Rep. LaVon Bracy-Davis
Willie Montague.
From Staff Reports
Apopka residents in Florida Senate District 15 will vote on Tuesday in a special election to decide who will replace the late Sen. Geraldine Thompson. Thompson passed away in February after more than a decade of public service in Tallahassee.
Related: Voting rights day of action takes renewed meaning, honoring Sen. Thompson.
The special general election pits Democratic nominee LaVon Bracy Davis, a state representative who emerged from a crowded and high-profile Democratic primary, against Republican nominee Willie Montague, a nonprofit founder and political activist. The district, which covers parts of northwest Orange County, including Apopka, Ocoee, Oakland, Winter Garden, Pine Hills, and Parramore, leans strongly Democratic, making Bracy Davis the frontrunner.
Polls open at 7 a.m. and close at 7 p.m. on Tuesday. Voters must cast ballots at their assigned precincts. To find your polling place in Apopka, go here.
The special election follows a closely watched Democratic primary in June that featured a family rivalry between Bracy Davis and her brother, former Sen. Randolph Bracy. Their contest drew national headlines after their mother, civil rights activist Dr. LaVon Wright Bracy, publicly endorsed her daughter. Bracy Davis ultimately won the four-way race with just under 43% of the vote.
Montague, the lone Republican candidate, advanced automatically to the general election. He has campaigned on themes of community empowerment and conservative values.
He also posted on social media that he's called for a forensic audit of the Democratic Special Primary Election results of State House District 40. The Orange County Supervisor of Elections office is unaware of any such request. Montague posted on August 9th that he believed Travaris McCurdy was the real winner of the Democratic Primary Special Election. RaShon Young was declared the winner of that primary.
The winner of the special election will serve the remainder of Thompson’s term and represent a fast-growing part of Orange County at a time when issues such as affordable housing, transportation safety, and public education are top concerns.
The Apopka Voice will break the election results on Tuesday night as soon as they become available.
Editor's Note: Some of the source material in this article was compiled with AI technology. The Apopka Voice staff checked and verified all facts and reporting to ensure accuracy and context for our readers.
