Republican candidates secured victories in Florida’s major statewide races during the November 3, 2026, general election, while Manatee County voters selected a new congressional representative, county commissioners, school board members and municipal officials. Voters also decided on constitutional amendments and local referendums.
Manatee County reported 183,179 ballots cast among 287,882 registered voters, representing a turnout of 63.63%. All 71 precincts reported election-day results, although some vote-by-mail ballots remained outstanding. The results are unofficial pending certification.
Federal Election Results
Republican Ashley Moody won Florida’s U.S. Senate race, defeating Democrat Angie Nixon and independent candidate Neil J. Gillespie. Moody received approximately 51% of the statewide vote, compared with nearly 48% for Nixon. Moody, who was appointed to the Senate in 2025, will serve the remainder of the term through 2028.
In Florida’s 16th Congressional District, Republican Sydney Gruters defeated Democrat Kelly Kirschner and independent Mark Davis to succeed retiring Congressman Vern Buchanan.
District-wide results showed Gruters receiving 175,512 votes, or 51.21%, compared with Kirschner’s 160,942 votes, or 46.96%. Davis received 6,275 votes, or 1.83%.
Gruters will represent the newly configured district, which includes Manatee, DeSoto and Hardee counties, along with portions of Sarasota, Pinellas and Polk counties. Buchanan is retiring after 20 years in Congress.
Florida Statewide Election Results
Republican Byron Donalds defeated Democrat David Jolly in the race for Florida governor, succeeding term-limited Gov. Ron DeSantis. Donalds received approximately 50% of the statewide vote, compared with nearly 49% for Jolly. Bryan Avila was elected lieutenant governor as Donalds’ running mate.
Republicans also retained Florida’s three other elected Cabinet positions. James Uthmeier defeated Democrat José Javier Rodríguez for attorney general, Blaise Ingoglia defeated Democrat Annette Taddeo for chief financial officer, and Wilton Simpson defeated Democrat Joey Mendoza Atkins for commissioner of agriculture.
The Republican victories maintained the party’s control of Florida’s statewide executive offices.
Florida Legislative Results
Republican candidates won the state legislative races covering Manatee County.
In Florida Senate District 20, Republican Jim Boyd defeated Democrat Gerald Baldi. Boyd received 82,688 votes in Manatee County, or 60.41%, compared with Baldi’s 54,184 votes.
In Senate District 22, Republican James Buchanan defeated Democrat Lew Wasserman and independent Martin Hyde. Buchanan received 24,351 Manatee County votes, or 55.58%, compared with Wasserman’s 18,448 votes and Hyde’s 1,010 votes.
In Florida House District 70, Republican Michael Owen defeated Democrat Luther Keith Wilkins, receiving 18,781 votes, or 61.24%, in Manatee County.
Republican Jordan Varnadore won House District 71, receiving 31,150 Manatee County votes, or 53.94%, compared with Democrat Ocean Fitts’ 25,283 votes and independent Joseph Hoolihan’s 1,321 votes.
In House District 72, Republican Bill Conerly defeated Democrat Harvey Shifrin, receiving 56,162 votes, or 61.54%, compared with Shifrin’s 35,092 votes.
These legislative vote totals reflect Manatee County returns rather than complete district-wide totals.
Manatee County Commission Results
Republicans won all three contested Manatee County Commission races.
In District 1, Republican Elizabeth Arnold defeated Democrat Sari Lindroos-Valimaki. Arnold received 31,934 votes, or 65.97%, compared with Lindroos-Valimaki’s 16,422 votes, or 33.93%.
District 2 produced one of the county’s closest contests. Republican Amanda Ballard received 10,340 votes, or 50.42%, narrowly defeating Democrat Charles B. Smith Sr., who received 10,167 votes, or 49.58%. The margin was 173 votes.
In the District 6 at-large race, Republican Tara Poulton defeated Democrat Reggie Bellamy. Poulton received 103,902 votes, or 58.08%, compared with Bellamy’s 75,007 votes, or 41.92%.
Manatee County School Board Results
Two nonpartisan Manatee County School Board seats were decided.
In District 2, Sharon Jefferson defeated Cindy Spray, receiving 9,722 votes, or 52.13%, compared with Spray’s 8,926 votes.
In District 5, Camden Bedinghaus defeated Jonathan Mullis. Bedinghaus received 22,557 votes, or 51.66%, compared with Mullis’ 21,107 votes.
Municipal Election Results
Bradenton voters selected Thomas Schwarz for City Council Ward 3. Schwarz received 7,716 votes, or 50.57%, narrowly defeating Kemp Schuessler, who received 7,542 votes.
In Bradenton Ward 4, Lisa Gonzalez Moore defeated Keith Green, receiving 8,632 votes, or 55.89%.
In Holmes Beach, Dan Diggins won the mayoral election with 829 votes, or 52.20%, defeating David Zaccagnino, who received 759 votes. Carol Whitmore and Mark Hebden received the highest vote totals in the City Commission election.
Palmetto voters selected Sunshine Joiner for Ward 2 commissioner. Joiner received 1,009 votes, or 54.10%, defeating Sheldon Jones, who received 856 votes.
Fire District and Mosquito Control Elections
Voters also selected representatives for several special districts.
In East Manatee Fire Rescue, William Bjork won Seat 3 and Joseph Houlihan won Seat 5. Kyle Moore won Parrish Fire District Seat 1.
West Manatee Fire and Rescue voters selected Jacob Kyser for Seat 2, Dana Tindall for Seat 3 and Billy Burke for Seat 4.
Scott Johnson won the Manatee County Mosquito Control District Group 1 election with 64,058 votes, or 43.25%, defeating Charles Richards and Rodney O’Quinn.
Florida Constitutional Amendments
Florida voters considered three proposed constitutional amendments, with only one receiving the required 60% statewide approval.
Amendment 1, which proposed increasing the amount Florida could retain in its Budget Stabilization Fund, failed with 59.1% voting against the measure.
Amendment 2, which proposed exempting certain agricultural equipment and tangible personal property from taxation, received 58.21% support but failed to reach the required threshold.
Amendment 3, which expands homestead property-tax exemptions and lowers the assessment increase cap on non-homestead properties, passed with 61.98% support statewide. The measure increases the homestead exemption for certain non-school property taxes and makes additional changes to property assessments.
Manatee County Referendums
Manatee County voters overwhelmingly supported the Water Quality Protection, Overdevelopment Prevention, Natural Lands Preservation and Public Preserves General Obligation Bond Referendum.
The measure received 129,288 votes in favor, or 75.83%, compared with 41,204 votes against.
Bradenton voters approved two city referendums, while Holmes Beach voters approved their local referendum. Palmetto voters supported a city charter amendment, and voters in the Parrish Fire District approved their referendum.
The results will affect local government operations, land preservation and public services in the coming years.
Election Results Await Certification
The November 3 election brought changes to federal, state and local representation while maintaining Republican control of Florida’s statewide executive offices and Manatee County’s contested partisan commission seats.
Several county contests were decided by narrow margins, including the District 2 County Commission race, where Amanda Ballard led Charles B. Smith Sr. by 173 votes.
Florida election officials will continue the required canvassing and certification process. The first unofficial returns are due November 7, and recounts may be required when margins meet statutory thresholds.
Complete local results are available through the Manatee County Supervisor of Elections, while statewide and congressional district results are available through Florida Election Watch.