From Staff Reports
In Summary:
Apopka voters will help decide nominees and finalists in five closely watched state, federal, and county races. The ballot combines closed partisan primaries with nonpartisan county elections that are open to all eligible voters in the applicable districts. Voters must report to their assigned Election Day precinct with valid photo identification, and those in line by 7 pm may vote.
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Good morning, Apopka. Welcome to Election Day 2026 - the Primaries.
Orange County voters will cast ballots Tuesday in Florida’s 2026 primary election, deciding nominees for state and federal offices while either choosing or narrowing the fields in several nonpartisan county races.
Polls will be open from 7 am to 7 pm. Voters who are in line by 7 pm will be allowed to cast a ballot,
Election Day voters must use their assigned polling place and present a current, valid photo ID. Orange County residents should verify their precinct before leaving home because some polling locations have changed for the primary.
The races on each ballot will depend on the voter’s address, districts and party affiliation. Florida is a closed-primary state, so voters generally may participate only in the primary of the political party with which they are registered. Nonpartisan county contests are open to all eligible voters within the applicable districts.
Check back with The Apopka Voice after the polls close for breaking results as soon as they are released.
Orange County Mayor
Four candidates are competing in the nonpartisan race to succeed term-limited Mayor Jerry Demings: Chris Messina, Tiffany Moore Russell, Stephanie Murphy and Mayra Uribe.
Messina is a technology entrepreneur. Moore Russell is the Orange County clerk of courts and previously served on the County Commission. Murphy is a former member of the U.S. House, and Uribe has served on the Orange County Commission since 2018.
Affordability, housing, transportation, economic development, property taxes and the delivery of county services have emerged as central issues in the campaign.
Because the race is nonpartisan, all Orange County voters may participate. If no candidate receives a majority, the two leading candidates will advance to the November general election.
Campaign information and links to the candidates’ websites are available here:
Candidates and their Websites for Orange County Mayor
Candidate Features:
Note: All candidates in this election were contacted for an interview opportunity.
Orange County Commission District 2
The District 2 contest features Kamia Brown, Mike Crabb, Wes Hodge, George Oliver III and Marsha Summersill.
District 2 includes much of northwest Orange County, including Apopka and Ocoee, and extends into communities south of State Road 408. The commission race is nonpartisan and is open to all registered voters who live within the district.
Brown is a former state representative. Crabb, an Orange County Sheriff’s Office lieutenant, was appointed to the District 2 seat shortly before the primary. Hodge is a businessman and former chairman of the Orange County Democratic Party. Oliver is an Ocoee city commissioner, and Summersill is an attorney and Apopka resident.
Growth, transportation, infrastructure, public safety, housing and cooperation between Orange County and its municipalities are among the issues facing the next commissioner.
A candidate who receives more than 50% of the vote can win the seat Tuesday. Otherwise, the two candidates receiving the most votes will meet in a November runoff.
Links to each campaign website are included here:
Candidates and their Websites for Orange County Commission, District 2
Candidate Features:
Note: All candidates in this election were contacted for an interview opportunity.
Orange County Clerk of Courts
Democratic voters will choose between Rick Singh and Roberta Walton Johnson in the special primary for Orange County clerk of courts.
Singh previously served as Orange County property appraiser. Johnson is an attorney and former general counsel for the Orange County Clerk of Courts.
Maribel Gomez Cordero withdrew from the race after ballots were printed, so her name will still appear.
The clerk’s office maintains court records, processes filings, supports courtroom operations and performs several other public-record and financial duties.
The winner of the Democratic primary will face Terrell Thomas in the general election in November. Thomas is a former staff member of the Clerk's office and a no-party-affiliation candidate.
Candidate campaign links are available here:
Candidates and their Websites for Orange County Clerk of Courts
Candidate Features:
Note: All candidates in this election were contacted for an interview opportunity.
U.S. House District 11
The race to represent Florida’s 11th Congressional District is open following Rep. Daniel Webster’s decision not to seek another term.
Five candidates are competing in the Republican primary: Carey Baker, Ivette Palomo, Nizam Razack, Joe Strada and Tim Wilkins.
The Democratic primary includes James Pericola, Royal Webster and Dan Williams. Libertarian Ralph Groves qualified without primary opposition and is expected to advance to the general election.
The winners of the Republican and Democratic primaries will move on to the November 3 general election for a district that includes portions of Central Florida.
The candidates’ campaign websites are available here:
Candidates and their Websites for U.S. House of Representatives, District 11
Florida House District 39
Republican voters in Florida House District 39 will choose between incumbent Rep. Doug Bankson and challenger Carlos F. Johary Sr.
Bankson, an Apopka pastor and former city commissioner, is seeking another term in the Florida House. Johary is challenging him for the Republican nomination.
Democrat Jarod Fox qualified without primary opposition and will advance to the November general election. The winner of Tuesday’s Republican primary will face Fox.
District 39 includes Apopka and surrounding portions of northwest Orange and Seminole counties. The representative elected in November will serve the district in the Florida Legislature and vote on state spending, education, insurance, taxes, transportation and other statewide policies.
Campaign links are available here:
Candidates and their Websites for Florida House of Representatives, District 39
Candidate Features:
Before going to the polls
Voters can confirm their assigned polling place and review a personalized sample ballot through the Orange County Supervisor of Elections website. Sample ballots are based on a voter’s address, precinct, districts, and party affiliation.
Preliminary unofficial results will be posted after polls close. Because Florida spans two time zones, statewide results will not begin appearing on the Florida Election Watch website until 8 pm Eastern time.
Key Points:
- Polls are open Tuesday from 7 am to 7 pm.
- The Orange County mayoral field includes Chris Messina, Tiffany Moore Russell, Stephanie Murphy and Mayra Uribe.
- Five candidates are running for Orange County Commission District 2: Kamia Brown, Mike Crabb, Wes Hodge, George Oliver III and Marsha Summersill.
- Democratic voters will choose between Rick Singh and Roberta Walton Johnson for clerk of courts; withdrawn candidate Maribel Gomez Cordero will remain on the ballot.
- Five Republicans and three Democrats are competing for their parties’ nominations in the open U.S. House District 11 race.
- Florida House District 39 Republicans will choose between incumbent Doug Bankson and Carlos F. Johary Sr.; the winner will face Democrat Jarod Fox in November.
- Florida’s closed-primary rules limit participation in partisan contests according to party registration, while eligible voters may participate in applicable nonpartisan county races.
- Voters should confirm their assigned polling place because some Orange County precinct locations have changed.
