Who is running in Seminole County, Florida in 2026
- County Commissioner, District 4
- Charline Santos and Amy Lockhart
- County Court Judge, Group 6
- Alena Chaban and Wayne Culver
- 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 7
- Bale Dalton and Ryan Elijah
- State Senator, District 10
- John Lowndes and Jason Brodeur
- State Representative, District 36
- Darryl Block and Rachel Plakon
- State Representative, District 37
- Jane Aman and Robert Prater
- State Representative, District 38
- Nik Dean and Emily Duda Buckley
- State Representative, District 39
- Jarod Fox and Doug Bankson
- Altamonte Springs Mayor
- Michael "Mike" Brunscheen and Dominique Douglas
- Altamonte Springs Commissioner, District 4
- Jeffrey Boebinger and Eric Soto
- Casselberry Commissioner, Seat 1
- Tim Veigle and Tyler Knight
- Casselberry Commissioner, Seat 2
- Lourdes Crosby-García, Lindsay Feist and Travis Kelley
- Casselberry Commissioner, Seat 3
- Mark Busch and Amanda Hart
- Longwood Commissioner, District 3
- Coury Matthew Knowles, Matt McMillan and Michael Pfenning
- Winter Springs Mayor
- Kevin McCann and Jesse Phillips
- Winter Springs Commissioner, District 2
- Victoria Bruce and Ken Spalthoff
- Winter Springs Commissioner, District 4
- Cade Resnick and Kyle Stewart
Seminole County
The county commission race is partisan; the county judge race is nonpartisan. School Board Districts 1, 2 and 5 and two circuit judge seats were settled in the August 18 primary (Kristine Kraus, Holton Mills, Autumn Garick, Robert Alan Segal and Andrea Fant won), so they aren't on the November ballot.
County Commissioner, District 4
Vote for oneCommissioners are elected countywide, so every Seminole voter gets this race.
Charline Santos
Seems like good people (best choice in this race) DemocratGrew up in Lake Mary as the daughter of Jamaican immigrants. Running on housing affordability, the number of homeless children in county schools, slower growth along urban corridors, and transit that reaches rural Geneva and Orange County.
Sources: Hoodline, Campaign site
Amy Lockhart
Compromised RepublicanLed the county's move from most Lynx bus routes to SCOUT on-demand rides and proposed a panel on homeowners insurance costs; her campaign touts defending the rural boundary and expanding the Florida Wildlife Corridor. Says she "supports law enforcement 100%" and is endorsed by Sheriff Dennis Lemma and the county firefighters union.
Sources: Hoodline, Campaign site
County Court Judge, Group 6
Vote for oneRunoff. Nobody won a majority in August: Chaban had 43% and Culver 30%.
Alena Chaban
Seems like good people (best choice in this race)Practices family law, criminal defense and traffic law, and has volunteered as a Guardian ad Litem for children in court. Says she has "spent my career in the courtroom, not just around it" and names case delays and people without lawyers as the big barriers to justice.
Sources: News 6, Campaign site
Wayne Culver
Not good peopleIn 2024 the Florida Supreme Court suspended him for 60 days without pay for "abusive and intemperate conduct": he jailed a polite, apologetic man for the maximum 179 days without letting him speak, and told a man who couldn't find a seat to "shut up and sit down." His campaign site says he "lost his temper" and has become a better judge.
Sources: Florida Bar News, News 6, Campaign site
Judicial retention
Not profiledAlso on the ballot, and not rated: merit retention (yes or no) votes for Florida Supreme Court justices and appeals court judges. See your sample ballot for the names.
State and federal
All of Seminole County is in Congressional District 7 and State Senate District 10. The county is split among four state house districts (36, 37, 38 and 39), so check your sample ballot to see which is yours.
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 7
Vote for oneRep. Cory Mills lost the August Republican primary to Ryan Elijah. Libertarian Christopher Dennison is also on the ballot; we haven't profiled him.
