Primary Election Day is Aug. 18

Danny Federico

[email protected]

Voters in Hamilton, Lafayette and Suwannee counties will head to the polls on Tuesday, Aug. 18, for Florida's 2026 Primary Election.

Polls at all voting locations will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Voters casting a ballot on Election Day must vote at their assigned precinct.

Florida is a closed primary state, meaning voters generally may only vote for candidates of the political party with which they are registered. All registered voters, regardless of party affiliation, may vote in nonpartisan races. Voters' individual ballots will vary depending on party affiliation, precinct and the districts in which they reside.

Candidates appearing on all local ballots include:

United States Senator

• Republican: Chris Gleason, Ashley Moody, Neelam Taneja Perry and Ernest “Ernie” Rivera.
• Democratic: Angie Nixon and Alex Vindman.

Governor and Lieutenant Governor

• Republican: Jay Collins, Byron Donalds, James Fishback, Jim Holcomb, Arthur Joseph McCaffrey, Daniel Nokovich, Paul Renner, Rachel Rodriguez, James W. Shaw, Caneste Succe and Bobby Williams.
• Democratic: Evelyn Castillo-Bach, Thomas Elly Fernandez, Dayna Marie Foster, David Jolly/Gwen Graham, Dottie Joseph and Stephann Norman.

Chief Financial Officer

• Republican: Frank William Collige and Blaise Ingoglia.
• Democratic: Earle Ford and Annette Taddeo.

Commissioner of Agriculture

• Republican: Wilton Simpson and Matt Taylor.
• Democratic: Joey Mendoza Atkins and Donald A. "Don" Pritchard.

 

Hamilton County

Hamilton County's Democratic ballot also includes the U.S. House of Representatives, District 3, race between Troy Albers, Seth Harp, George Hubba and Tom Wells.

Local races include:

• County Commissioner, District 2: Josh Altman and Robby Roberson.
• County Commissioner, District 4: Travis Erixton and Derek Ratliff.
• School Board, District 4: Jamie Bowen Sr., Kizzy L. Burch, Larry Ogburn Sr. and Timothea Scott.
• School Board, District 5: Menieca Mathis Kennedy and Sammy McCoy.

 

Lafayette County

Lafayette County's Republican ballot includes the U.S. House of Representatives, District 2, race between Neal Dunn, Lee Jones, Nick Lowe, Luke Marajh, Jon Molnar, Evan Power, Austin Rogers and Andre Rhewl.

Local races include:

• School Board, District 3: Mark Beach and Mary Anne McCray.
• School Board, District 5: Kristyn Folsom and Ann Murphy.

Three local candidates are unopposed: Mason Byrd, County Commissioner District 2; Anthony Adams, County Commissioner District 4; and Darren Driver, School Board District 1.

 

Suwannee County

Suwannee County's Democratic ballot includes the U.S. House of Representatives, District 3, race between Troy Albers, Seth Harp, George Hubba and Tom Wells.

Local races include:

• County Commissioner, District 2: Stefan Blue, Shea DeLoach, Cynthia Robinson and Billy White Sr.
• School Board, District 3: Clifford Bean and Malcolm Hines.
• School Board, District 5: Aaron Bass and Ronald White. The nonpartisan race will appear for voters in precincts 10 and 13.

Five local candidates are unopposed: Andy Jackson, Soil and Water Conservation Group 1; Wesley Wainwright, Soil and Water Conservation Group 3; James Williams, Soil and Water Conservation Group 5; Leo Mobley, County Commissioner District 4; and Edward daSilva, School Board District 4.

All voters casting ballots in person are required to present current, valid photo and signature identification. Voters who do not present the required identification may be issued a provisional ballot.

 

For more information or to view your assigned voting precinct, visit your local Supervisor of Elections website:

• Hamilton County: hamiltonvotesfl.gov
• Lafayette County: lafayettevotes.net
• Suwannee County: suwanneevotes.com