Manatee County, Florida

Manatee County School Board District 2

2 candidates are tracked for Manatee County School Board District 2, headed to a November 3, 2026 runoff: Sharon Jefferson and Cindy Spray. Candidate information follows official Manatee County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.

About this race

August 18 result: incumbent Cindy Spray (34.2 percent) and Sharon Jefferson (26.8 percent) advance to a November 3 runoff, per the Supervisor of Elections' unofficial results and WUSF.

What this office does

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, Cindy Spray, is on the ballot.

Florida › Manatee County › Manatee County School Board District 2

Sharon Jefferson

Nonpartisan

Top priorities

Support Title I schools and economically disadvantaged students
Improve teacher retention
Address students' mental and emotional needs and eliminate educational gaps

Per the Suncoast Searchlight.

Biography

Jefferson has been an educator in Manatee County for more than 26 years and currently teaches social studies at Sugg Middle School, per Suncoast Searchlight, which also reports she serves as education chair for the Manatee County NAACP.

Campaign finance

$3,221 raised · county campaign-finance filings

Campaign site (opens in a new tab)

Cindy Spray

Nonpartisan Incumbent

Top priorities

'Putting students first' through increased classroom resources and teacher support
Transportation improvements and school security
School choice, including extending millage funding to charter schools

Per the Suncoast Searchlight.

Biography

Spray is the sitting School Board of Manatee County District 2 member; Suncoast Searchlight does not detail her professional occupation outside the board. No campaign website was found as of September 8, 2026.

Campaign finance

$26,426 raised · county campaign-finance filings

Next on your ballotManatee County School Board District 5

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Voting info and more

Questions about this race

Who is running for Manatee County School Board District 2 in 2026?

When is the Manatee County School Board 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 Mosquito Control District Group 1 Florida Senate District 20 Florida Senate District 22 See all 12 Manatee County races

Candidate profiles

Sharon Jefferson, full profile Cindy Spray, full profile Official Florida election office