Sarasota County Sample Ballot & Voter Guide 2026
19 candidates are on the November 3, 2026 ballot across 9 Sarasota County races, led by the Sarasota County Commissioner District 4 contest; 5 more races were decided at the primary.
County offices
Commissioner District 4Jim DeNiro (R) · Julie London (D)
Jim DeNiro Republican
- Keep property taxes low and housing affordable, especially for seniors and working families
- Fully fund law enforcement and first responders
- Restore fiscal discipline and eliminate waste
Per the campaign site.
About Jim DeNiro
Jim DeNiro is a retired Sarasota Police sergeant with a 30-year career spanning investigations, narcotics and marine units; he served on the county's Environmentally Sensitive Lands Oversight Committee, per his campaign site.
$81,555 raised, per Supervisor of Elections filings.
Julie London Democratic
- Refuse all PAC money and scrutinize conflicts of interest before votes
- Fight overdevelopment and AI data centers
- Resist Live Local Act preemptions of local zoning
Per the WSLR News interview.
About Julie London
Julie London writes the widely followed Dear Bubbie newsletter on Sarasota school and local-government politics; a first-time candidate, she pledges to be a watchdog on the commission, per WSLR News. No campaign website was found as of September 6, 2026.
$10,540 raised, per Supervisor of Elections filings.
August 18 primary result: Jim DeNiro defeated incumbent Joe Neunder in the Republican primary, 53.2 to 46.8 percent, per Suncoast Searchlight, and meets Democrat Julie London on the November 3 ballot.
Full race pageCharter Review Board District 3Chip Adams (R) · Jim Tate (D)
Chip Adams Republican
- The Charter deserves a board that serves to protect it
- Consistent representation of constituents on the board
- Judicious decision making that listens to residents and board counsel
Per the campaign site.
About Chip Adams
Chip Adams is a retired firefighter and paramedic with 34 years of career service, including 17 years as a shift commander and Battalion Chief, per his campaign site. A Sarasota County resident since 2020, he has served as an IAFF Local union vice president and president and as Firefighters' Pension Board president, per his campaign site.
$5,063 raised, per Supervisor of Elections filings.
Jim Tate Democratic
Jim Tate appears on the November 3, 2026 ballot for Sarasota County Charter Review Board District 3, per the Supervisor of Elections' official qualified-candidate list. No campaign website was found as of September 3, 2026; the official election filing is the only verifiable source for Jim Tate.
August 18 primary result: Chip Adams won the Republican primary with 28,536 votes (59.47 percent) to Ali Hopper's 19,448 (40.53 percent), per the Sarasota County Supervisor of Elections' official results, and meets Democrat Jim Tate on the November 3 ballot.
Full race pageCharter Review Board District 4Taylor T. Collins (R) · Robin Williams (D)
Taylor T. Collins Republican
- A strong local government begins with a clear, well-structured Charter
- Sound frameworks, long-term thinking, and accountability on the board
- Protecting government integrity while ensuring transparency, efficiency, and responsiveness
Per the campaign site.
About Taylor T. Collins
Taylor Collins is a Sarasota business owner with a professional background in benefits and risk management, per her campaign site. She grew up in Sarasota and lives there with her husband, Stevan, per her campaign site. Taylor T. Collins appears on the November 3, 2026 ballot for Sarasota County Charter Review Board District 4, per the Supervisor of Elections' official qualified-candidate list.
$7,266 raised, per Supervisor of Elections filings.
Robin Williams Democratic
Robin Williams is a school board activist who also ran for this Charter Review Board seat in 2024, calling for re-empowering citizens to more easily amend the county charter, per WSLR News. No campaign website was found as of September 6, 2026; the official election filing is the only verifiable source for Robin Williams.
$2,625 raised, per Supervisor of Elections filings.
This race was not on the August 18 primary ballot: with one Republican and one Democrat there was no primary, and Taylor Collins and Robin Williams meet on the November 3 general ballot.
Full race pageCharter Review Board District 5Erin Halstead (R) · Andrea Doria Kale (D)
Erin Halstead Republican
- Listen to public input and attend all meetings to provide thoughtful review
- Public input should always be the priority, supporting voter-initiated ideas over proactive board changes
Per the Your Observer questionnaire.
