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Election surprises: Cochran wins in Lee; BERT rides to victory; Schwartzel will vie against Arias in 19th
By John Davis, Michael Braun, Dayna Harpster, Eileen Kelley, Mike Walcher, Emma Rodriguez, Samuel Brucker, Jorge Murillo, Jessica Bowlby
August 18, 2026 at 8:24 AM EDT
The polls opened at 7 a.m. Tuesday for Florida's 2026 Primary Election voting. However, results for statewide races didn't start to roll in until shortly after 8 p.m. due to the nine counties in the state's western Panhandle and part of a 10th that are in the Central Time Zone.
Bay, Calhoun, Escambia, Holmes, Jackson, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa, Walton, and Washington are all in the CST. Gulf County is split — its northern zone is in Central Time but its southern coastal area is in Eastern Time.
Candidate representatives wave signs at the Lee County Elections Center on Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2026, in Fort Myers. (4619x3161, AR: 1.4612464409996837)
Results
Initial results Tuesday night as votes started to be tabulated showed the following (Unofficial winners denoted by *):
Florida Governor
The Associated Press reported that Rep. Byron Donalds, endorsed by President Donald Trump, won the Republican nomination for Florida governor and former Rep. David Jolly won the Democratic nomination. Their primary wins set the stage for a November contest to replace outgoing Gov. Ron DeSantis.
19th District Congress
The Associated Press reported that Jim Schwartzel wins the Republican nomination and Victor Arias wins the Democratic nomination for U.S. House in Florida's 19th Congressional District. They will face off in November.
(623x211, AR: 2.9526066350710902)
BERT Bonds
With 100 percent of precincts reporting, Bonita Springs voters solidly put their weight behind the city's plea to take out General Obligation Bonds to acquire the Bonita Estero Rail Trail and build a multi-use trail for runners, walkers and cyclists.
Yes: 8,749 - 68.28% *
No: 4,065 - 31.72%
The bonds will not exceed $35 million principal, maturing within 30 years of issuance and to be paid with property taxes.
Charlotte
Commissioner
34 of 34 precincts reporting
Charlotte County has two County Commission districts up for grabs with District 2 having two Republican candidates, Christopher George Constance and John M Fleming, and District 4 having two Republican candidates, Kim Amontree and Stephen R. Deutsch, and one NPA candidate, Michael Melton.
District 2 :
Chris Constance 17,365 - 44.70%
John Fleming: 21,486 - 55.30% *
District 4 :
Kim Amontree 16,161 - 60.96% *
Stephen R. Deutsch 10,350 - 39.04%
Collier
17 of 17 precincts reporting
Daniel Kowal: 8,953 - 70.7%*
Daniel Zegarac: 3717 - 29.3%
Glades
SCHOOL BOARD
District 1
Angie Woodward Hough 1,543 - 70%*
Anita Thielan Sauls 646 - 30%
District 5
Patricia Pearce 948 - 44%
Lauren Thompson 1,219 - 56% *
Highlands (24 of 25 precincts)
School board
District 1
Kari Pritchett: 6,285 - 40.95%*
James Josten: 4,833 - 31.49%
Chantel Parrish: 4,230 - 27.56%
District 4
Hilary Hathaway: 8,067- 51.96%*
Reese Martin: 7,457 - 48.04%
District 5
Andy Tuck: 7,777 - 48.67%*
Gary Brown: 5,398 - 33.78%
Savannah Castro: 2,805 - 17.55%
Lee County
(623x225, AR: 2.7688888888888887)
Commissioner
Amanda Cochran (REP) *
64,815 · 54.73%
Trish Petrosky (REP)
53,618· 45.27%
This is the race to get the seat for the next two years of the term of late Mike Greenwell. Petrosky, appointed by Gov. DeSantis last year, is the candidate of the Republican establishment in this region.
It looks like the choice of the Republican establishment may be losing a commission seat. Cochran has a strong lead with only six precincts of 99 not reporting yet.
Petrosky outraised Cochran by at least $175,000 and spent heavily to defeat Cochran to represent northeast Lee County on the Commission.
Source: Lee County Supervisor of Elections
Sarasota
Commissioner
Sarasota County has two County Commission districts up for reelection during this election cycle, with District 2 having two Republican candidates, Kristina Sargent and Mark Smith, while District 4 has two Republican candidates, Jim DeNiro and Joe Neunder, and one Democratic candidate, Julie London.
16 of 16 precincts reporting
District 2
Kristina Sargent: 7,363 - 46.68%
Mark Smith: 8,411 - 53.23% *
District 4
Jim DeNiro Total: 6,534 - 53.33% *
Joe Neunder Total: 5,719 - 46.67%
Sarasota County School Board - 97/98 Precincts as of 9 p.m. Tuesday
District 1:
Jimmy Glover: 43,539 (43.58%) *
Heidi Brandt: 31,710 (31.74%)
Teresa DeWitt: 24,650 (24.67%)
District 4:
Megan Tennimon: 54,681 (55.14%) *
Frank DiCicco: 44,482 (44.86%)
District 5:
Beth Mayberry: 56,130 (56.67%) *
Michelle Pozzie: 42,920 (43.33%)
When polls opened, over 1.9 million Floridians had cast ballots for Tuesday's primary election.
