Manatee County, Florida

Manatee County Commissioner District 2

2 candidates are tracked for Manatee County Commissioner District 2 on the November 3, 2026 ballot: Amanda Ballard and Charles B. Smith Sr.. Candidate information follows official Manatee County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.

About this race

August 18 primary result: incumbent Amanda Ballard won the Republican primary 67.5 to 32.5 percent over Edward Bailey, per the Supervisor of Elections' unofficial results, and meets Democrat Charles Smith on the November 3 ballot.

What this office does

County commissioner. The county board is the county's legislative and, in most states, executive body. Commissioners adopt the county budget and property tax rate, oversee roads, the jail, public health, planning and zoning in unincorporated areas, and appoint or confirm department heads. In counties with an elected county executive or judge, the board's role is mainly the budget and ordinances.

This race. The sitting officeholder, Amanda Ballard, is on the ballot.

Florida › Manatee County › Manatee County Commissioner District 2

Amanda Ballard

Republican Incumbent

Top priorities

Housing affordability and reducing homelessness
Addiction recovery and job training
Strengthening families in Manatee County

Per the campaign site.

Biography

Per her official Manatee County commissioner biography on mymanatee.org, Ballard worked for nearly eight years as an attorney in the local child welfare system before being elected to the County Commission in November 2022; she holds a J.D. from the University of South Carolina School of Law and was admitted to the Florida Bar in 2015.

Campaign finance

$56,521 raised · county campaign-finance filings

Campaign site (opens in a new tab)

Charles B. Smith Sr.

Democratic

Top priorities

Improving housing conditions
Encouraging smart growth that benefits all residents
Revitalizing the local economy and fostering business growth

Per the campaign site.

Biography

Business executive and co-founder, president and CEO of Manatee Harvesting Co. Inc., per his campaign site. At age 26 he became the first African American elected to the Palmetto City Commission, was re-elected four times and served as Vice Mayor, and he previously served as a Manatee County Commissioner, including as 2nd Vice Chairman and Port Authority Commissioner, per his campaign site. Charles B. Smith Sr. appears on the November 3, 2026 ballot for Manatee County Commissioner District 2, per the Supervisor of Elections' official qualified-candidate list.

Campaign finance

$8,475 raised · county campaign-finance filings

Campaign site (opens in a new tab)

Next on your ballotManatee County Commissioner District 4

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Voting info and more

Questions about this race

Who is running for Manatee County Commissioner District 2 in 2026?

When is the Manatee County Commissioner District 2 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 Manatee 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.

Verify this race

Candidate roster from official Manatee 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 Manatee County sample ballot and your exact ballot by address.

The rest of your Manatee County ballot

12 tracked races in Manatee County, Florida. Landed here from another county's search? Look up your own ballot below.

Also on your ballot

Manatee County Commissioner District 6 (At Large)Manatee County School Board District 2 Manatee County School Board District 5 See all 12 Manatee County races

Candidate profiles

Amanda Ballard, full profile Charles B. Smith Sr., full profile Official Florida election office