Marion County Sample Ballot & Voter Guide 2026
14 candidates are on the November 3, 2026 ballot across 8 Marion County races, led by the Marion County Commissioner District 2 contest; 1 more race was decided at the primary.
County offices
Commissioner District 2Mike Crimi (R)
Mike Crimi Republican
- Cut waste, fraud and abuse of taxpayer dollars across county departments
- Stronger enforcement of concurrency so major developments cannot proceed without transportation, utility and public-safety capacity
- Proactive, data-driven infrastructure management with a unified 5-10 year capital plan and growth paying through impact fees
Per VOTE411.
About Mike Crimi
Medical professional and business owner with 30 years combined experience who operates one of the largest employers in south Marion County; U.S. Army veteran and former firefighter/paramedic with a master's degree from the University of Florida, per his VOTE411 profile.
$160,864 raised, per Supervisor of Elections filings.
August 18 primary result: Mike Crimi won the closed Republican primary with 45 percent over Matt Cretul and Brien Weidemiller, per unofficial results, and faces only the write-in line on the November 3 ballot.
Full race pageCommissioner District 4Jeff Bairstow (R)
Jeff Bairstow Republican
- 'ROADS BEFORE ROOFTOPS' - require developers to pay their fair share through full impact fees
- Prioritize core services and eliminate wasteful spending
- Responsible growth that pays its own way with an infrastructure-first approach
Per VOTE411.
About Jeff Bairstow
Jeff Bairstow is a 28.5-year veteran of the Ocala Police Department and business owner of 10 years; a native Marion Countian with eight generations of family roots, per his VOTE411 profile (which lists incumbency as 'No').
$38,006 raised, per Supervisor of Elections filings.
August 18 primary result: Jeff Bairstow won the closed Republican primary with 39 percent over Sherri Meadows, Randall Alvord and Wanda Lasher, per unofficial results, and faces only the write-in line on the November 3 ballot.
Full race pageSchool board
School Board District 4Nonpartisan race · Mike Mills · Brigitte Smith
Mike Mills and Brigitte Smith are on the November 3, 2026 ballot for Marion County School Board District 4.
Mike Mills Nonpartisan
- Student outcomes across all pathways - students should be 'highly educated, happy and healthy,'
- Expand Career and Technical Education and trade programs, including military service as a post-graduation option
- Audit program productivity and reallocate spending from programs without return on investment
Per Ocala Gazette.
About Mike Mills
Owner of Symmetry Coffee Company in Ocala, U.S. Navy veteran (nuclear machinist mate, 2010-2017) and adjunct business professor at the College of Central Florida with an MBA from Florida Atlantic University; past Education Foundation president, per the Ocala Gazette and VOTE411. Running for the open seat vacated by Nancy Thrower.
$21,925 raised, per Supervisor of Elections filings.
Brigitte Smith Nonpartisan
- Cut wasteful spending and redirect resources to math, reading and graduation rates
- School safety, including increased Sheriff's Office oversight and zero-tolerance discipline
- Build a culture where teachers feel protected, heard and valued, with strategic recruitment and retention funds
Per Ocala Gazette.
About Brigitte Smith
Registered nurse with 35 years of operating room/trauma experience, U.S. Army Nurse Corps veteran, and chairwoman of the Marion County Republican Executive Committee who serves on the county textbook review committee, per the Ocala Gazette and VOTE411. Running for the open seat vacated by Nancy Thrower. No campaign website was found as of September 8, 2026; the official election filing is the only verifiable source for Brigitte Smith.
$6,960 raised, per Supervisor of Elections filings.
August 18 result: Mike Mills (37 percent) and Brigitte Smith (31 percent) advance to a November 3 runoff, per unofficial results.
Full race pageSchool Board District 5Nonpartisan race · Donald "Donny" Barber · Sarah James
Donald "Donny" Barber and Sarah James are on the November 3, 2026 ballot for Marion County School Board District 5.
Donald "Donny" Barber Nonpartisan
- Safer schools
- Responsible finances - redirect funds from 'administrative bloat' toward teacher compensation
- Improved student performance with fundamentals, career pathways and accountability
Per Ocala Gazette and VOTE411.
About Donald "Donny" Barber
City manager of Archer, Florida; chairs the Marion County Board of Adjustments and the Citra Community Center, and formerly served as Public Works & Utilities Administrator for Williston, per the Ocala Gazette and VOTE411.
$7,847 raised, per Supervisor of Elections filings.
Sarah James Nonpartisan Incumbent
- Recruiting and retaining staff, including fixing pay compression for experienced teachers
- Student-centered budgeting and planning for district growth
- Expanding vocational opportunities
Per Ocala Gazette and VOTE411.
About Sarah James
Sarah James is the incumbent school board member (four years) and current board chair; former teacher and school administrator with a doctorate in educational leadership who owns two preschools generating about $1.5 million annually, per the Ocala Gazette and VOTE411.
$41,100 raised, per Supervisor of Elections filings.
August 18 result: incumbent Sarah James (49 percent) fell short of a majority and meets Donny Barber (35 percent) in a November 3 runoff, per unofficial results.
Full race pageDistricts and boards
Soil and Water Conservation District 5Nonpartisan race · Deborah A. Edwards · Vivi Serena
Deborah A. Edwards and Vivi Serena are on the November 3, 2026 ballot for Marion Soil and Water Conservation District 5.
Deborah A. Edwards Nonpartisan
No campaign website was found as of September 27, 2026.
Vivi Serena Nonpartisan
Vivi Serena is the sitting Chairman of the Marion Soil and Water Conservation District board, serving a term from January 2023 to January 2027, per the district's own board listing. No campaign website was found as of September 27, 2026.
