The first wave of ballots for the 2026 Election were counted Tuesday as the Primary played out across Southwest Florida and the Sunshine State. <\/p>\n
More then 475,000 votes were tallied in Lee County, making up just under 30% of eligible voters. <\/p>\n
\u201cThis was a successful election and the best turnout for a primary since 2020,\u201d said Lee County Supervisor of Elections Jenna Persons-Mulicka. \u201cVoters are excited about this election season. We hope to have a great turnout in the general election as well.\u201d<\/p>\n
Some races saw candidates advance, while other races were decided. <\/p>\n
Persons-Mulicka said the elections office will be sending out vote-by-mail ballots on Sept. 29, and that sample ballots will go out shortly thereafter. Early voting for the General Election will run from Oct. 19 through 31.<\/p>\n
Race information for the Primary Election includes:<\/p>\n
\u2022\u00a0 Cape Coral Council races<\/p>\n
Mayor John Gunter failed to make it past the primary, earning 14.93% of the vote in a five-way primary. Moving on to the General Election in the mayoral race are Rick Erickson (32.05%) and Lisa Cohen-Adkinson (24.46%).<\/p>\n
In Cape Coral City Council District 1, moving on is Tom Shadrach (35.36%) and Dave Newton (29.65%).<\/p>\n
In District 6, advancing is Liza King (28.68%) and Annette Warren (26.64%).<\/p>\n
Also on the General Election ballot: District 4. Incumbent Jennifer Nelson-Lastra will face challenger James Vargus.<\/p>\n
\u2022\u00a0 Lee County Board of County Commissioners<\/p>\n
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. <\/p>\n
On the General Election ballot:<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
District 4 Commissioner Brian Hamman (R-Cape Coral), whose district includes Cape Coral and Fort Myers, is being challenged by DeMaria \u201cPrincess\u201d Artis, who is running without party affiliation.<\/p>\n
\u2022\u00a0 School Board<\/p>\n
District 1: Incumbent Sam Fisher (57.59%) defeated Jenn McDaigle. Fisher retained his seat.<\/p>\n
District 4: Incumbent Debbie Jordan (39.28%) and Tony Beougher( 31.52%) will advance to the General Election, defeating Carl Baxter and Gisele \u201cGigi\u201d Gentile.<\/p>\n
District 5: Incumbent Chair Armor Persons (43.38%) and Crystal Johnson (31.42%) will advance to the General Election, defeating Carline Saintilus.<\/p>\n
District 6: Incumbent Jada Langford-Fleming (66.10%) defeated India Palencia. Langford-Fleming retained her seat.<\/p>\n
\u2022\u00a0 United States Senator<\/p>\n
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%). <\/p>\n
Moody will take on DEM Angie Nixon (56.1%), who defeated Alex Vindman, in the General Election.<\/p>\n
\u2022\u00a0 District 19 Representative in Congress <\/p>\n
REP Jim Schwartzel (29.39%) beat nine other candidates for the nomination.<\/p>\n
DEM Victor Arias (45.89%) defeated Howard Sapp and Robert M. Neeld for the nomination.<\/p>\n
\u2022\u00a0 Governor <\/p>\n
Byron Donalds earned 64.91% of the vote in Lee County and won the Republican primary state-wide for governor on Tuesday with 47.79% of the vote in an 11-way field. Donalds will face former Republican Congressman David Jolly, in the general election. Jolly, of Pinellas County, won the Democratic primary with 61% of the vote.<\/p>\n
\u2022\u00a0 District 17 Representative in Congress (DEM)<\/p>\n
Allen L. Spence Jr. (51.34%) defeated Matthew Montavon. Spence Jr. will face incumbent Greg Stube in the General Election.<\/p>\n
\u2022\u00a0 Commissioner of Agriculture <\/p>\n
REP Incumbent Wilton Simpson (68.9%) defeated Matt Taylor. <\/p>\n
DEM Joey Mendoza Atkins (60.3%) defeated Donald A. Prichard.<\/p>\n
Simpson and Atkins will advance to the General Election, along with NPA Kyle Gibson. <\/p>\n
\u2022\u00a0 Circuit Judge 20th Judicial Circuit Group 19<\/p>\n
James Stewart (56.99%) defeated Vera Bergermann<\/p>\n
\u2022\u00a0 Circuit Judge 20th Judicial Circuit Group 27<\/p>\n
Amanda Levy-Reis (61.08%) defeated Ryan Kuhl<\/p>\n
\u2022\u00a0 County Judge Group 5<\/p>\n
Mike Colombo (56.56%) defeated Javier A. Pacheco <\/p>\n