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Angie Nixon stuns Alex Vindman in U.S. Senate primary upset

Florida, Aug. 18, 2026 — Democratic Socialists of America member and state Rep. Angie Nixon won 56.1% to 43.9% over Alex Vindman, the Trump-impeachment witness who outraised her roughly 16-to-1 ($16M+ vs. under $1M). Nixon will face Republican Sen. Ashley Moody in November for the final two years of Marco Rubio's term — a marquee national upset that drew Trump's attention and puts a rare Democratic pickup opportunity in play.
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Kelly Kirschner wins CD-16 Democratic primary in crowded five-way field

Florida, Aug. 18, 2026 — The former Sarasota mayor took 43% of the vote, beating Jonathan Harris, Tamika Lyles, Glenn Pearson and Jan Schneider. He'll face Republican Sydney Gruters in a district rated "solid Republican," with Trump having carried it by 56% in 2024.
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Annette Taddeo, Joey Mendoza Atkins win statewide Cabinet Primaries

Florida, Aug. 18, 2026 — Taddeo defeated Earle Ford roughly 66%-34% for the Democratic CFO nomination and will face incumbent Blaise Ingoglia in November. Separately, Joey Mendoza Atkins beat Donald "Don" Prichard 60%-40% for the Democratic Agriculture Commissioner nod and will face Republican Wilton Simpson.
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Jimmy Glover leads Sarasota school board District 1 primary, faces November runoff against Republican Heidi Brandt

Sarasota - Aug. 18, 2026 - Democrat-backed candidate Jimmy Glover took 43.5% of the vote in a three-way race for the District 1 seat held by outgoing Moms for Liberty co-founder Bridget Ziegler, falling short of the 50%+1 needed to win outright. He'll face runner-up Heidi Brandt (31.7%) in a Nov. 3 runoff; a win would make him the first Black school board member in Sarasota County history.
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Megan Tennimon and Beth Mayberry win school board seats outright, flipping board majority

Sarasota, Aug. 18, 2026 — Tennimon won District 4 with 55.1% against Frank DiCicco, and Mayberry won District 5 with 56.7%, both taking office without a runoff. Combined with Glover's strong lead, the results signal the first liberal-leaning majority on the Sarasota school board since the conservative sweep of 2

Julie London Ferguson locks in general-election matchup after DeNiro upsets Neunder

Sarasota, Aug. 18, 2026 — Democrat Julie London Ferguson ran unopposed in her primary and will face Jim DeNiro in November after the retired police sergeant unseated Republican incumbent Joe Neunder, 53.2% to 46.8%, in a contentious GOP primary. County Commission District 4 covers mid-county Sarasota including southern Siesta Key and Venice.
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Ahearn-Koch and Entler advance to city commission runoff, Democratic-endorsed pair leads field

Sarasota, Aug. 18, 2026 — Incumbent Jen Ahearn-Koch (34.3%) and neighborhood advocate Flo Entler (29.1%) led a five-candidate field for two at-large city commission seats and will face third-place Republican-endorsed John Harshman (18.1%) in the Nov. 3 general. Both Democratic-backed candidates outran their GOP-aligned rivals combined in most precincts.
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Matt Montavon wins CD-17 Democratic primary, will challenge unopposed Greg Steube

Sarasota/Suncoast region, Aug. 18, 2026 — Montavon defeated Allen Spence in the Democratic primary for CD-17 and now faces Republican incumbent Greg Steube, who ran unopposed, in November.
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Martin Hyde, Lew Wasserman set for three-way SD-22 general election against James Buchanan

Sarasota, Aug. 18, 2026 — State Rep. James Buchanan won the Republican SD-22 primary with about 78% of the vote. He'll face Democrat Lew Wasserman and no-party-affiliation candidate Martin Hyde, the Sarasota activist and former congressional candidate, in November for the seat being vacated by term-limited Joe Gruters.
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