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The Decent Ballot  /  Florida  /  Lee County  /  Cape Coral  /  Tuesday, November 3, 2026

Cape Coral, FL

Who on your ballot seems like good people, in a sentence or two each, with sources. Fill out your ballot in ten minutes.

best choice in the race Seems like good people Compromised Not good people Not enough info

Who is running in Cape Coral, Florida in 2026

Cape Coral Mayor
Rick Erickson and Lisa Cohen-Adkinson
Cape Coral Council, District 1
Tom Shadrach and Dave Newton
Cape Coral Council, District 4
Jennifer Nelson-Lastra and James Vargas
Cape Coral Council, District 6
Liza King and Annette Warren

Cape Coral elections

City races are nonpartisan, and council members are elected citywide, so every Cape Coral voter gets all four races. The mayor, District 1 and District 6 races are runoffs between the top two from August; Mayor John Gunter finished third. Most of what we know comes from the candidates' own answers to the Cape Coral Breeze.

Cape Coral Mayor

Vote for one

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

Rick Erickson

Not enough info Nonpartisan

Retired after 32 years in the Army as a Special Forces sergeant major; founded SaveOurVet.org

Finished first in August with 32%. Says voters rejected the "realtor, developer, and career politician class" and wants to fix permitting and make growth pay for itself.

Sources: Cape Coral Breeze, Cape Coral Breeze

Lisa Cohen-Adkinson

Not enough info Nonpartisan

Broker-owner, Valor Property Management and Valor Real Estate Services

Finished second with 25%. Calls herself a 15-year community watchdog, opposed demolishing the Yacht Club while its historic status was in court, and says residents should be "heard and respected, not threatened with lawsuits."

Sources: Cape Coral Breeze, Cape Coral Breeze

Cape Coral Council, District 1

Vote for one

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

Tom Shadrach

Not enough info Nonpartisan

Retired Boeing program manager

Finished first in August with 36%. Says the council has raised residents' three major taxes 82% in five years and that he helped expose city "Slush Funds."

Sources: Cape Coral Breeze, Cape Coral Breeze

Dave Newton

Not enough info Nonpartisan

Air Force veteran; retired law enforcement officer

Finished second with 30%. Promises an "open-door policy" and runs on public safety, traffic and infrastructure.

Sources: Cape Coral Breeze

Cape Coral Council, District 4

Vote for one

General election only; no primary.

Jennifer Nelson-Lastra

Seems like good people (best choice in this race) Nonpartisan

Incumbent (council 2017 to 2022, and since 2024); executive director, Dress for Success Southwest Florida

Has served on the city's affordable housing committee and the county's planning organization, and sits on the Pace Center for Girls board. Running on budgeting, infrastructure and keeping the city affordable.

Sources: City of Cape Coral, Cape Coral Breeze

James Vargas

Not enough info Nonpartisan

Co-owner, BeastRx Supplements & Nutrition; former assistant VP at a marketing firm; no political experience

Running on transparency, fiscal responsibility and faster permitting for local businesses. We found nothing else on him.

Sources: Cape Coral Breeze

Cape Coral Council, District 6

Vote for one

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

Liza King

Not enough info Nonpartisan

Chief deputy court administrator for the State of Florida

Finished first in August with 29%. Running on financial responsibility, public safety and managing growth.

Sources: Cape Coral Breeze

Annette Warren

Not enough info Nonpartisan

Merchant consultant, Priority Business Solutions

Finished second with 27%. Promises to represent everyone, "not just the people who voted for me," and to run a clean, issue-focused campaign.

Sources: Cape Coral Breeze

Also on your ballot

Every Lee County voter also picks in these races. Full write-ups on the Lee County page.

When and where to vote

Register by
Monday, October 5, 2026. That is the deadline for this election. Check your registration at registertovoteflorida.gov.
Early voting
Monday, October 19 to Saturday, October 31, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. every day, at any of 12 sites, including the elections offices in Bonita Springs, Cape Coral and South Fort Myers, libraries in Cape Coral, Fort Myers and Lehigh Acres, and recreation centers in Estero, North Fort Myers and Lehigh Acres. There is no early voting on Sunday, November 1. Locations.
Election Day
Tuesday, November 3, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., at your assigned polling place. Find yours. About 45,500 voters had their polling place changed this year.
Mail ballot
Request one by 5 p.m. Thursday, October 22 (online, 239-533-8683 or votebymail@lee.vote). The office must receive your ballot by 7 p.m. on Election Day; if you mail it, the office suggests mailing by Tuesday, October 20. Track it through your voter record.
Drop-off
Drop your mail ballot at the secure intake station at any early voting site during early voting hours, or at any Supervisor of Elections office during business hours. On Election Day, the Bonita Springs, Cape Coral, Lehigh Acres, South Fort Myers (Elections Center) and main Fort Myers offices take ballots until 7 p.m. Details.
Bring
A current photo ID, such as a Florida driver license or ID card, U.S. passport, debit or credit card, military ID, student ID, veteran health ID or concealed weapon license. If it has no signature, bring a second ID with your signature (it doesn't have to be current). No ID? You can still vote a provisional ballot. ID rules.
Your ballot
See the all-inclusive sample ballot (PDF) or get your own from your voter record. Florida leaves unopposed races off the ballot. Lee County is split between Congressional Districts 17 and 19 under the new 2026 map, and about 109,000 voters were moved from one to the other, so check yours.

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Last updated October 11, 2026.