Manatee County, Florida

Manatee County School Board District 5

2 candidates are tracked for Manatee County School Board District 5, headed to a November 3, 2026 runoff: Camden T. Bedinghaus and Jonathan Mullis. Candidate information follows official Manatee County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.

About this race

August 18 result: Jonathan Mullis (35.3 percent) and Camden Bedinghaus (34.1 percent) advance to a November 3 runoff, per the Supervisor of Elections' unofficial results.

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.

Florida › Manatee County › Manatee County School Board District 5

Camden T. Bedinghaus

Nonpartisan

Top priorities

Declare a 'reading emergency' and refocus on common-sense academics, citing that nearly half of district students cannot read at grade level
Accountability and transparency, including more parental access to information (a parent portal to view lesson plans)
Teach real-world skills such as personal finance, budgeting, and economics

Per the campaign site.

Biography

Per Suncoast Searchlight, Bedinghaus is the 23-year-old director of the Turning Point USA Manatee County Hub and works as an independent journalist for Coastal Conservative News; his personal website describes him as a Christian conservative author, speaker, and independent journalist.

Campaign finance

$5,200 raised · county campaign-finance filings

Campaign site (opens in a new tab)

Jonathan Mullis

Nonpartisan

Top priorities

Academic excellence: proficiency in reading, writing, math, and science
Expand vocational and technical programs with real-world work exposure
Support teachers by reducing administrative burdens, plus school safety and fiscal responsibility

Per the campaign site.

Biography

Per his campaign site votemullis.com, Mullis is owner and CEO of Physical Therapy Doctors of Florida in Bradenton with over 17 years as a small business owner; Suncoast Searchlight likewise describes him as a physical therapist and business owner.

Campaign finance

$27,863 raised · county campaign-finance filings

Campaign site (opens in a new tab)

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Questions about this race

Who is running for Manatee County School Board District 5 in 2026?

When is the Manatee County School Board District 5 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

Florida Senate District 20 Florida Senate District 22 Florida House District 70 See all 12 Manatee County races

Candidate profiles

Camden T. Bedinghaus, full profile Jonathan Mullis, full profile Official Florida election office