Bale Dalton
Seems like good people (best choice in this race) DemocratBeat Alan Grayson and Marialana Kinter in the Democratic primary and has an anti-corruption plan on his campaign site. Endorsed by VoteVets, Giffords, Moms Demand Action, the League of Conservation Voters, several unions and the Orlando Sentinel.
Sources: VoteVets, Giffords, Campaign site
Ryan Elijah
Not good people RepublicanWon the Republican primary over Rep. Cory Mills. After Trump gave him his "complete and total endorsement," Elijah said he was "humbled" and that "the president did the right thing."
Sources: FOX 35
State Senator, District 10
Vote for oneCovers all of Seminole County and part of Orange County.
John Lowndes
Seems like good people (best choice in this race) DemocratThirteen years running a small city, and won the August primary with 71%. Endorsed by Rep. Maxwell Frost, Rep. Anna Eskamani and the DLCC.
Sources: Campaign site, DLCC
Jason Brodeur
Not good people RepublicanSponsored the Florida Wildlife Corridor Act and pharmacy middleman reforms, and now wants to ban Flock license-plate cameras over privacy concerns. Endorsed by Gov. DeSantis.
Sources: Campaign site, LegiStorm, Campaign video
State Representative, District 36
Vote for oneCovers western Seminole County, including Lake Mary, Longwood and much of Sanford.
Darryl Block
Seems like good people (best choice in this race) DemocratWorks with the county's families, children and veterans, and has represented workers in job discrimination cases. Running on children's health, school funding and affordable health care; named a 2026 Gun Sense Candidate by Moms Demand Action.
Sources: The Ballot Brief, Florida Politics (2018)
State Representative, District 37
Vote for oneOpen seat. Rep. Susan Plasencia is leaving. Mostly in Orange County; only part of Seminole votes here.
Jane Aman
Seems like good people (best choice in this race) DemocratWants to tackle "the affordability crisis, ensure equal access to quality healthcare, and strengthen our public schools." Endorsed by the Florida AFL-CIO, 1199SEIU and Florida NOW.
Sources: Leaders We Deserve, 1199SEIU, Florida AFL-CIO
Robert Prater
Compromised RepublicanA longtime district educator who backs school choice and promises to "back the blue," with the Fraternal Order of Police behind him. Also running on insurance reform and toll relief.
Sources: Campaign site, Ballotpedia
State Representative, District 38
Vote for oneOpen seat. Rep. David Smith is term-limited. Covers central Seminole, including Altamonte Springs, Casselberry and Winter Springs. Nik Dean replaced Michelle DeJesus, who withdrew for family reasons.
Nik Dean
Seems like good people (best choice in this race) DemocratIn law school he volunteered at a health rights clinic, helping homeless people and disabled veterans get Social Security and VA benefits. Running on grocery, housing, insurance and health care costs, saying "I'm running to put politics aside and focus on what really matters."
Sources: Florida Democratic Party, The Floridian Press
Emily Duda Buckley
Compromised RepublicanBacks the property tax amendment and says homes shouldn't subsidize power for data centers. Her top donors include the Florida Chamber and Duda family companies, and she is endorsed by Associated Industries of Florida and Sen. Rick Scott.
Sources: News 6, Hoodline, Florida's Voice
State Representative, District 39
Vote for oneMostly in Orange County; a small slice of Seminole votes here. We know little about Jarod Fox, but his opponent's record earns the pick.
Jarod Fox
Not enough info (best choice in this race) DemocratRunning on Medicaid expansion, more money for public schools and teacher pay, and lower living costs. Our research found little else about him.
Sources: The Apopka Chief, Campaign site
Doug Bankson
Not good people RepublicanIn 2024 sponsored HB 1639, which sought to make driver's licenses show sex at birth and to make insurers that cover gender-affirming care also pay for de-transition. The Apopka Voice reported the bill was criticized for targeting trans Floridians.
Sources: CBS News, The Apopka Voice, Wikipedia
Altamonte Springs elections
City races are nonpartisan. Broderick Srodes won the District 2 commission seat unopposed.
