Monroe County, Florida

Monroe County School Board, District 1

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, Darren Horan, is on the ballot.

Florida › Monroe County › Monroe County School Board, District 1

Decided at the 2026 primary: Darren Horan won the seat

August 18 result: Darren Horan won outright with 51.37 percent over Theresa Axford, per the Supervisor of Elections' official results; this nonpartisan race will not appear on the November 3 ballot.

Winner

Darren Horan

Nonpartisan Incumbent

Top priorities

Deliver workforce housing for teachers and school staff
Expand free school meals for students

Per the WLRN/Florida Trident report.

Biography

Darren Horan is a Key West attorney and managing partner of Horan Law, LLLP, and a lifelong Key West resident, per the Florida Trident/WLRN. He was first elected to the Monroe County School Board in 2022 and now serves as vice chair, per the same report. He is the father of three daughters, per the Florida Trident/WLRN.

Campaign finance

$5,450 raised · county campaign-finance filings

Also ran in the primary

Theresa Axford

Nonpartisan

Top priorities

Give students a meaningful role in district governance
Prioritize teacher salaries and benefits

Per the Keys Weekly.

Biography

Theresa Axford is a retired educator who spent nearly five decades in Monroe County Schools, including 38 years teaching at Key West High School, per the Florida Trident/WLRN. She served as district superintendent from 2020 until retiring in July 2025, the first woman to hold the post in Monroe County, per the same report.

Campaign finance

$2,250 raised · county campaign-finance filings

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Voting info and more

Questions about this race

Who is running for Monroe County School Board, District 1 in 2026?

The Monroe County School Board, District 1 race was decided at the 2026 primary - Darren Horan won the seat - and does not appear on the November 3, 2026 ballot. 2 candidates were on the primary ballot: Darren Horan and Theresa Axford. Candidate information follows official Monroe County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.

When is the Monroe County School Board, District 1 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.

Verify this race

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.

The rest of your Monroe County ballot

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

Also on your ballot

Key West City Commission, District IV Islamorada Village Council, Seat 1 Islamorada Village Council, Seat 2 See all 8 Monroe County races

Candidate profiles

Darren Horan, full profile Theresa Axford, full profile Official Florida election office