From Staff Reports
In Summary:
Three-sentence summary: Election Day brings decisions in Orange County Commission District 2, the county mayor and clerk of courts races, Florida House District 39, and U.S. House District 11. Voters will also consider Amendment 3, a proposed constitutional amendment affecting property taxes and local government finances. Polls are open from 7 am to 7 pm, and residents should check their personalized sample ballot and assigned polling place before heading out.
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Good morning, Apopka — Election Day 2026 has arrived!
After months of campaigning, forums, mailers, and conversations about the future, voters head to the polls today to make decisions that reach from Orange County government to Tallahassee and Washington. For Apopka-area residents, the ballot includes races for county leadership, representation in the Florida Legislature and Congress, and a proposed constitutional amendment that could change property taxes and local government finances.
Related: Brown, Crabb debate highlights different approaches to growth, spending in District 2
Among the contests The Apopka Voice will follow closely are Orange County Commission District 2, Orange County mayor, Orange County clerk of courts, Florida House District 39 and U.S. House District 11. Amendment 3 also deserves attention, with proposed changes that would affect both homeowners and the governments providing local services.
The races on each voter’s ballot depend on their residential address. Before heading out, residents can check their personalized sample ballot and assigned polling place through the Orange County Supervisor of Elections.
Orange County Commission District 2
Former state Rep. Kamia Brown and incumbent Commissioner Mike Crabb face each other in the District 2 runoff. Neither secured a majority in August, leaving voters to make the final choice today in a nonpartisan race open to all registered voters within the district, regardless of party affiliation.
The district includes Apopka and other northwest Orange County communities. Growth, traffic, water quality and the potential effects of property tax changes have figured into the campaign — issues with consequences for residents well beyond Election Day.
Orange County mayor
Chris Messina and Tiffany Moore Russell meet in the runoff for Orange County mayor after advancing from the August election. The race is nonpartisan and appears on ballots countywide.
The winner will lead a government responsible for a broad range of services and decisions affecting the region. From county operations and budgeting to transportation and growth, the mayor’s responsibilities extend across municipal boundaries, including into Apopka.
Orange County clerk of courts
Roberta Walton Johnson and Terrell Thomas are competing for Orange County clerk of courts. The contest comes as Tiffany Moore Russell leaves the office to pursue the county mayor’s position.
The clerk’s office maintains court records and handles services residents may need during some of life’s most important moments, including marriage licenses, passport applications and court-related payments. Voters countywide will decide who leads that office.
Florida House District 39
Republican state Rep. Doug Bankson faces Democratic challenger Jarod Fox in the District 39 race. Bankson, a former Apopka city commissioner, has represented the district since 2022, while Fox is an infectious disease physician.
The contest highlights questions about affordability, insurance, and access to health care. Bankson has emphasized insurance costs and his legislative record, while Fox has advocated for Medicaid expansion and measures to make health care more affordable.
U.S. House District 11
Republican Joe Strada, Democrat James Pericola and Libertarian Ralph Groves are on the ballot for U.S. House District 11. Voters within the district will choose their representative in Washington.
The district was redrawn this year and includes portions of Orange, Lake, Marion, and Sumter counties. That makes checking a current sample ballot especially useful for residents who may be accustomed to a previous congressional district assignment.
Amendment 3
Amendment 3 asks voters to approve changes to Florida’s property tax system. Among its provisions, it would increase the homestead exemption for non-school property taxes to $150,000 in 2027 and $250,000 in 2028, with inflation adjustments afterward.
The proposal would also lower the annual cap on assessment increases for non-homestead property from 10% to 5% and establish rules governing local property tax spending. It includes a delayed expansion of the exemption for people who are not Florida residents on Dec. 31, 2026.
For Apopka voters, the decision links household tax bills to local government finances. Like other proposed amendments to Florida’s Constitution, Amendment 3 needs at least 60% of the votes cast on the measure to pass.
Before you head to the polls
Orange County’s early voting period ended Sunday, Nov. 1. Today, polls open at 7 am and remain open until 7 pm, and voters must cast their ballots at their assigned Election Day polling place. Anyone in line at that location by 7 pm will be allowed to vote.
Bring current, valid identification with a photo and signature. Check your polling location before leaving home, and allow enough time to review the full ballot. Election information and assistance are available through VoteOrangeFL.gov.
Throughout the day, The Apopka Voice will follow the election and provide updates as developments occur. After polls close at 7 pm, we'll publish results as they are released, with particular attention to these races and Amendment 3.
So pour a cup of coffee and follow along. If you haven’t voted yet, find your assigned polling place, make time in your day, and make your voice heard.
Key Points:
- Kamia Brown and Mike Crabb face off in the Orange County Commission District 2 runoff.
- Chris Messina and Tiffany Moore Russell compete for Orange County mayor, while Roberta Walton Johnson and Terrell Thomas run for clerk of courts.
- Doug Bankson and Jarod Fox compete in Florida House District 39; Joe Strada, James Pericola and Ralph Groves are on the ballot in U.S. House District 11.
- Amendment 3 proposes changes to homestead exemptions and other property tax provisions, with implications for homeowners and local services.
- Election Day voting takes place at assigned polling locations from 7 am to 7 pm; voters in line by closing time may vote.