About Erin Halstead
Erin Halstead is a realtor and local business owner of more than 25 years who has served as president of the Englewood Area Chamber of Commerce, president of the Englewood Area Board of Realtors, and president of the Englewood Area Cancer Foundation, per the Your Observer. She has lived in the Englewood area most of her life and exclusively in Sarasota County since 2005, per the Your Observer. Erin Halstead appears on the November 3, 2026 ballot for Sarasota County Charter Review Board District 5, per the Supervisor of Elections' official qualified-candidate list. No campaign website was found as of September 3, 2026; the official election filing is the only verifiable source for Erin Halstead.
$1,070 raised, per Supervisor of Elections filings.
Andrea Doria Kale Democratic
Andrea Doria Kale spent 37 years as a researcher and IT director at a nonprofit that studied the effects of substance and alcohol abuse, per her campaign website. She lives in North Port, per Sarasota County campaign finance filings. Andrea Doria Kale appears on the November 3, 2026 ballot for Sarasota County Charter Review Board District 5, per the Supervisor of Elections' official qualified-candidate list. No campaign website was found as of September 3, 2026; the official election filing is the only verifiable source for Andrea Doria Kale.
August 18 primary result: Erin Halstead won the Republican primary 51.4 to 48.6 percent over Andrew Sias, per Your Observer, and meets Democrat Andrea Doria Kale on the November 3 ballot.
Full race pageSchool board
School Board District 1Nonpartisan race · Heidi Brandt · Jimmy Glover
Heidi Brandt and Jimmy Glover are on the November 3, 2026 ballot for Sarasota County School Board District 1.
Heidi Brandt Nonpartisan
- Empower parents
- Ensure school safety and invest in high-quality teachers
- Enhance workforce training so students thrive beyond the classroom
Per the campaign site.
About Heidi Brandt
Heidi Brandt is a Southside Elementary PTO president and parent of a district student, from a family of educators; she would expand volunteer literacy programs like Reading Partners, per her campaign site and Suncoast Searchlight.
$58,696 raised, per Supervisor of Elections filings.
Jimmy Glover Nonpartisan
- Championing early literacy
- Career readiness with apprenticeships
- Mental health, school safety, and teacher pay
Per the campaign site.
About Jimmy Glover
Jimmy Glover chairs the board of Star Lab, a private Montessori-style K-3 school, and raised his children in Sarasota public schools; he is focused on college and career readiness and student mentorship, per Suncoast Searchlight.
$118,356 raised, per Supervisor of Elections filings.
August 18 result: Jimmy Glover (about 45 percent) and Heidi Brandt (31.7 percent) advance to a November 3 runoff for the open seat, per WSLR News.
Full race pageBy address
These seats are elected by district; only the district covering your address is on your ballot.
Sarasota County is split across 3 Florida House districts.
Find your districts by addressFlorida House: 3 districtsDistricts 73, 74, 75
Florida House District 73Lisa Klein (D) · Fiona McFarland (R)
Lisa Klein Democratic
- Access to mental healthcare
- Affordability
- Public education
Per the campaign site.
About Lisa Klein
Lisa Klein is a licensed mental health counselor who operates a private practice in Sarasota and previously worked as an educator. She is the Democratic candidate for Florida House District 73, challenging Republican Rep. Fiona McFarland, according to her campaign site and Florida Politics.
Fiona McFarland Republican Incumbent
- Secured funding for Historic Spanish Point shoreline restoration and the Bobby Jones watershed restoration to protect water quality
- Supported a sales tax rebate on family items and workforce training programs
- Supported funding for affordable housing programs in Sarasota County
Per the campaign site.
About Fiona McFarland
Fiona McFarland is the Republican state representative for Florida House District 73, per her campaign site. She graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 2008 and served eight years on active duty in the Navy as a Surface Warfare officer before transitioning to the Navy Reserves, per her campaign site. McFarland completed an MBA from the University of North Carolina's Kenan-Flagler business school and later worked as a consultant with McKinsey and Company, per her campaign site.
Lisa Klein (Democratic), Fiona McFarland (Republican) are on the November 3 ballot for Florida House District 73; Fiona McFarland 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 74Ryan Neill (D) · Nick Pachota (R)
Ryan Neill Democratic
Ryan Neill is the Democratic nominee for Florida House District 74, which covers Sarasota County east of Interstate 75, through Venice and south to North Port, per Florida Politics. No campaign website was found as of September 11, 2026.
