Voting results for Sarasota and Manatee counties

Polls have officially closed in today's primary elections in Sarasota and Manatee counties.

See results on the Herald-Tribune results pages:

• Sarasota County primary election results
• Manatee County primary election results

Final Results Stories:

• Sarasota School Board: Tom Edwards wins, Liz Barker poised to defeat Rose
• Sarasota County Commission: Knight leads Rainford with most votes counted in Sarasota County Commission Race
• Sarasota County Commission: Mast beats Coe in Sarasota County Commission primary
• Sarasota Public Hospital Board: Mainstream GOP candidates turn back 'medical freedom' slate
• Sarasota City Commission: Battie, Felton headed to runoff in Sarasota City Commission District 1 race
• Manatee County School Board: Get ready for a runoff: Voters to decide on Manatee County School Board seats in November
• Manatee County Commission: Anti-establishment candidates win big in Manatee County Commission Republican primary
• Manatee County Supervisor of Elections: Farrington defeats Satcher in Manatee County Supervisor of Elections primary race
• Florida House District 72: Bill Conerly wins Florida House District 72 Republican Primary

North Port voting lags Sarasota County overall

Voting turnout in North Port has lagged compared to the rest of Sarasota County. Of the 15 precincts with the lowest turnout percentage, 10 were in North Port by evening.

About 27,000 registered voters are the George Mullen Activity Center and the Morgan Family Community Center precinct voting locations in North Port. However, only about 20% had done so by Tuesday evening - well below the county-wide average of 30%.

At St. Nathaniel's Episcopal Church, only about 20% of the 6,082 registered voters assigned there voted as of late Tuesday afternoon. At the Shannon Staub Library polling location, only about 19% of 5,491 registered voters have cast a ballot.

Sarasota County's 127th precinct one of busiest

Tents and tables lined the parking lot of the Knights of Columbus at 4880 Fruitville Road, where party activists had been set since the early morning hours distributing pamphlets and sample ballots to voters.

Sarasota County’s 127th precinct is one of the county’s busier polling places, with more than 7,500 registered voters. A little more than 26% of the precinct’s registered voters had cast their ballots as of 3:30 p.m., according to Sarasota County’s unofficial turnout tracker.

Rose LaChapelle arrived at 6:20 a.m. for her shift as precinct captain for the Sarasota Democratic Party. She’s campaigned at polling places for the Democrats since 2008, and she said it’s vital to keep voters informed.

“I hope they understand how important it is to vote,” LaChapelle said. “Having a say in our local elections is really important.”

The Sarasota County School Board District 2 and District 3 seats are on the primary ballot, where incumbents Karen Rose and Tom Edwards are seeking reelection. LaChapelle said the races are among the primary’s most critical, given the board’s recent controversies.

“Public education is so important,” LaChapelle said. “It’s been under assault.”

Across the lot, Republicans rallied for similar reasons. Clay Taylor, the chair of the Florida Republican Assembly’s Election Integrity Committee, said he wanted the board to refocus on the fundamentals of math, history and other basic subjects instead of social issues.

“We want kids to be innocent,” Taylor said. “We do not want to propagate gender confusion.”

Taylor also advocated for more transparency in every office on the ballot. Residents, he said, deserve representatives who make decisions in their interests.

“Make sure the citizens of the county have good, independent thinkers who don’t have a lot of money strings attached to them,” Taylor said.

North Port residents cite varied choices on primary ballots

North Port resident Suzana Srejic, who voted at the Morgan Family Community Center, said she voted for Neil Rainford in the County Commission District 3 race.

"I did search and I think he’s what we need,” Srejic said.

She did not vote for all incumbents. For example, in the State House District 74 race, she voted for challenger Michelle Pozzie.

“I think  Pozzie’s good, we need to have a change,” Srejic said.

For the School Board, she liked Karen Rose and opted for local newcomer Thomas Babicz instead of incumbent Tom Edwards or Republican Greg Wood.

