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<\/p>\nEditor’s note: Two candidates on the list below still are awaiting verification.<\/p>\n
MARTIN COUNTY \u2014 The slate of candidates in the county’s upcoming elections is now final following the end of the qualifying period at noon June 12.<\/p>\n
Fifty-five candidates qualified to run for 20 seats across Martin County. Winners of this year’s elections in Indiantown, Sewall’s Point and Stuart will be decided Aug. 18. Elections in Jupiter Island and Ocean Breeze are scheduled for 2027.<\/p>\n
Florida is a “closed primary” state; only voters registered with a particular party can vote in that party’s primary election.<\/p>\n
Candidates facing opposition only from within their party will be elected in the August primary. Two candidates who qualified had no opposition and were automatically elected or reelected.<\/p>\n
Summer vibe check: Rope swings, sunsets and the Indian River Lagoon<\/p>\n
1 of 11<\/p>\n
A teenager swings over the Indian River Lagoon as the sun is setting, June 8, 2026, on Hutchinson Island in Martin County. According to the Old Farmer\u2019s Almanac, summer officially begins with the solstice on June 21, marking the astronomical first day of summer in the Northern Hemisphere. The Meteorological Summer begins June 1. According to NOAA, meteorologists and climatologists break the seasons down into groupings of three months based on the annual temperature cycle.<\/p>\n
(CRYSTAL VANDER WEIT\/TCPALM)<\/p>\n
This year’s election includes five key local races: two for County Commission and three for Stuart City Commission. One at the state level to watch is the race for House District 85, which involves two newcomers seeking to succeed state Rep. Toby Overdorf, R-Stuart, who is unable to run for reelection because of term limits. He is running for state Senate in 2028.<\/p>\n
Candidates qualifying by the noon deadline June 12 are:<\/p>\n
U.S Senate:<\/p>\n
Nell J. Gillespie \u2014 No Party Affiliation<\/p>\n
Chris Gleason \u2014 Republican<\/p>\n
Ashley Moody (i) \u2014 Republican<\/p>\n
Angie Nixon \u2014 Democrat<\/p>\n
Neelam Taneja Perry \u2014 Republican<\/p>\n
Ernest “Ernie” Rivera \u2014 Republican<\/p>\n
Alex Vindman \u2014 Democrat<\/p>\n
U.S. House of Representatives, District 21<\/p>\n
Alexander Cooke \u2014 No party affiliation<\/p>\n
David Fabrikant \u2014 Write-in candidate<\/p>\n
James Martin \u2014 Democrat<\/p>\n
Brian Mast (i) \u2015 Republican<\/p>\n
Edward Oconnor \u2014 Democrat, pending verification of his qualification<\/p>\n
Ljubo Skrbic \u2014 Republican, pending verification of his qualification<\/p>\n
Bernard Taylor \u2015 Democrat<\/p>\n
Florida House of Representatives:<\/p>\n
District 85:<\/p>\n
Anthony Bonna \u2014 Republican<\/p>\n
Hunter Stone Crompton \u2014 Write-in candidate<\/p>\n
Amr Metwally \u2014 MGTOW Party<\/p>\n
Wayne Richter \u2014 Democrat<\/p>\n
District 86:<\/p>\n
Elizabeth Pendel Pandich \u2014 Democrat<\/p>\n
John Snyder (i) \u2015 Republican<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
A man walks to his car after fishing in the Indian River Lagoon on June 8, 2026, on Hutchinson Island in Martin County.<\/p>\n
Martin County Commission:<\/p>\n
District 2: <\/p>\n
Christopher “Doc” Collins \u2014 Republican<\/p>\n
Susan O’Rourke \u2014 Republican<\/p>\n
Althea Wiley \u2014 Republican<\/p>\n
District 4: <\/p>\n
John Dial \u2014 Republican<\/p>\n
Sarah Heard (i) \u2014 Republican<\/p>\n
John “Kaz” Kazanjian \u2014 Republican<\/p>\n
Martin County School Board:<\/p>\n
District 1:<\/p>\n
Christia Li Roberts (i)<\/p>\n
Cherie White<\/p>\n
Charles “Chuck” Winn<\/p>\n
District 3: <\/p>\n
Jackie Gary Clarke<\/p>\n
Jen Russell (i)<\/p>\n
District 4:<\/p>\n
Anthony “Tony” Anderson<\/p>\n
Milly Blanco<\/p>\n
Amy Pritchett (i)<\/p>\n
Indiantown Village Council:<\/p>\n
Seat 3:<\/p>\n
Carmine Dipaolo (i)<\/p>\n
Christa Miley<\/p>\n
Octavius Thompson<\/p>\n
Seat 4:<\/p>\n
Anthony Dowling<\/p>\n
Ana Farias<\/p>\n
Angelina Perez (i)<\/p>\n
Seat 5:<\/p>\n
Janet Hernandez<\/p>\n
Karen Onsager (i)<\/p>\n
Sewall’s Point Town Commission (two seats):<\/p>\n
Vincent Barile (i)<\/p>\n
David Kurzman (i)<\/p>\n
John Tompeck<\/p>\n
Stuart City Commission:<\/p>\n
Group I:<\/p>\n
Will Laughlin<\/p>\n
Campbell Rich (i)<\/p>\n
Group III:<\/p>\n
Derreck Ogden<\/p>\n
Merritt Matheson<\/p>\n
Group V:<\/p>\n
Eula Clarke (i)<\/p>\n
Kylie Micciche<\/p>\n
Dayne Oldenborg<\/p>\n
More on Stuart: Chicken pollution? Florida city weighs pros, cons of backyard fowl<\/a><\/p>\n