MORE
Registered Republicans returned 45.5% of the ballots cast, while registered Democrats recorded 42.1%.
The News Service of Florida was reporting that Secretary of State Cord Byrd encouraged registered voters to go to the polls as turnout for the primary could land under 20 percent.
“The people who are going to make it to the general ballot are those who are going to get elected during the primary. Right now, we’re less than 20 percent statewide. I would encourage people to get to the polls. It’s hard to complain when you don’t go vote,” Byrd told reporters Tuesday.
Turnout for the 2024 primary was 22.4 percent, which was down from 25.9 in the 2022 primary and 28.2 percent in the 2020 primary.
Byrd said otherwise that no problems were reported as polling locations opened.
A Fort Myers voter approaches his precinct on Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2026, in Fort Myers. (5472x3648, AR: 1.5)
Not all the races facing voters will result in a contested election in November. There are a number of contests that begat winners immediately due to no opposition.
In an extreme example in Okeechobee County, not a single local race in the city of Okeechobee nor in the county were decided by voters Tuesday evening. Wins were automatically given to the sole office-seekers for the five seats up for grabs in the county and the three seats up for grabs in the city of Okeechobee.
Okeechobee's unopposed winners:
Charlotte County unopposed winners:
Campaigners braved the heat to advocate for candidates on Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2026, at the Estero Recreation Center in Estero. (7002x4569, AR: 1.5325016414970454)
Collier County unopposed winners:
Candidate representatives wave signs at the Lee County Elections Center on Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2026, in Fort Myers. (5472x3648, AR: 1.5)
Lee County unopposed winners:
County election supervisor sites
Charlotte County
Collier County
DeSoto County
Glades County
Hardee County
Hendry County
Highlands County
Lee County
Okeechobee County
Sarasota County
WGCU is your trusted source for news and information in Southwest Florida. We are a nonprofit public service, and your support is more critical than ever. Keep public media strong and donate now. Thank you. The News Service of Florida contributed to this report.
Bay, Calhoun, Escambia, Holmes, Jackson, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa, Walton, and Washington are all in the CST. Gulf County is split — its northern zone is in Central Time but its southern coastal area is in Eastern Time.
Candidate representatives wave signs at the Lee County Elections Center on Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2026, in Fort Myers. (4619x3161, AR: 1.4612464409996837)
Results
Initial results Tuesday night as votes started to be tabulated showed the following (Unofficial winners denoted by *):
Florida Governor
The Associated Press reported that Rep. Byron Donalds, endorsed by President Donald Trump, won the Republican nomination for Florida governor and former Rep. David Jolly won the Democratic nomination. Their primary wins set the stage for a November contest to replace outgoing Gov. Ron DeSantis.
19th District Congress
The Associated Press reported that Jim Schwartzel wins the Republican nomination and Victor Arias wins the Democratic nomination for U.S. House in Florida's 19th Congressional District. They will face off in November.
(623x211, AR: 2.9526066350710902)
BERT Bonds
With 100 percent of precincts reporting, Bonita Springs voters solidly put their weight behind the city's plea to take out General Obligation Bonds to acquire the Bonita Estero Rail Trail and build a multi-use trail for runners, walkers and cyclists.
Yes: 8,749 - 68.28% *
No: 4,065 - 31.72%
The bonds will not exceed $35 million principal, maturing within 30 years of issuance and to be paid with property taxes.
Charlotte
Commissioner
34 of 34 precincts reporting
Charlotte County has two County Commission districts up for grabs with District 2 having two Republican candidates, Christopher George Constance and John M Fleming, and District 4 having two Republican candidates, Kim Amontree and Stephen R. Deutsch, and one NPA candidate, Michael Melton.
District 2 :
Chris Constance 17,365 - 44.70%
John Fleming: 21,486 - 55.30% *
District 4 :
Kim Amontree 16,161 - 60.96% *
Stephen R. Deutsch 10,350 - 39.04%
Collier
17 of 17 precincts reporting
Daniel Kowal: 8,953 - 70.7%*
Daniel Zegarac: 3717 - 29.3%
Glades
SCHOOL BOARD
District 1
Angie Woodward Hough 1,543 - 70%*
Anita Thielan Sauls 646 - 30%
District 5
Patricia Pearce 948 - 44%
Lauren Thompson 1,219 - 56% *
Highlands (24 of 25 precincts)
School board
District 1
Kari Pritchett: 6,285 - 40.95%*
James Josten: 4,833 - 31.49%
Chantel Parrish: 4,230 - 27.56%
District 4
Hilary Hathaway: 8,067- 51.96%*
Reese Martin: 7,457 - 48.04%
District 5
Andy Tuck: 7,777 - 48.67%*
Gary Brown: 5,398 - 33.78%
Savannah Castro: 2,805 - 17.55%
Lee County
(623x225, AR: 2.7688888888888887)
Commissioner
Amanda Cochran (REP) *
64,815 · 54.73%
Trish Petrosky (REP)
53,618· 45.27%
This is the race to get the seat for the next two years of the term of late Mike Greenwell. Petrosky, appointed by Gov. DeSantis last year, is the candidate of the Republican establishment in this region.