For the Sarasota Memorial hospital board she didn’t research as much as she had the County Commission but felt more comfortable with  incumbents Sarah Lodge and Sharon Wetzer DePeters and newcomers  Kevin Cooper Pam Beitlich instead of any of the medical freedom candidates.

“It’s I think better fitting (of) my personal view,” Srejic said.

In contrast, Keith and Sherry Connors – both members of American First Southwest Florida Caucus,  both voted based on the recommendations made in a voters guide created by the caucus and the Sarasota County Republican Assembly.

“We went right by this; we belong to this group,” Sherry Connors said.

“The group we're in did the research and these are people I trust with their research,” she added.

Even though he wasn’t listed, they opted to vote for Josh Smith in the North Port City Commission race. He was later endorsed on social media by Republican Assembly leader Conni Brunni.

Pozzie, who was listed in the voters guide had an added appeal for the two New England transplants.

“We know her, she goes to our church,” Sherry said.

They felt the values espoused at America First meetings better fit their personal philosophies.

“We don't want just Republicans we want conservatives,” she said. “We don’t want Rhinos.”

It was hard to miss the Michael Flynn movie bus parked in the driveway between the parking lot and the George Mullen Activity Center. The front of the bus had signs endorsing Pozzie and Conni Brunni, who is running for Republican State Committee Woman.

Pozzie and North Port City Commissioner Barbara Langdon were both campaigning near a table containing literature of all Republican candidates. So were Lea Buchanan, the spouse of State Rep. James Buchanan, who is seeking reelection against Pozzie, and Atticus Frank, the spouse of Republican Committee Woman candidate Rachel Frank, who is also a Venice City Council Member.

The nearby Democratic tent included State House District 74 Democratic candidate Nancy M.H, Simpson, who will face the winner of the Buchanan-Pozzie primary in November.

Sarasota County's registered voter numbers dip, despite population growth

Sarasota County's population growth is not breaking news to anyone. Of Florida's 67 counties, Sarasota has the 14 ^th highest number registered voters at 326,826, according to the Florida Division of Elections. However, that is the lowest number of citizens registered to vote in the primary since 2018 - despite a total population increase of about 8.7% since then. It is about 23,000 less than in 2022 and 3,000 less than 2020, although registration numbers tend to jump in between a primary and general election.

Flynn bus boosts Pozzie in North Port

Sarasota County voter turnout for primary nearly 28%

With less than four hours until polls close in Sarasota County, overall turnout has steadily risen throughout the day to about 27.8% as of 3.13 p.m.

The three highest precincts so far on election day are all in the city of Sarasota - Sarasota Baptist Church, Benevea Christian Church, and Bayside Community Church. The three with the highest mail-in votes so far collected are in Venice - New Life Church, Jacaranda Library and Covenant Life Presbyterian Church.

Turnout in the primaries has increased every election in Sarasota County since 2012. More than 36% of registered voters cast a ballot in the 2022 primaries.

Sarasota County Supervisor of Elections spokesperson Paul Donnelly told the Herald-Tribune that there was no far nothing out of the ordinary on Election Day.

"With 103 precincts, there is always something going on," Donnelly said in a text message. "But for the most part, a typical election day."

Bradenton voter urges people to be informed

It’s very, very important to vote in the primary,” Melinda Zarzycki-Harris, of Bradenton, said Tuesday afternoon outside the Bayside Community Church. There was a steady trickle of voters casting ballots at Bayside Community Church -- Precinct 401, in Bayshore -- during the late morning and into the lunch hour as a slight breeze wound its way past the open and dark room, lit by warm lamps, where voting was held.

Zarzycki-Harris is the founder of a local non-profit, Bring on the Ministry, which serves people with critical needs. She emphasized the importance of voting locally for officials who reflect the same beliefs as their constituents and work toward addressing local issues.

She added that people don’t realize just how much local decisions impact nonprofits like Bring on the Ministry.

