DeSantis-backed Sarasota School Board chair loses race, unofficial results show

TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — Karen Rose, the DeSantis-backed chair of the Sarasota County School Board, will lose her election, according to unofficial results posted by the Hillsborough County Supervisor of Elections.

Rose, also endorsed by Moms for Liberty, was defeated by Liz Barker, who, according to a biography on her campaign website, has four children in the school district.

“I am deeply honored and humbled to have been elected to serve on the Sarasota School Board,” Barker said in a statement. “I am committed to working collaboratively with parents, educators, administrators, and community members to ensure that our schools provide a safe, nurturing, and academically rigorous environment for every student.”

Barker was endorsed by “Educated. We Stand,” a group that describes itself as “dedicated to safeguarding the integrity of public education” and aims “to limit the influence of far right extremists.”

Barker’s campaign website said she wants to get politics out of schools. She also said parents should get to make decisions on what books are appropriate for their children “without that decision being dictated by another parent.”

News Channel 8 has reached out to Rose for comment via email. Facebook pages linked on her website appear to have been removed or made private.

Incumbent board member Tom Edwards, who was also endorsed by “Educated. We Stand,” also won his election, according to the unofficial results.

Edwards, who is openly gay, walked out of a board meeting in 2023 after several people made anti-gay comments during a public comment session.

Barker and Edwards will be sworn in in November.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFLA.