School board member. The school board is the governing body of a public school district. It hires and evaluates the superintendent, adopts the district budget, sets policies on curriculum, discipline, attendance boundaries and facilities, and approves contracts and collective bargaining agreements. Day-to-day operations belong to the superintendent; the board sets direction and holds the administration accountable.
This race. Nonpartisan: candidates appear without party labels. The sitting officeholder, Mark Johnson, is on the ballot.
Florida › Hernando County › Hernando County School Board District 1
DECIDED August 18: Dana Pearce won with 52.2 percent, unseating incumbent Mark Johnson, per the Supervisor of Elections' unofficial results. This race will not appear on the November 3 ballot.
Nonpartisan
Per the Hernando Sun Q&A.
Dana Lynne Pearce is the recently retired principal of F.W. Springstead High School with more than 30 years in education, per the Hernando Sun's candidate Q&A.
$5,485 raised · county campaign-finance filings
Nonpartisan Incumbent
Per the Hernando Sun Q&A.
Mark Johnson owns a private investigation agency and is the District 1 incumbent, first elected in 2014 and returned to the board in 2022, per the Hernando Sun's candidate Q&A.
$11,327 raised · county campaign-finance filings
Who is running for Hernando County School Board District 1 in 2026?
The Hernando County School Board District 1 race was decided at the 2026 primary - Dana Lynne Pearce won the seat - and does not appear on the November 3, 2026 ballot. 2 candidates were on the primary ballot: Mark Johnson and Dana Lynne Pearce. Candidate information follows official Hernando County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.
When is the Hernando County School Board District 1 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 Hernando 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 Hernando County Supervisor of Elections filings, last verified September 27, 2026. Bios and priorities carry their attribution inline.
Cross-check with the official Florida election office, or see the full Hernando County sample ballot and your exact ballot by address.
6 tracked races in Hernando County, Florida. Landed here from another county's search? Look up your own ballot below.