The Bradenton resident stressed that voters should be knowledgeable about who they’re voting for, especially when it comes to issues that they themselves are interested in. Whether its development, veteran affairs, housing, homelessness, or wastewater treatment, Zarzycki-Harris urged voters to learn about where their local officials stand on the issues they find important so they can know where their tax dollars are being spent.

“It's a great right that we get to vote when so many countries don’t,” Zarzycki-Harris said.

Sarasota County early voting totals

As of late Tuesday morning, 78,915 people in Sarasota County had cast their ballots either in-person or by mail, according to the Supervisor of Elections Unofficial Turnout tracker . The turnout of registered voters is at about 24.5%.

Republicans now hold a statewide registration advantage over Democrats of more than 1 million voters. In Sarasota County, about 47% of the 328,451 voters are Republican, while about 26% are Democrats.

Registered Republicans lead in vote count so far, with 39,283 compared to the Democrats' 29,899. About 38% of ballots in Sarasota County so far belonged to Democratic voters, a slight overperformance relative to their party registration.

Voters turn out in Wellen Park

The stream of voters casting ballots at New Life Assembly of God – Precinct 541, where much of Wellen Park votes – picked up after 10:30 a.m.

Many people declined to reveal who they backed. John Contrubis didn't name most of his choices but he did say he picked Neil Rainford in the County Commission District 3 primary race over Tom Knight, “For what he stands for – the border, safety and law and order.

“It’s the way I think and I feel,” he added.”

Tom DeSane, who was working the polls on behalf of the Republican Party, admitted that he did vote for himself in a second term on the Charter Review Board.

Aside from that, “I’m out here supporting a number of my friends, James Buchanan, Neil Rainford.” DeSane said.

While he’s good friends with North Port City Commission District 3 candidate Andrew Sias, he’s not on the ballot until the November matchup with David Duval.

In the District 2 race between Cheryl Cook, Barbara Langdon and Josh Smith, DeSane said, “I voted for Barbara.”

For the hospital board race, he voted for Kevin Cooper Pam Beitlich and incumbents Sarah Lodge and Sharon Wetzer DePeters.

He was quick to reference that Cooper was a veteran.

‘“I’ve met all of them and I think they’re honest and good people,” DeSane said.

He said Karen Rose was excellent for School Board and he liked Greg Woods, though he respected all candidates who chose to run for office.

Steps away from DeSane, Democrats Paula Kielich and Larry Eastman were also working the parking lot. In the City Commission District 3 race they supported Langdon – as did the local Democratic club.

For School Board, both favored Liz Barker and Tom Edwards

“I believe that students should be exposed to all manners of learning,” Kielich said. “They should learn about different cultures, they should learn about Black history, I don't believe in books being banned. Let the students read, let the students be educated. It’s all about the freedom to learn about our country in all of its different, wonderful ways.

“I think that this is a very very important election,” she added. “There are a lot of important issues that are on the table and depending on how you want our education to go, it’s very important how you vote today.’

Voters speak out at Sarasota County polling places

Diane Huey left a day early from a vacation in Boca Raton to be able to vote on Election Day. She said the most important race for her was the school board races where she voted for Tom Edwards and Liz Barker.

"I think it's critical for teachers to have freedom to teach truth and history in the classroom," she explained.

She also thinks having local representation will help combat recent changes in state law that limit discussion in the classrooms.

"It's really damaging," Huey said.

She said she knows two teachers that have retired, one in Sarasota and another in Tampa, because the changes in state law.

***

Siesta Key activist Lourdes Ramirez was at Precinct 231 on Proctor Road about 10 a.m. wearing a t-shirt supporting Alexandra Coe.

She said many voters during early voting blamed development for the flooding that happened after Debby and she hopes that issue resonates today as well.

She said she's volunteered for both county commission candidates Coe and Tom Knight given their stances on development.

"Voters don't trust the government and I don't blame them," Ramirez said.

***

Betsy Slyter, 64, voted on Tuesday morning because she feels the country is "flying off the rails."

"I don't even recognize it anymore," she said.

She identified the Republican Senate and the state house races as two that were important to her.

