Sierra Club Florida has announced its opposition to Amendment 3, arguing that the proposed property tax changes could undermine local storm preparations and other public services. If approved by at least 60% of voters, the measure would significantly increase the homestead exemption for non-school property taxes.

Tiffany Moore-Russell and Chris Messina advanced to the Orange County mayoral runoff, while Kamia Brown and Mike Crabb moved forward in County Commission District 2. Doug Bankson won decisively in Florida House District 39, and Roberta Walton-Johnson, Joe Strada and James Pericola captured their respective party nominations.

Polls are open from 7 am to 7 pm Tuesday as Orange County voters cast ballots in Florida’s 2026 primary election. Featured races include Orange County mayor and Commission District 2, as well as contests for clerk of courts, U.S. House District 11 and Florida House District 39.

Orange County mayoral candidate Mayra Uribe believes that voters should judge candidates by their public records, not only their campaign promises. She points to eight years on the County Commission as evidence of her positions on housing, transportation, taxes, public safety, and accountability.

Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier has submitted rewritten ballot language for Amendment 3 after a Leon County judge rejected the original title as resembling a political slogan. The revised language details proposed increases to the homestead exemption, a lower assessment-growth cap for non-homestead property and new restrictions on local property tax revenue.

Florida’s gubernatorial candidates are staking out sharply different positions on large artificial intelligence data centers as communities raise concerns about water use, energy demand, noise and development.

More than 61,000 Orange County voters have cast ballots in Florida’s 2026 primary, including 1,706 early votes recorded at the Apopka Community Center. Democrats lead the countywide count, but the party margin at the Apopka voting site is substantially narrower.

Farmworker Association of Florida organizer contends Orange County’s decision to replace mailed paper sample ballots with a QR-code mailing for the primary election could disenfranchise thousands of voters.

Former Apopka Vice Mayor Kyle Becker has endorsed Terrell Thomas for Orange County clerk of courts. Becker cited Thomas' plans to modernize court services, expand online access, and improve the clerk's office's efficiency and accessibility.

Gov. Ron DeSantis appointed Orange County Sheriff’s Office Lt. Mike Crabb to the District 2 seat on the Orange County Commission. Crabb will serve the remainder of Christine Moore’s term while campaigning against four opponents for a full four-year term.

Orange County Clerk of Courts candidate Terrell Thomas says his campaign is rooted in legacy, leadership and a vision he calls "Clerk Forward." Drawing on 20 years with the Clerk's Office and private-sector experience developing court technology, Thomas outlines plans to improve customer service, expand community access and strengthen workplace culture.

Orange County Commissioner Mayra Uribe says she is running for mayor because the county needs a leader willing to challenge the status quo rather than simply manage it. In an interview with The Apopka Voice, she discussed her plans to streamline government, tackle housing affordability, and improve transportation.

Orange County mayoral candidate Stephanie Murphy says the county is at a pivotal moment, with rapid growth demanding faster government and long-term planning. In an interview with The Apopka Voice, Murphy detailed her vision for tackling affordability, easing congestion, expanding workforce opportunities, and strengthening partnerships with municipalities across the county.

Rick Singh is asking Orange County voters to return him to public office, this time as clerk of courts. The former property appraiser says his experience in government, business, and the military would help him build a more accessible and service-oriented agency.

Florida voters who plan to cast their ballots by mail have until August 6 to submit a vote-by-mail request for the August 18 primary election. More than 1.1 million Floridians have already requested mail ballots, with supervisors of elections beginning to send them to domestic voters this week.

After serving eight years on the Orange County Commission and nearly 12 years as Clerk of Courts, Tiffany Moore Russell believes she has the experience to lead Orange County through its next chapter. In this candidate profile, she discusses affordability, growth, infrastructure, property taxes, and her vision for partnering with cities like Apopka.

A proposed 1-mill property tax increase sparked criticism before Apopka's budget workshop even began. But as the discussion unfolded, Mayor Nick Nesta steered the conversation toward a smaller increase and a larger question: how should the city pay for years of deferred infrastructure needs?

Apopka's City Commission campaigned on slowing growth and prioritizing infrastructure over development. Two months into its term, a series of high-profile votes suggests it's doing exactly that—even as Florida law makes it increasingly difficult to deny compliant projects.

Orange County Commission District 2 candidate Marsha Summersill says her experiences growing up in Apopka, working in child protection, and practicing family law have shaped both her career and her approach to public service. In a wide-ranging interview with The Apopka Voice, she discusses growth, infrastructure, housing affordability, homelessness, South Apopka and the proposed property tax amendment on Florida's November ballot.