November-only race: this Soil and Water Conservation District seat was not on the August 18 primary ballot (it is absent from the Supervisor of Elections' official primary results) and is decided at the November 3, 2026 general election.
Full race pageBy address
These seats are elected by district; only the district covering your address is on your ballot.
Marion County is split across 3 Florida House districts.
Find your districts by addressFlorida House: 3 districtsDistricts 20, 23, 27
Florida House District 20Lee Butler (D) · Judson Sapp (R)
Lee Butler Democratic
Lee Butler is the Democratic candidate for Florida House District 20 on the November 3, 2026 ballot, per the Florida Division of Elections' certified 2026 General Election candidate list. No campaign website was found as of September 11, 2026.
Judson Sapp Republican Incumbent
Judson Sapp is the Republican incumbent representing Florida House District 20, first elected in 2024, according to the Florida House of Representatives. He works as chief executive officer of a railroad construction company. No campaign website was found as of September 11, 2026.
Lee Butler (Democratic), Judson Sapp (Republican) are on the November 3 ballot for Florida House District 20; Judson Sapp is the sitting member, per the Florida House of Representatives' official roster. Major-party nominees were chosen at the August 18 primary or advanced unopposed; minor-party and no-party-affiliation candidates qualify directly for the November ballot. The field is the Florida Division of Elections' certified 2026 General Election candidate list. This seat is elected by district; only the district covering your address appears on your ballot.
Full race pageFlorida House District 23Mark Leland Baker (D) · J.J. Grow (R)
Mark Leland Baker Democratic
- Making housing more affordable and reducing insurance and transportation costs
- Expanding access to affordable healthcare and addressing prescription drug prices
- Championing fully funded public education and fair teacher compensation
Per the campaign site.
About Mark Leland Baker
Mark Baker is a small business owner who runs a sign shop in Crystal River and has long lived in District 23, according to his campaign site, which also notes he leads a nonpartisan civic group. He is the Democratic candidate for Florida House District 23, which covers Citrus County and part of Marion County.
J.J. Grow Republican Incumbent
J.J. Grow is the Republican candidate for Florida House District 23 on the November 3, 2026 ballot, per the Florida Division of Elections' certified 2026 General Election candidate list. J.J. Grow is a sitting member for the district, per the Florida House of Representatives' official roster. J.J. Grow works in agribusiness, according to the Florida House's official member page. He was first elected to the Florida House in 2024, succeeding term-limited Rep. Ralph Massullo, per Click Orlando. No campaign website was found as of September 11, 2026.
Mark Leland Baker (Democratic), J.J. Grow (Republican) are on the November 3 ballot for Florida House District 23; J.J. Grow is the sitting member, per the Florida House of Representatives' official roster. Major-party nominees were chosen at the August 18 primary or advanced unopposed; minor-party and no-party-affiliation candidates qualify directly for the November ballot. The field is the Florida Division of Elections' certified 2026 General Election candidate list. This seat is elected by district; only the district covering your address appears on your ballot.
Full race pageFlorida House District 27Andy Ferrari (D) · Richard Gentry (R)
Andy Ferrari Democratic
Andy Ferrari is the Democratic candidate for Florida House District 27 on the November 3, 2026 ballot, according to the Florida Division of Elections certified candidate list. No campaign website was found as of September 11, 2026.
Richard Gentry Republican Incumbent
- Lowering home insurance premiums
- Local control over growth management
- Transportation infrastructure investment
Per the campaign site.
About Richard Gentry
Richard Gentry is the Republican incumbent representing Florida House District 27, first elected in 2024, according to the Florida House of Representatives. He previously worked as an advocate before the Public Service Commission on housing and growth management policy and holds degrees from the University of Miami, according to his campaign website.
Andy Ferrari (Democratic), Richard Gentry (Republican) are on the November 3 ballot for Florida House District 27; Richard Gentry is the sitting member, per the Florida House of Representatives' official roster. Major-party nominees were chosen at the August 18 primary or advanced unopposed; minor-party and no-party-affiliation candidates qualify directly for the November ballot. The field is the Florida Division of Elections' certified 2026 General Election candidate list. This seat is elected by district; only the district covering your address appears on your ballot.
Full race pageAlready decided at the primary
Already decided at the primary1 seat settled at the 2026 primary; not on the November 3 ballot
These seats were settled at the 2026 primary and will not appear on the November 3 ballot. Full fields and profiles stay on each race page.
School Board District 3: Eric R. Cummings won the seat.
DECIDED August 18: incumbent Eric Cummings was reelected outright with 56 percent over Steve Swett, per unofficial results. This race will not appear on the November 3 ballot.
1 other ran; see the full raceSee your full ballot
Voting info and more
Voting info and more
Verify your ballot with the official election office.
Cross-check every race and candidate with the official election office. Official sources are the final word.
Who is on the ballot in Marion County, Florida on November 3, 2026?
Marion County sample ballot 2026: see where the school board, commissioner and Marion soil and water conservation candidates stand on the budget and schools. Every candidate profile on this page names the official filing or campaign source it came from.
When is the 2026 general election in Florida?
Election Day is Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Registration deadlines, early voting dates and mail ballot rules for Florida are listed on the Florida election hub. Florida election hub →
Which Marion County races were already decided at the primary?
1 race was settled at the 2026 primary and will not appear on the November 3 ballot. The results and full candidate fields stay on each race page in the section above.
How do I see my exact Marion County ballot?
Enter your ZIP code in the lookup for the statewide and congressional races on every ballot in the county, or a full street address to add the county, city and district contests for that location. Look up your ballot →
Sample ballot by ZIP code in Marion County29 ZIP codes
Candidate roster last updated Sep 27, 2026 from official election sources.