter, but Oliver's record earns him the pick.

We know little about Fowler, but Esposito's record earns him the pick.

Open seat; Jenna Persons-Mulicka left to become Supervisor of Elections.

Covers Bonita Springs, Estero, Fort Myers Beach and Sanibel. We know little about Moskal, but Botana's record earns him the pick.

No pick. Neither has a record in office we could check.

Open seat; Bill Steinke didn't run. No pick.

General election only; no primary.

Open seat; Keith Long didn't run. No pick.

No pick. We found almost nothing on Amber Ware.

A rematch of 2022, when Watson won the runoff with 56%.

District 3: Ruth Condit, Ray Sandelli and Tim Voit. District 5: Nigel Patrick Fullick (incumbent) and James Anderst. Only voters in each district see these races. City election page.

Vote for up to three: Tom Brady, Anita Cereceda, Rebecca Link, John McLean and Edward J. Schoonover. McLean has withdrawn; his name is still on the ballot, but votes for him won't count.

On every Lee County ballot.

• Single-member commission districts: Starting with the 2028 election, all five county commissioners would be elected only by voters in their own district, instead of countywide. (The Legislature passed this as Chapter 2025-222; it takes effect only if voters approve.)
• Term limits for county officers: Limits elected county constitutional officers to three consecutive four-year terms. Terms in progress in November 2026 don't count.
• Mosquito district merger: Expands the Lee County Mosquito Control District to cover all of Lee County, abolishes the Fort Myers Beach Mosquito Control District, and moves its assets and debts to the county district.

• Fire district merger (Fort Myers Beach and Iona-McGregor fire district voters): Folds the Fort Myers Beach Fire Control District into the Iona-McGregor Fire Protection and Rescue Service District, with a transitional board.
• Town charter, six amendments (Fort Myers Beach voters): requires ordinances banning unlawful gifts and requiring disclosure of private contacts in quasi-judicial hearings; lets the council change its own pay only every four years, after a five-member committee recommends it, with changes starting after the next election; lets appointees serve out the full term of a vacated seat; makes the vice mayor interim mayor until the next annual appointment; lets the county Supervisor of Elections set candidate qualifying dates; and lets the Lee County Canvassing Board canvass town elections.

Settled in the August 18 primary or unopposed: County Commission District 5 (Amanda Cochran); School Board District 1 (Sam Fisher) and District 6 (Jada Langford-Fleming); State House District 79 (Mike Giallombardo); County Judge Group 5 (Mike Colombo); 20th Circuit Judge Group 19 (James Stewart) and Group 27 (Amanda Levy-Reis); Bonita Springs Council District 1.