Trial court judge. A trial judge presides over criminal and civil cases at the first level: bail and pleas, motions, trials, sentencing and civil judgments. Judges are bound by state law and appellate precedent and are barred by judicial conduct rules from campaigning on how they would rule. Most states elect trial judges on a nonpartisan ballot; the term and the courts a judge may sit on vary by state.
This race. Nonpartisan: candidates appear without party labels.
Florida › Monroe County › Monroe County Judge, Group 2
August 18 result: Kevin McCarthy won outright with 65.85 percent over David Van Loon, per the Supervisor of Elections' official results, for this open seat following the retirement of the sitting judge; this nonpartisan race will not appear on the November 3 ballot.
Nonpartisan
Kevin McCarthy is chief assistant public defender in Monroe County, a post he has held since 2017 after joining the office in 2011, per Keys Weekly. He is a graduate of Key West High School, Emory University, and the University of Miami School of Law, where he earned his degree cum laude, per the same report.
$15,550 raised · county campaign-finance filings
Nonpartisan
David Van Loon is a partner at the Key West firm Highsmith & Van Loon, P.A., where he has practiced since 2003 after moving to Key West in 1996 to teach at Key West High School, per Keys Weekly. He has served for more than a decade as special magistrate for the Monroe County Value Adjustment Board and as past president of the Rotary Club of Key West, per the same report.
$9,588 raised · county campaign-finance filings
Who is running for Monroe County Judge, Group 2 in 2026?
The Monroe County Judge, Group 2 race was decided at the 2026 primary - Kevin McCarthy won the seat - and does not appear on the November 3, 2026 ballot. 2 candidates were on the primary ballot: Kevin McCarthy and David Van Loon. Candidate information follows official Monroe County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.
When is the Monroe County Judge, Group 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 Monroe 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 Monroe County Supervisor of Elections filings, last verified September 25, 2026. Bios and priorities carry their attribution inline.
Cross-check with the official Florida election office, or see the full Monroe County sample ballot and your exact ballot by address.
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