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Congressional Candidate Matthew Montavon Launches "Montavon's Marathon" Walking tour of Florida's 17th District
On September 27, 2026, Democratic congressional candidate Matthew Montavon will officially lace up his sneakers to begin "Montavon’s Marathon," an intensive walking tour traversing Florida's 17th Congressional District. Montavon plans to walk from Fort Myers north to Sarasota along the US-41 corridor.
A Democrat hasn't gotten elected Governor since the late 20th century. Could this be the year it changes.
Florida Politics - “For the first time, the Florida Governor’s race is officially a toss up. For over a year, we’ve been out on the trail, talking to Floridians, and building momentum for this movement. Change is here and we’re going to win,” Jolly said on social media in response to the Decision Desk move.
Pain at the pump: moving companies among those affected by costs
Spectrum News -
According to AAA on Monday, the national average is now $4.47 for regular gas.
The average price of gas here in the Sunshine State is $4.28 — a 15 cent jump from a week ago and $1.16 per gallon more than a year ago.
Kirschner, Gruters and Davis meet in a rare virtual debate
WUSF - The League held a rare debate Wednesday for Vern Buchanan's seat. The redrawn district now includes St. Petersburg, inland Sarasota County, and Manatee, Hardee and DeSoto counties. Kirschner argued that health care for everyone would let people leave their jobs without fear of losing their coverage.
Sarasota Chamber publishes an Amendment 3 explainer
The Chamber released a neutral explainer on the homestead amendment. It says school district property taxes would not receive the increased exemption, and local governments could respond with millage changes or service cuts.
League of Women Voters sets fall forum schedule.
Suncoast Searchlight is co-hosting nonpartisan Zoom forums with the League ahead of November 3. Sarasota City Commission candidates are on Oct. 7, North Port on Oct. 15, and Venice City Council on Oct. 23. This is Flo Entler and Jen Ahearn-Koch's next public stage against Harshman.
Democratic Candidates going into November 3rd:
Statewide, every Sarasota ballot will have David Jolly running for governor against Byron Donalds, Annette Taddeo for CFO against incumbent Blaise Ingoglia, Joey Mendoza Atkins for Ag Commissioner against incumbent Wilton Simpson, and Angie Nixon for U.S. Senate against incumbent Ashley Moody. All four Democrats won their primaries outright on August 18.
In Congress, it's Kelly Kirschner against Sydney Gruters in the open CD-16 seat, and in CD-17 it's actually Matt Montavon who won that primary, not Allen Spence — he beat Spence about 55 to 45, and Spence has already thrown his support behind him. Montavon faces incumbent Greg Steube.
In the state legislature, Lew Wasserman won the SD-22 primary over Arianna O'Donnell, and he'll face Republican James Buchanan and independent Martin Hyde in a three-way race. Lisa Klein is still the nominee against Fiona McFarland in HD-73. And the HD-74/75 names in my notes check out as accurate: Ryan Neill is the nominee in HD-74, Cynthia Butler in HD-75.
Locally, Julie London Ferguson is confirmed against Republican Jim DeNiro for County Commission District 4 — DeNiro knocked off the incumbent, Joe Neunder, in the GOP primary, so that seat is now genuinely in play with no incumbent running.
On the nonpartisan side, Jen Ahearn-Koch and Flo Entler both advanced to the City Commission at-large general, running against John Harshman for two seats — both are Democratic Party-endorsed.
And school board: Megan Tennimon and Beth Mayberry won their seats outright back in the primary, while Jimmy Glover is headed to a November runoff against Heidi Brandt for the District 1 seat.
Sarasota County moves to split commissioner pay raises from performance reviews
The County Commission is set to consider amended employment contracts Tuesday, Sept. 8, that would decouple annual raises for top officials from their performance reviews — a move the Argus Foundation is pushing back on.