Key Primary races at a glance
The first wave of ballots for the 2026 Election were counted Tuesday as the Primary played out across Southwest Florida and the Sunshine State.
More then 475,000 votes were tallied in Lee County, making up just under 30% of eligible voters.
“This was a successful election and the best turnout for a primary since 2020,” said Lee County Supervisor of Elections Jenna Persons-Mulicka. “Voters are excited about this election season. We hope to have a great turnout in the general election as well.”
Some races saw candidates advance, while other races were decided.
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.
Race information for the Primary Election includes:
• Cape Coral Council races
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%).
In Cape Coral City Council District 1, moving on is Tom Shadrach (35.36%) and Dave Newton (29.65%).
In District 6, advancing is Liza King (28.68%) and Annette Warren (26.64%).
Also on the General Election ballot: District 4. Incumbent Jennifer Nelson-Lastra will face challenger James Vargus.
• Lee County Board of County Commissioners
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.
On the General Election ballot:
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.
District 4 Commissioner Brian Hamman (R-Cape Coral), whose district includes Cape Coral and Fort Myers, is being challenged by DeMaria “Princess” Artis, who is running without party affiliation.
• School Board
District 1: Incumbent Sam Fisher (57.59%) defeated Jenn McDaigle. Fisher retained his seat.
District 4: Incumbent Debbie Jordan (39.28%) and Tony Beougher( 31.52%) will advance to the General Election, defeating Carl Baxter and Gisele “Gigi” Gentile.
District 5: Incumbent Chair Armor Persons (43.38%) and Crystal Johnson (31.42%) will advance to the General Election, defeating Carline Saintilus.
District 6: Incumbent Jada Langford-Fleming (66.10%) defeated India Palencia. Langford-Fleming retained her seat.
• United States Senator
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%).
Moody will take on DEM Angie Nixon (56.1%), who defeated Alex Vindman, in the General Election.
• District 19 Representative in Congress
REP Jim Schwartzel (29.39%) beat nine other candidates for the nomination.
DEM Victor Arias (45.89%) defeated Howard Sapp and Robert M. Neeld for the nomination.
• Governor
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.
• District 17 Representative in Congress (DEM)
Allen L. Spence Jr. (51.34%) defeated Matthew Montavon. Spence Jr. will face incumbent Greg Stube in the General Election.
• Commissioner of Agriculture
REP Incumbent Wilton Simpson (68.9%) defeated Matt Taylor.
DEM Joey Mendoza Atkins (60.3%) defeated Donald A. Prichard.
Simpson and Atkins will advance to the General Election, along with NPA Kyle Gibson.
• Circuit Judge 20th Judicial Circuit Group 19
James Stewart (56.99%) defeated Vera Bergermann
• Circuit Judge 20th Judicial Circuit Group 27
Amanda Levy-Reis (61.08%) defeated Ryan Kuhl
• County Judge Group 5
Mike Colombo (56.56%) defeated Javier A. Pacheco
To reach CJ HADDAD, please email cjhaddad@breezenewspapers.com