She voted for James Buchanan in the state house race for District 74.

"He sent people to my house and they talked to me," she said. "She (Michelle Pozzie) sent me a bunch of paper and I didn't always like what it said."

***

Anna McGuire, 79, has voted in every election since she has been eligible to vote.

She said the most important race was the school board races where she supported Karen Rose to keep her seat

"The children are being misguided," she said. "We need to get back to godly principles and the country has drifted a long way from those principles."

Helene Sawyer also supported more conservative candidates on the school board, noting that a door knocker for Liz Barker motivated her to come to the polls.

"She let me know that family values is not what she supported," Sawyer said. "I don't know if Karen Rose has done a good job, but I know I don't want someone who talks slick on the issues."

She said "slick talk" was talking around her questions about transgender discussions in schools.

Sarasota School Board candidate Liz Barker campaigns outside polling place, early voter turnout numbers

Liz Barker, a candidate for Sarasota School Board running against the incumbent Karen Rose , waved to oncoming cars at Beneva Community Church on Tuesday morning.

Her waves were met with a chorus of car horns greeting her back.

“No matter what happens today or tomorrow, the fact that the community's engaged, that parents are paying attention, that students are actively engaged. That doesn't stop no matter what,” she said, waving to a red Toyota Prius as it sped by.

Barker, who is usually at every school board meeting, said she’ll take Wednesday off to celebrate her husband’s birthday – even if she wins. Her husband has supported her campaign all year, and it's time she celebrates him, she said.

Early Sarasota County voter turnout numbers

Barker voted early, as did 14,333 Sarasota County voters, according to data compiled by Fresh Take Florida . Before Tuesday, more than 71,000 people had voted early or by mail.

As of 11 a.m., more than 76,000 Sarasota County voters had cast their ballots. In the 2022 election, there were about 78,000 total ballots cast, according to the supervisor of elections office.

Polls close in Sarasota County at 7 p.m.

At Sarasota Community Church off of Bahia Vista Road, Tracy Crowton, a 54-year-old retail manager, voted Tuesday morning. She said she voted Rose for school board, citing that she’s heard good things at work about her.

“(Voting) is that's the most important thing. Getting out there and voting, not because you don't like someone, or how they speak. No, vote for what they're gonna do and how they're gonna do it,” Crowton said.

She said she looks for a school board member who wants to bring God back into schools. As for the second Sarasota School Board seat up for election, Crowton said she didn’t vote for anyone. She said she didn’t read any voter guides, instead just going off of what she heard at work and saw in TV advertisements.

Thousands voted early in Manatee County

Thousands of residents in Manatee County voted early or by mail during this year's primary election cycle.

A total of 34,012 Manatee County residents voted by mail, and an additional 11,615 residents voted early in advance of Tuesday's primary election. Of those, 26,017 ballots were from Republican party members and 14,514 ballots from Democratic party members.

As of 10:25 a.m. 4,387 residents have also cast ballots on election day. Republican voters also lead election day turnout with 3,530 ballots cast, compared to 650 ballots cast by Democrats in their respective primaries.

Campaign workers out to meet voters at precincts

9:33 a.m.: Forgot to mail your absentee ballot? Here's how to drop off an absentee ballot on election day in Sarasota and Manatee counties.

Forgot to mail in your absentee ballot? You still have one option to have your ballot counted: drop it off before 7 p.m. today.

In Sarasota County, you can drop it off at any of the three Supervisor of Elections offices :

• Sarasota - Terrace Building, 2001 Adams Lane, Sarasota, FL 34237
• Venice - Robert L. Anderson Administration Center, 4000 S Tamiami Trail, Rm 114, Venice, FL  34293
• North Port - Biscayne Plaza, 13640 Tamiami Trail, North Port, FL 34287

In Manatee County, you can drop it off at the primary Supervisor of Elections office :

• Supervisor of Elections Office, 600 301 Blvd. W., Suite 108, Bradenton 34205

This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Voting results for Sarasota and Manatee counties