Key primary election races at a glance
The first wave of ballots for the 2026 election were counted on Aug. 18 as the primary played out across Southwest Florida and the Sunshine State.
More than 475,000 votes were tallied in Lee County, making up just under 30% of eligible voters.
“This was a successful election and the best turnout for a primary since 2020,” Lee County Supervisor of Elections Jenna Persons-Mulicka said. “Voters are excited about this election season. We hope to have a great turnout in the general election as well.”
Some races saw candidates advance, while other races were decided.
Persons-Mulicka said the elections office will send out vote-by-mail ballots on Sept. 29, and that sample ballots will go out shortly thereafter. Early voting for the general election on Nov. 3 will run from Oct. 19-31.
Race information for the primary election includes:
– Lee County Board of County Commissioners
Incumbent District 5 Commissioner Trish Petrosky (R-Alva) was defeated by challenger Amanda Cochran (R-Alva) who earned 54.76% of the vote in a universal (all voters) primary.
On the November ballot:
District 2 Commissioner Cecil Pendergrass (R-Fort Myers), whose district covers Fort Myers, is seeking re-election to a new four-year term and is facing a challenge from Fort Myers Democrat Elliot Taylor.
District 4 Commissioner Brian Hamman (R-Cape Coral), whose district includes Cape Coral and Fort Myers, is being challenged by DeMaria “Princess” Artis, who is running without party affiliation.
– Lee County School Board
District 1 incumbent Sam Fisher (57.59%) defeated Jenn McDaigle. Fisher retained his seat.
District 6 incumbent Jada Langford-Fleming (66.10%) defeated India Palencia. Langford-Fleming retained her seat.
On the November ballot:
District 4 incumbent Debbie Jordan (39.28%) and challenger Tony Beougher ( 31.52%) advanced to the general election, defeating challengers Carl Baxter and Gisele “Gigi” Gentile.
District 5 incumbent Chair Armor Persons (43.38%) and challenger Crystal Johnson (31.42%) advanced to the general election, defeating challenger Carline Saintilus.
– United States Senator
Republican Ashley Moody (79.24%) beat Chris Gleason, Neelam Taneja Perry and Ernest Rivera in Lee County and won the primary in Florida overall (79.6%).
Democrat Angie Nixon (56.1%) defeated Alex Vindman.
Moody and Nixon will face off in the general election.
– District 19 Representative in Congress
Republican Jim Schwartzel (29.39%) beat nine other candidates for the nomination.
Democrat Victor Arias (45.89%) defeated Howard Sapp and Robert M. Neeld for the nomination.
Schwartzel and Arias advanced to the general election.
– Governor
Byron Donalds earned 64.91% of the vote in Lee County and won the Republican primary statewide with 47.79% of the vote in an 11-way field.
David Jolly, a former Republican congressman, won the Democratic primary with 61% of the vote.
Donalds will face Jolly in the general election.
– Commissioner of Agriculture
Republican incumbent Wilton Simpson (68.9%) defeated Matt Taylor.
Democrat Joey Mendoza Atkins (60.3%) defeated Donald A. Prichard.
Simpson and Atkins advanced to the general election, along with No Party Affiliation Kyle Gibson.
– Circuit Judge 20th Judicial Circuit Group 19
James Stewart (56.99%) defeated Vera Bergermann.
– Circuit Judge 20th Judicial Circuit Group 27
Amanda Levy-Reis (61.08%) defeated Ryan Kuhl.
– County Judge Group 5
Mike Colombo (56.56%) defeated Javier A. Pacheco.
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