Trial court judge. A trial judge presides over criminal and civil cases at the first level: bail and pleas, motions, trials, sentencing and civil judgments. Judges are bound by state law and appellate precedent and are barred by judicial conduct rules from campaigning on how they would rule. Most states elect trial judges on a nonpartisan ballot; the term and the courts a judge may sit on vary by state.
This race. Nonpartisan: candidates appear without party labels.
Florida › Charlotte County › Circuit Judge, 20th Judicial Circuit, Group 19
DECIDED August 18: Judge James Stewart won this nonpartisan circuit-wide race with about 60 percent of the vote (138,122 votes across the circuit), per the Supervisors of Elections' results across the 20th Judicial Circuit (Charlotte, Collier, Glades, Hendry and Lee counties); in Charlotte County he received 57.85 percent (23,195 votes) to Vera Bergermann's 42.15 percent (16,899), per the Charlotte County Supervisor of Elections' posted results (last updated August 21, not labeled official on the results site). This race will not appear on the November 3 ballot.
Nonpartisan
Per the Sparkers Soapbox candidate guide.
James Stewart was appointed circuit judge by Governor DeSantis in 2025 after 17 years as a prosecutor and deputy chief assistant state attorney, and holds law and undergraduate degrees from Northeastern and the University of Michigan, per Sparkers Soapbox.
Nonpartisan
Per the Sparkers Soapbox candidate guide.
Vera Bergermann is a family law attorney and founder of the Bergermann Law Firm with more than 45 years of legal practice, per Sparkers Soapbox.
Who is running for Circuit Judge, 20th Judicial Circuit, Group 19 in 2026?
The Circuit Judge, 20th Judicial Circuit, Group 19 race was decided at the 2026 primary - James Stewart won the seat - and does not appear on the November 3, 2026 ballot. 2 candidates were on the primary ballot: James Stewart and Vera Bergermann. Candidate information follows official Charlotte County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.
When is the Circuit Judge, 20th Judicial Circuit, Group 19 election in Florida?
Election Day is Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Registration deadlines, early voting dates and mail ballot rules for Florida are on the Florida election hub at theballotbrief.com.
How do I see my exact Charlotte County ballot?
Enter your ZIP code in the lookup at theballotbrief.com for the statewide and congressional races, or a full street address to add the county, city and district contests for that location.
Candidate roster from official Charlotte County Supervisor of Elections filings, last verified September 29, 2026. Bios and priorities carry their attribution inline.
Cross-check with the official Florida election office, or see the full Charlotte County sample ballot and your exact ballot by address.
5 tracked races in Charlotte County, Florida. Landed here from another county's search? Look up your own ballot below.