Altamonte Springs Mayor
Vote for oneNo pick. Neither candidate's record turned up in our research beyond their own campaign sites.
Michael "Mike" Brunscheen
Not enough infoRunning on police pay and staffing first, then "responsible tax rates" and building roads and utilities ahead of growth. We found no news coverage of his record.
Sources: Campaign site, Supervisor of Elections candidate list
Dominique Douglas
Not enough infoRunning on housing "people can actually afford," help for small businesses, and keeping residents informed and involved in city decisions. We found nothing else on her.
Sources: Campaign site, Supervisor of Elections candidate list
Altamonte Springs Commissioner, District 4
Vote for oneOpen seat. We found nothing on either candidate beyond the county candidate list, so no pick.
Jeffrey Boebinger
Not enough infoOur research turned up nothing on his background or positions.
Eric Soto
Not enough infoOur research turned up nothing on his background or positions.
Casselberry elections
Commission seats are citywide and nonpartisan.
Casselberry Commissioner, Seat 1
Vote for oneNo pick. We found nothing on Tyler Knight, and Tim Veigle sells real estate while sitting on the board that reviews development.
Tim Veigle
CompromisedA lifelong local who has led two homeowners associations and sits on the chamber of commerce board. He also works in real estate, a business that gains from the zoning and growth decisions the commission makes.
Sources: Campaign site, Supervisor of Elections candidate list
Tyler Knight
Not enough infoOur research turned up nothing on his background or positions.
Casselberry Commissioner, Seat 2
Vote for oneToss-up between Crosby-García and Feist; we pick Crosby-García for her focus on renters and fixed-income residents. What we know of all three comes mostly from their own sites.
Lourdes Crosby-García
Seems like good people (best choice in this race)Like nearly 40% of the city, she rents, and she wants more affordable housing. Criticizes the February 2026 utility rate increase for giving "no accommodations" to fixed-income and low-income families; the police department recognized her neighborhood watch work in 2024.
Sources: Campaign site, Supervisor of Elections candidate list
Lindsay Feist
Seems like good peopleHas spent 8-plus years as a PTSA officer and serves on the school district's equity advisory board. Endorsed by former school board member Karen Almond and current commissioner Nancy Divita.
Sources: Campaign site, Endorsements
Travis Kelley
Not enough infoSays he wants to be an accessible commissioner, not "someone residents only see during an election." We found nothing beyond his campaign site.
Sources: Campaign site, Supervisor of Elections candidate list
Casselberry Commissioner, Seat 3
Vote for oneNo pick. We found nothing on Amanda Hart, and little on the incumbent beyond his own site.
Mark Busch
Not enough infoHas a biology degree and is running on cleaning up lakes and drainage, parks and public safety. We found no outside coverage of his record.
Sources: Campaign site, Supervisor of Elections candidate list
Amanda Hart
Not enough infoOur research turned up nothing on her background or positions.
Longwood elections
City races are nonpartisan. Jeff Taylor won District 5 unopposed.
Longwood Commissioner, District 3
Vote for oneCoury Matthew Knowles
Seems like good people (best choice in this race)Born with cerebral palsy, he became the University of Florida's first disabled baseball coach. Says he will "fight for policies that create opportunity, equity, and dignity for every neighbor."
Sources: Campaign site, Supervisor of Elections candidate list
Matt McMillan
CompromisedA Longwood native and tax lawyer who calls himself a "fiscal conservative" and warns that Amendment 3 could force service cuts. Lists endorsements from Longwood Police and Longwood Fire.
Sources: Campaign site, Supervisor of Elections candidate list
Michael Pfenning
Not enough infoOur research turned up nothing on his background or positions.
Winter Springs elections
City races are nonpartisan and citywide. Water and sewer problems come up in several candidates' campaigns. We couldn't find independent coverage of the candidates, so there are no picks.