Nick Pachota Republican
Nick Pachota is the Mayor of Venice and a former EMT, paramedic, firefighter and SWAT medic who remains an EMS instructor for Sarasota County Schools. He is the Republican candidate for the open Florida House District 74 seat, succeeding term-limited Rep. James Buchanan, and faces Democrat Ryan Neill in November, according to Florida Politics. No campaign website was found as of September 11, 2026.
Ryan Neill (Democratic), Nick Pachota (Republican) are on the November 3 ballot for Florida House District 74. Not on the November ballot: James Buchanan, the sitting member per the 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 75Cynthia L. Butler (D) · Danny Nix Jr. (R)
Cynthia L. Butler Democratic
Cynthia L. Butler is a Democratic candidate for Florida House District 75, which covers western Charlotte County and part of Sarasota County, according to the Charlotte Sun. She filed her campaign with the Florida Division of Elections in April 2026. No campaign website was found as of September 11, 2026.
Danny Nix Jr. Republican Incumbent
Danny Nix Jr. works as a commercial realtor and leads the Nix Team at Coldwell Banker Sunstar, according to the Florida House's official member page. He previously owned Nix & Associates Real Estate from 2016 to 2022 and is a past chair of the Florida Southwestern State College board of trustees, per Florida Politics.
Cynthia L. Butler (Democratic), Danny Nix Jr. (Republican) are on the November 3 ballot for Florida House District 75; Danny Nix Jr. 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 Senate District 22James Buchanan (R) · Martin Hyde (No Party Affiliation) · Lew Wasserman (D)
James Buchanan Republican
James Buchanan is a two-term member of the Florida House of Representatives from District 74, running for Florida Senate District 22 to succeed term-limited Sen. Joe Gruters, according to Florida Politics. He has been endorsed by the Florida Chamber of Commerce and Senate Republican leadership. No campaign website was found as of September 11, 2026.
Martin Hyde No Party Affiliation
- Local representation independent of party and developer influence
- Direct constituent engagement through town halls and meet-and-greets
Per the campaign site.
About Martin Hyde
Martin Hyde is an independent candidate running to succeed Sen. Joe Gruters in Florida Senate District 22. A Sarasota resident of 27 years born in the United Kingdom, he brings nearly 40 years of business experience, per his campaign site.
Lew Wasserman Democratic
Lew Wasserman is the Democratic candidate for Florida Senate District 22, covering all of Sarasota County and southern Manatee County, an open seat left by retiring Sen. Joe Gruters. He previously had a career in the entertainment industry, per WMNF. No campaign website was found as of September 11, 2026.
James Buchanan (Republican), Martin Hyde (No Party Affiliation), Lew Wasserman (Democratic) are on the November 3 ballot for Florida Senate District 22. Not on the November ballot: Joe Gruters, the sitting member per the 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 primary5 seats 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.
Commissioner District 2: Mark Smith won the seat.
DECIDED August 18: this all-Republican race ran as a universal primary open to all voters, and incumbent Mark Smith won a second term, 53.3 to 46.7 percent over Kristina Sargent, per Suncoast Searchlight; the primary decided the seat.
1 other ran; see the full raceSchool Board District 4: Megan Tennimon won the seat.
DECIDED August 18: Megan Tennimon won outright with 55.1 percent over Frank Dicicco, per WUSF. This race will not appear on the November 3 ballot.
1 other ran; see the full raceSchool Board District 5: Beth Mayberry won the seat.
DECIDED August 18: Beth Mayberry won outright with 56.7 percent over Michelle Pozzie, per WUSF. This race will not appear on the November 3 ballot.
1 other ran; see the full raceCharter Review Board District 1: Alexandra Coe won the seat.
DECIDED August 18: this all-Republican race ran as a universal primary, and Alexandra Coe won the seat with 49.6 percent over Nicholas Altier and Bill Van Allen, per Your Observer; the primary decided the seat.
2 others ran; see the full racePublic Hospital Board, Northern District Seat 1: Brad Baker won the seat.
DECIDED August 18: this all-Republican race ran as a universal primary, and incumbent Brad Baker won with 62.8 percent over Bill Woeltjen, per Your Observer; the primary decided the seat.
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 Sarasota County, Florida on November 3, 2026?
Sarasota County sample ballot 2026: see where the commissioner, school board and charter review board candidates stand on housing, schools and the budget. 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 Sarasota County races were already decided at the primary?
5 races were 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 Sarasota 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 Sarasota County24 ZIP codes
Candidate roster last updated Sep 25, 2026 from official election sources.