Volusia County, Florida

Volusia County Council District 1

2 candidates are tracked for Volusia County Council District 1, headed to a November 3, 2026 runoff: Wendy Anderson and Don Dempsey. Candidate information follows official Volusia County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.

About this race

August 18 result: Wendy Anderson (47.6 percent) and incumbent Don Dempsey (32.1 percent) advance to a November 3 runoff, per the Supervisor of Elections' unofficial results.

What this office does

County commissioner. The county board is the county's legislative and, in most states, executive body. Commissioners adopt the county budget and property tax rate, oversee roads, the jail, public health, planning and zoning in unincorporated areas, and appoint or confirm department heads. In counties with an elected county executive or judge, the board's role is mainly the budget and ordinances.

This race. Nonpartisan: candidates appear without party labels. The sitting officeholder, Don Dempsey, is on the ballot.

Florida › Volusia County › Volusia County Council District 1

Wendy Anderson

Nonpartisan

Top priorities

Responsible budgeting and a return to core government responsibilities
Keep farmers farming and protect working agricultural lands
Grow the economy, not the footprint: redevelopment, flooding, natural resources

Per the campaign site.

Biography

Wendy Anderson is a biologist and environmentalist who serves on the Volusia Soil and Water Conservation District board, per local election reporting. She is a qualified candidate for County Council District 1 in the August 18, 2026 primary.

Campaign finance

$54,310 raised · county campaign-finance filings

Campaign site (opens in a new tab)

Don Dempsey

Nonpartisan Incumbent

Top priorities

Responsible flood mitigation countywide
Cut county spending and taxes and fight for home rule
Oppose deep-well injection of reclaimed water and AI data centers

Per the campaign site.

Biography

Don Dempsey is a DeLand criminal defense attorney who began his legal career as a Volusia assistant state attorney in 1990, per his campaign site; he is the sitting District 1 council member, per the county's official roster.

Campaign finance

$13,000 raised · county campaign-finance filings

Campaign site (opens in a new tab)

Next on your ballotVolusia County Council District 3

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Voting info and more

Questions about this race

Who is running for Volusia County Council District 1 in 2026?

When is the Volusia County Council 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 Volusia 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 Volusia County Supervisor of Elections filings, last verified October 1, 2026. Bios and priorities carry their attribution inline.

Cross-check with the official Florida election office, or see the full Volusia County sample ballot and your exact ballot by address.

The rest of your Volusia County ballot

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

Also on your ballot

Volusia County Council District 5 Volusia County School Board District 1 West Volusia Hospital Authority Group B, Seat 2 See all 29 Volusia County races

Candidate profiles

Wendy Anderson, full profile Don Dempsey, full profile Official Florida election office