It looks like the choice of the Republican establishment may be losing a commission seat. Cochran has a strong lead with only six precincts of 99 not reporting yet.
Petrosky outraised Cochran by at least $175,000 and spent heavily to defeat Cochran to represent northeast Lee County on the Commission.
Source: Lee County Supervisor of Elections
Sarasota
Commissioner
Sarasota County has two County Commission districts up for reelection during this election cycle, with District 2 having two Republican candidates, Kristina Sargent and Mark Smith, while District 4 has two Republican candidates, Jim DeNiro and Joe Neunder, and one Democratic candidate, Julie London.
16 of 16 precincts reporting
District 2
Kristina Sargent: 7,363 - 46.68%
Mark Smith: 8,411 - 53.23% *
District 4
Jim DeNiro Total: 6,534 - 53.33% *
Joe Neunder Total: 5,719 - 46.67%
Sarasota County School Board - 97/98 Precincts as of 9 p.m. Tuesday
District 1:
Jimmy Glover: 43,539 (43.58%) *
Heidi Brandt: 31,710 (31.74%)
Teresa DeWitt: 24,650 (24.67%)
District 4:
Megan Tennimon: 54,681 (55.14%) *
Frank DiCicco: 44,482 (44.86%)
District 5:
Beth Mayberry: 56,130 (56.67%) *
Michelle Pozzie: 42,920 (43.33%)
When polls opened, over 1.9 million Floridians had cast ballots for Tuesday's primary election.
MORE
- Results: Learn about the various races and candidates with our voter guide at wgcu.org.
Registered Republicans returned 45.5% of the ballots cast, while registered Democrats recorded 42.1%.
The News Service of Florida was reporting that Secretary of State Cord Byrd encouraged registered voters to go to the polls as turnout for the primary could land under 20 percent.
“The people who are going to make it to the general ballot are those who are going to get elected during the primary. Right now, we’re less than 20 percent statewide. I would encourage people to get to the polls. It’s hard to complain when you don’t go vote,” Byrd told reporters Tuesday.
Turnout for the 2024 primary was 22.4 percent, which was down from 25.9 in the 2022 primary and 28.2 percent in the 2020 primary.
Byrd said otherwise that no problems were reported as polling locations opened.
A Fort Myers voter approaches his precinct on Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2026, in Fort Myers. (5472x3648, AR: 1.5)
Not all the races facing voters will result in a contested election in November. There are a number of contests that begat winners immediately due to no opposition.
In an extreme example in Okeechobee County, not a single local race in the city of Okeechobee nor in the county were decided by voters Tuesday evening. Wins were automatically given to the sole office-seekers for the five seats up for grabs in the county and the three seats up for grabs in the city of Okeechobee.
Okeechobee's unopposed winners:
- Board of County Commission: District 2, Frank DeCarlo (incumbent).
- County school board: District 1 Christine Brennan Bishop (incumbent); District 3 Melisa Jahner (incumbent); District 5 Jill Clericuzio Holcomb (incumbent).
- Okeechobee city commission: Bob Jarriel; David McAuley and Dowling Watford Jr. (all incumbents).
Charlotte County unopposed winners:
- County school board: District 1 Cara Marie Reynolds; District 4 John Henry LeClair.
Campaigners braved the heat to advocate for candidates on Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2026, at the Estero Recreation Center in Estero. (7002x4569, AR: 1.5325016414970454)
Collier County unopposed winners:
- County school board: District 1 Jeff Donaldson; District 3 Kelly Mason.
- Board of County Commission: District 4 Elton Langford.
- County school board: District 1 Jami Schueneman, District 4 Asena Mott, District 5 Kelly Mercer.
- Board of County Commissioners: District 2, Jeff Barnes (incumbent).
- School board: District 4 Kimberly Clement (incumbent) .
- Board of County Commissioners: District 2 Noey Adam Flores (incumbent).
- County school board: District 1 Stacy Durden Sharp (incumbent); District 4 Marie Albritton Dasher (incumbent); District 5 Mark Edward Gilliard (incumbent)
- City of LaBelle tax assessor/city commissioner Kevin Holland
- County school board District 3 Amanda Nelson; District 4, Stephanie Busin.
- Board of County Commissioners: District 2 Don Elwell.
Candidate representatives wave signs at the Lee County Elections Center on Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2026, in Fort Myers. (5472x3648, AR: 1.5)
Lee County unopposed winners:
- County Court Judge Group 6 Josephine Gagliardi
County election supervisor sites
Charlotte County
Collier County
DeSoto County
Glades County
Hardee County
Hendry County
Highlands County
Lee County
Okeechobee County
Sarasota County
WGCU is your trusted source for news and information in Southwest Florida. We are a nonprofit public service, and your support is more critical than ever. Keep public media strong and donate now. Thank you. The News Service of Florida contributed to this report.