We often say in even-numbered years that this is the most important election of your life.
Now that the party primaries are over, the stage is set for the main event, the 2026 general election. In a couple of months, the people of Florida will choose a U.S. senator, a governor, three Cabinet members, and 27 of our 28 members of Congress (one, Democrat Maxwell Frost of Orlando, was elected unopposed).
Every Florida voter, regardless of party, should vote on or before Nov. 3.
Further down the ballot, but of equally huge importance, is Amendment 3, the legislative proposal to cut property taxes with no solution for replacing billions in lost revenue for cities and counties, creating potentially devastating consequences.
For voters, the two most important choices on this ballot are for governor and a yes-or-no vote on Amendment 3.
The League of Women Voters of Broward County is holding free public forums on Amendment 3, the property tax proposal,
Rounding out the ballot are many races for the Florida Legislature, county commission, school board, mayor and commissioner — mostly in Broward, where most cities hold fall elections to take advantage of larger turnouts.
If that weren’t enough, some cities want voters to decide a multitude of city charter amendments. There are nine questions in Deerfield Beach alone, and 10 more in Fort Lauderdale. When we take a stand for or against these ballot questions, we will explain why. As always, we invite those who disagree with us to write to us.
People who count on us
Some races are statewide, others are in multiple counties. Some are countywide and yet others are in specific geographic districts. The longer the ballot, the more likely it is that a voter may feel overwhelmed.
Don’t be. That’s where we come in.
As usual, the Sun Sentinel Editorial Board will make recommendations in many of these races. We offer informed guidance to help voters navigate a crowded ballot.
John Gilpin, a 75-year-old voter living in Davie, wrote the other day and asked how soon the newspaper will issue endorsements on Amendment 3 and two other statewide tax and budget questions.
The answer: As soon as we can, after researching and interviewing the candidates and issues.
We are well aware of all vote-by-mail delivery schedules, and we try to issue endorsements in time for voters to be able to consider them.
“I continue to count on your opinion to guide me in my vote-by-mail ballot,” Gilpin told us.
He’s not alone
As the local primary results illustrate, voters agree with our recommendations far more often than they disagree.
In these primaries, we endorsed candidates in 27 races, mostly in Broward and Palm Beach counties. Of those 27 candidates, 17 of them won and two others may still, as they have advanced to runoff elections in November.
Eight others lost despite having our endorsement, for an overall success rate of about 70%.
One of many factors we consider is the quality and quantity of a candidate’s support. But we do not endorse any candidate based on the likelihood of victory.
Our recommendations are based on our best judgment of who would serve the public most honorably — especially you, our readers.
We’ve made our priorities abundantly obvious through the years in thousands of editorials. We favor accessibility, civility, fiscal responsibility and transparency. Honesty is critical (see our editorials on the Hope Florida scandal).
Factors to consider
Taking a strong stand on an issue matters greatly, especially when it is unpopular.
Like you, we have grave concerns about the lack of housing affordability, high insurance costs, overdevelopment and income inequality everywhere. Election deniers who see a benefit in stoking unfounded fears of fraud will not be well-received by our team of editorial writers, who together have well over 125 years of experience covering this state.
Voters strongly followed our advice in five races for Broward County School Board. Four of them won by sizeable margins, and the fifth, Adam Cervera, is leading in a runoff with Roberto Fernandez III.
Candidates highlight the Sun Sentinel’s endorsement, such as David Fry in his race for Broward circuit judge. It helps but it cannot alone ensure a victory. Fry is in a runoff with lawyer Tamar Hamilton.
In high-profile races for county commission seats in the two counties, every candidate endorsed by the Sun Sentinel won except for Republican Elizabeth Accomando, for the District 6 seat on Palm Beach County Commission.
Republicans stuck with the incumbent, Sara Baxter. She now faces Katherine Waldron, who won her Democratic primary, and our endorsement.
We strongly urge voters to study the candidates and the issues and reach their own conclusions, with or without our guidance.
This election — and with it, the future of Florida — is in your hands.
The Sun Sentinel Editorial Board consists of Opinion Editor Steve Bousquet, Deputy Opinion Editor Dan Sweeney, editorial writers Pat Beall and Martin Dyckman, and Executive Editor Gretchen Day-Bryant. To contact us, email at letters@sun-sentinel.com.