Winter Springs Mayor
Vote for oneKevin McCann
Not enough infoSays he opposes developer influence and favors "resident-led growth." We found no news coverage of his record as mayor.
Sources: The Ballot Brief, Supervisor of Elections candidate list
Jesse Phillips
Not enough infoCo-founded the Winter Springs Water Quality Initiative, which pushed the city on water and wastewater failures. We found no independent coverage of his campaign.
Sources: Campaign site, Supervisor of Elections candidate list
Winter Springs Commissioner, District 2
Vote for oneVictoria Bruce
Not enough infoHer campaign credits her with $19.2 million for sewer plant replacements and $1.4 million in state water-quality money. We found no independent coverage of her record.
Sources: Campaign site, Supervisor of Elections candidate list
Ken Spalthoff
Not enough infoSays he refuses money from "any developer, land owner, or any business that has a contract with the city," and accuses the incumbents of breaking promises not to raise taxes. We found nothing else on him.
Sources: Campaign site, Supervisor of Elections candidate list
Winter Springs Commissioner, District 4
Vote for oneCade Resnick
Not enough infoWe found no coverage of his record or campaign.
Kyle Stewart
Not enough infoOur research turned up nothing on his background or positions.
Oviedo elections
Council members Keith Britton (Group 2), Alan Ott (Group 3) and Jeff Boddiford (Group 4) won unopposed, so Oviedo voters see only a charter question.
Oviedo charter amendment
Yes or noWe describe what it does and don't make a recommendation.
- Rural boundary annexations: Would require four of the five council members, instead of three, to approve annexing land that touches Seminole County's rural boundary. It would take effect right away. Spectrum News 13
Unopposed and settled
Already decided, so not on your November ballot.
Unopposed
UnopposedWon without opposition or settled in August: Seminole County School Board District 1 (Kristine Kraus), District 2 (Holton Mills) and District 5 (Autumn Garick); Sanford Mayor (Christina Hollerbach); Lake Mary Mayor (Justin York) and Commission Seats 1 (Jordan Smith), 3 (Colleen Taylor) and 4 (Daniel Lopez); Oviedo Council Groups 2 (Keith Britton), 3 (Alan Ott) and 4 (Jeff Boddiford); Altamonte Springs Commission District 2 (Broderick Srodes); Longwood Commission District 5 (Jeff Taylor); County Court Judge Group 3 (Sylvia A. Grunor); 18th Circuit Judge Group 4 (Robert Alan Segal) and Group 13 (Andrea Fant).
More Florida guides
Governor, statewide offices and ballot measures: Florida statewide races.
- Orange County: Orlando, Winter Park, Apopka, Ocoee, Winter Garden, Maitland
- Hillsborough County: Tampa, Brandon, Plant City, Temple Terrace, Riverview, Valrico, Ruskin
- Pinellas County: St. Petersburg, Clearwater, Largo, Pinellas Park, Dunedin, Palm Harbor, Tarpon Springs, Seminole
- Osceola County: Kissimmee, St. Cloud, Poinciana, Celebration, Campbell, Harmony
- Miami-Dade County: Miami, Hialeah, Miami Beach, Homestead, Miami Gardens, Doral, Coral Gables, North Miami
- Palm Beach County: West Palm Beach, Boca Raton, Boynton Beach, Delray Beach, Jupiter, Wellington, Palm Beach Gardens, Lake Worth Beach
- Duval County: Jacksonville, Jacksonville Beach, Atlantic Beach, Neptune Beach
- Lee County: Cape Coral, Fort Myers, Lehigh Acres, Bonita Springs, Estero, North Fort Myers, Fort Myers Beach, Sanibel
- Broward County: Fort Lauderdale, Hollywood, Pembroke Pines, Coral Springs, Miramar, Pompano Beach, Davie, Plantation, Sunrise, Deerfield Beach
- Volusia County: Deltona, Daytona Beach, Port Orange, Ormond Beach, DeLand, New Smyrna Beach, Edgewater, DeBary, Orange City