Danny Federico
Voters across Suwannee, Hamilton and Lafayette counties decided a slate of local races Tuesday, Aug. 18, while also helping choose nominees for governor, U.S. Senate and other state and federal offices.
Participation remained low across Florida. According to the Florida Division of Elections’ second set of unofficial returns, 3,390,002 of the state’s 13,418,186 eligible active registered voters cast ballots, resulting in a statewide turnout of 25.26%.
Locally, turnout was higher than the statewide rate, but a majority of registered voters still stayed home in all three counties.
According to county election results, Suwannee County reported 8,13 ballots cast among 26,628 registered voters, for a turnout of 30.55%. Hamilton County reported 2,513 ballots cast among 7,049 registered voters, resulting in a 35.65% turnout. Lafayette County had the highest participation of the three, with 1,957 ballots cast among 4,238 registered voters, or 46.22%.
Hamilton County results
Several closely watched races appeared on Hamilton County ballots, including a county commission contest decided by only five votes.
In the Republican primary for Hamilton County Commission District 4, incumbent Travis Erixton received 194 votes (50.65%), narrowly defeating Derek Ratliff, who received 189 votes (49.35%).
The District 2 County Commission race was listed as a Universal Primary Contest, meaning all qualified voters in the district could participate because the Republican candidates faced no opposition from another party in the general election. Josh Altman won the race with 382 votes (55.52%), while incumbent Robby Roberson received 306 votes (44.48%).
The Hamilton County School Board District 4 race did not produce a majority winner. Larry Ogburn Sr. led the four-candidate field with 241 votes (34.98%). Kizzy L. Burch finished second with 186 votes (27%), followed closely by Timothea Scott with 182 votes (26.42%). Jamie Bowen Sr. received 80 votes (11.61%).
Based on the unofficial results, Ogburn and Burch appear set to advance to the general election after neither candidate received a majority. Burch’s second-place finish came by only four votes over Scott. Riverbend News has contacted the Hamilton County Supervisor of Elections Office to confirm how the race will proceed.
Hamilton County’s District 5 School Board race was decided outright. Menieca M. Kennedy received 337 votes (60.39%), defeating incumbent Sammy McCoy, who received 221 votes (39.61%).
Lafayette County results
Both Lafayette County School Board races on Tuesday’s ballot were decided without the need for a runoff.
In District 3, Mary Anne Koon McCray received 1,031 votes (54.1%), defeating Mark C. Beach, who received 873 votes (45.9%).
Kristyn Folsom won the District 5 race with 1,094 votes (57.4%), while Ann Murphy received 813 votes (42.6%).
Suwannee County results
Two Suwannee County School Board races were decided, with both winning candidates receiving more than 60% of the vote.
In District 3, Malcolm Hines received 1,116 votes (64.2%), defeating Clifford Bean, who received 621 votes (35.75%).
Aaron Bass won the District 5 School Board race with 1,240 votes (60.70%), unseating incumbent Ronald White, who received 803 votes (39.30%).
The Democratic primary for Suwannee County Commission District 2 featured three candidates. Stefan Blue led the field with 188 votes (47.96%). Billy W. White Sr. finished second with 118 votes (30.10%), while Cynthia D. Robinson received 86 votes (21.94%).
Statewide races
Florida voters selected Republican U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds and Democrat David Jolly as their parties’ nominees for governor.
Donalds received 811,101 votes statewide (47.79%) in an 11-candidate Republican primary. Lt. Gov. Jay Collins finished second with 427,000 votes (25.16%). On the Democratic side, Jolly and running mate Gwen Graham received 762,109 votes (60.95%), easily topping the six-candidate field.
In the race for U.S. Senate, incumbent Republican Ashley Moody overwhelmingly won her party’s nomination with 1,320,734 votes (79.56%). Democrat Angie Nixon defeated Alex Vindman with 705,765 votes (56.06%), compared with Vindman’s 553,092 votes (43.94%).
Florida Chief Financial Officer Blaise Ingoglia won the Republican primary with 968,183 votes (61.32%), defeating Frank William Collige. Former state Sen. Annette Taddeo won the Democratic nomination with 796,647 votes (65.64%).
Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson also secured the Republican nomination, receiving 1,111,494 votes (68.91%) against Matt Taylor. Democrat Joey Mendoza Atkins won his party’s nomination with 717,162 votes (60.29%) over Donald A. “Don” Prichard.
There was no primary contest for Florida attorney general. Republican Attorney General James Uthmeier and Democrat José Javier Rodríguez had no opponents within their respective parties and will face each other in the general election.
Congressional and legislative races
Suwannee, Hamilton and Lafayette counties are all within Florida’s Third Congressional District.
Incumbent Republican U.S. Rep. Kat Cammack did not face a Republican primary challenger. Four Democrats competed for their party’s nomination, with Seth Harp receiving 20,653 votes districtwide (45.17%) to win the primary. Tom Wells finished second with 15,425 votes (33.74%), followed by Troy Albers with 5,186 votes and George Hubac with 4,455.
All three counties are also part of Florida House District 7. Republican incumbent Jason Shoaf was unopposed in the primary and will advance to the general election.
The general election will take place on Tuesday, Nov. 3.
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