NewsWSLR Community RadioAugust 19, 2026Manatee
Suncoast primary election results determine Sarasota School Board and Manatee County leadership
The primary election results finalized outcomes for the Sarasota School Board and Manatee County government seats. The results include a near-sweep for Sarasota School Board candidates and the defeat of an incumbent official.
Read the full story at WSLR Community RadioWhy It Matters
These election results determine the individuals who will set local education policy and county governance for the upcoming term.
Key Facts
- Sarasota School Board races resulted in a near-sweep for specific candidates.
- An incumbent official lost their seat in the primary election.
- The election results mark a shift in the Manatee County grassroots political landscape.
Who's Mentioned
personJulie London“General election candidate”personAshley Moody“Incumbent Senator”personTeresa DeWitt“Sarasota School Board District 1 candidate”personGreg Steube“Congressional District 17 incumbent”personVic Rohe“Candidate defeated by James Buchanan”personJohn Harshman“City of Sarasota Commission candidate”personMegan Tinnamon“Sarasota School Board candidate”personNicolas Altier“Charter Review Board candidate”personBrad Baker“Hospital board incumbent”personLiz Arnold“Manatee County Commission winner”personJen Ahearn-Koch“City of Sarasota Commission incumbent”personKristina Sargent“Candidate defeated by Mark Smith”personLourdes Ramirez“Community organizer”personAlex Vindman“Candidate defeated by Angie Nixon”personJames Buchanan“Candidate for Florida Senate”personDennis ‘Mitch’ Maley“Bradenton Times Editor”personFlo Entler“City of Sarasota Commission candidate”personAngie Nixon“Florida House Representative who won Democratic primary”personNick Pachota“Winner of House District 74 race”personRon DeSantis“Governor of Florida”personGlenn Gibellina“Manatee County Commission candidate”personVern Buchanan“Outgoing District 16 representative”personHeidi Brandt“Sarasota School Board District 1 candidate”personBill Conerly“State representative”personJimmy Glover“Sarasota School Board District 1 candidate”organizationWSLR+Fogartyville“Publisher of the news article.”personAmanda Ballard“Manatee County Commission incumbent”personJim DeNiro“Winner of Sarasota County Commission District 4 primary”personAlex Coe“Charter Review Board winner”personMatthew Montavon“Congressional District 17 candidate”organizationSarasota School Board“Subject of a near-sweep in the primary election results.”personJoe Neunder“Incumbent Sarasota County Commissioner defeated”personBill Woeltjen“Hospital board challenger”personMark Smith“Winner of Sarasota County Commission District 1 primary”personMarco Rubio“Former Senator”personSydney Gruters“District 16 candidate”locationManatee County“Location of a grassroots political shift noted in the results.”personAllen Spence“Congressional District 17 candidate”personMark Stanoch“Manatee County Commission candidate”personMike Rahn“Manatee County Commission incumbent”personBeth Mayberry“Sarasota School Board candidate”personEdward Bailey“Manatee County Commission candidate”personKelly Kirschner“District 16 candidate”