District 2 Manatee County Commission Race Features Three Qualified Candidates
Voters in Manatee County Commission District 2 will have three qualified candidates to consider during the 2026 election cycle. The race includes Republican incumbent Amanda Ballard, Republican challenger Edward Bailey, and Democratic candidate Charles B. Smith Sr., according to the Manatee County Supervisor of Elections. Candidate information and financial disclosures are available through the Supervisor of Elections website.
Because District 2 is a partisan race, registered Republicans will choose between Ballard and Bailey in the Aug. 18 Republican Primary. The Democratic nominee, Charles B. Smith Sr., will appear on the Nov. 3 General Election ballot, where all registered voters may participate regardless of party affiliation.
Republican: Amanda Ballard (Incumbent)
Amanda Ballard is the incumbent District 2 commissioner, having served on the Manatee County Board of County Commissioners since 2022. An attorney who has spent her legal career working in the child welfare system in Manatee County, Ballard has lived in Bradenton throughout her adult life. She is seeking a second four-year term representing District 2.
Republican: Edward Bailey
Edward Bailey is a lifelong Manatee County resident who was born, raised, educated, and continues to live in District 2. Bailey previously served as a commissioner aide, where he worked on constituent services, county research, policy matters, and agenda coordination. He has also volunteered in the community and worked on several local political campaigns. Bailey is making his first bid for a seat on the Manatee County Commission.
Democrat: Charles B. Smith Sr.
Charles B. Smith Sr. is the Democratic candidate for Manatee County Commission District 2. According to his campaign information, Smith describes himself as an experienced community leader focused on public service and local leadership. He says his campaign is centered on serving residents, strengthening the community, and helping shape the future of Manatee County through effective leadership. Smith will advance to the Nov. 3 General Election, where he will face the winner of the Republican primary for the District 2 seat.
District 2 is one of four Manatee County Commission seats on the ballot in 2026. County commissioners are responsible for adopting the county budget, making land use and zoning decisions, approving infrastructure projects, and establishing policies that affect county services and public safety. The office carries a four-year term beginning in November 2026.