ELECTION 2026
THE RECOMMENDED SLATE FOR BOTH
SARASOTA & MANATEE COUNTIES
Here you can view snapshots of each candidate with a link to their campaign website.
You can either scroll through all of them or click on the link for each in the section below to go directly to their profile.
David Jolly - Governor of Florida
Gwen Graham - Lt. Governor of Florida
José Javier Rodríguez - Attorney General of Florida
Annette Taddeo - Chief Financial Office of Florida
Joey Mendoza Atkins - Commissioner of Agriculture of Florida
Matthew Montavon - US House FL D17
Kelly Kirschner - US House FL D16
Jimmy Glover - Sarasota County School Board, D1
Jen Ahearn-Koch - Sarasota City Commissioner-at-Large
Flo Entler - Sarasota City Commissioner-at-Large
Florida State Representative Angie Nixon is the Democratic nominee for the US Senate. Campaign website.
She is facing the appointed incumbent Republican, Ashley Moody.
Angie Nixon is a Florida State Representative, union organizer, small business owner and Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate.
Born and raised in Jacksonville, she has built her career advocating for working families, affordable childcare, higher wages, voting rights and economic opportunity.
Elected to the Florida House in 2020, Angie became a leading voice challenging corporate interests and Florida’s congressional redistricting.
She previously served as Executive Director of Florida for All, helping register tens of thousands of voters statewide.
A University of Florida graduate and mother of five, Angie also operates a Jacksonville bookstore and community hub serving local families.
David Jolly - Governor of Florida
Former Congressman David Jolly is the Democratic candidate for Governor of Florida. Campaign website.
He is facing Republican Congressman Byron Donalds and several others (NPAs).
Former Congressman David Jolly is running for Governor of Florida focused on an economy that works for everyone, affordable housing and insurance, healthcare, education, and protecting individual rights and dignity.
A fifth-generation Floridian and son of a minister, David and his wife Laura are raising their family in Pinellas County, which he represented in Congress as a Republican for one-term. After leaving office he became a prominent Republican critic of President Trump. In 2025, he switched his registration to run for Governor as a Democrat.
A lawyer by training, David has built a career in politics, law and media advocating for fair wages and economic opportunity, veterans and seniors, youth empowerment and environmental protection. His work challenging government corruption and campaign finance abuse has also been featured on 60 Minutes.
Gwen Graham - Lt. Governor of Florida
Former Congresswoman Gwen Graham is running with David Jolly for Lt. Governor of Florida. Campaign website.
Her counterpart on the Republican ticket is Bryan Avila.
Gwen Graham is a former U.S. Representative and U.S. Assistant Secretary of Education with a career devoted to public service.
A Florida public-school graduate and mother of three, she began her civic involvement supporting teachers, students and public education.
Representing Florida’s 2nd Congressional District, Gwen built a bipartisan record focused on education, veterans, agriculture and protecting Florida’s environment, including opposing offshore drilling in the Gulf.
She served on the Armed Services and Agriculture Committees and joined Congressman John Lewis in commemorating Bloody Sunday in Selma.
From 2021 to 2025, Gwen served as Assistant Secretary at the U.S. Department of Education.
José Javier Rodríguez - Attorney General of Florida
José Javier Rodríguez is the Democratic nominee for Attorney General of Florida. Campaign website.
He is facing the incumbent Republican James Uthmeier.
José Javier Rodríguez is a Florida attorney, former state legislator and the 2026 Democratic nominee for Florida Attorney General.
He served eight years in the Florida Legislature—four in the House and four in the Senate—championing consumer protection, government accountability and working families.
Raised in Miami, Rodríguez earned his B.A. from Brown University and J.D. from Harvard Law School and served in the Peace Corps in Senegal.
He later represented low-income workers and immigrants before serving in the Biden administration as U.S. Assistant Secretary of Labor.
His career has focused on protecting consumers and workers, fighting corruption and ensuring accountability.
Annette Taddeo - Chief Financial Office
Annette Taddeo
Annette Taddeo is running for Florida’s Chief Financial Officer. She is facing Republican, Blaise Ingoglia.
Annette entered Politics in 2008 and has been tenaciously active in local Florida Democratic politics.
In 2012 she was elected to the Miami Dade County Democratic Executive Committee and in 2017 she was elected in a special election to the Florida Senate District 40 and then again elected in 2018 for that seat.
She is experienced and dedicated and well equipped for being a protector of Florida’s economy.
Joey Mendoza Atkins - Commissioner of Agriculture
Joey Mendoza Atkins is running for the Florida Commissioner of Agriculture. He is facing Republican, Wilton Simpson
He is a life long Floridian and a cum laud graduate of Florida Atlantic University. He then obtained his law degree and was a tenacious advocate for protecting Florida families through family law cases.
He believes the Florida Department of Agriculture plays a vital role beyond supporting farmers. It also protects consumers, safe guards Florida food supplies, preserves natural resources and helps prepare communities for disasters.
His campaign focuses on the “Fresh from Florida”program and protecting consumers from price gouging and corporate abuse. He also is adamant about supporting responsible growth that protects farmlands.
US House of Representatives
Matthew Montavon - Florida District 17
Matthew Montavon is the Democratic candidate for the US House of Representatives (Florida District 17). Campaign website.
He is facing incumbent Republican Greg Steube and Michael Quirk (NPA).
Matthew Montavon has devoted his career to public service at home and abroad.
After serving in the Peace Corps in Central America, he worked in regional planning and government finance before spending 27 years with the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, fighting hunger and improving food systems worldwide.
A Southwest Florida resident since the 1990s, Matthew has volunteered with AARP Tax-Aide, Habitat for Humanity and hurricane relief efforts.
He co-founded the Immigration Justice Coalition of Southwest Florida and has promoted voter participation throughout his life.
Matthew holds degrees from Catholic University and Indiana University and brings extensive government and public-policy experience.
US House of Representatives
Kelly Kirschner - Florida District 16
Kelly Kirschner is the Democratic nominee for the US House of Representatives (Florida District 16). Campaign website.
He is facing Republican Sydney Gruters and Mark Davis (NPA).
Kelly Kirschner is a third-generation Floridian, Peace Corps volunteer, former Sarasota Mayor and nonprofit leader.
A Georgetown University graduate, he spent four years in Guatemala helping Mayan farming families expand economic opportunities.
Returning home, Kelly built a successful private-sector career before serving as Sarasota City Commissioner and Mayor, where he championed campaign finance reform, protected neighborhoods and fought for taxpayers.
He later grew UnidosNow into an organization helping more than 1,000 first-generation students pursue debt-free admission to leading universities and served as a vice president at Eckerd College.
A single father of two, Kelly has made public service his lifelong commitment.
Sarasota County School Board Election
Jimmy Glover - District 1
Jimmy Glover came first in his primary, but because he was running against 2 opponent, he and the second place finisher (Heidi Brandt) advanced to the November 3rd. ballot in a run-off. Campaign website.
Jimmy Glover has gained attention for his direct communication style and active participation in school board discussions. He is a father of four and a community leader in Sarasota. Observers have noted his ability to speak candidly about issues facing the district and to respond thoughtfully in public forums. Glover has built support among voters looking for leadership that is engaged, responsive, and willing to challenge existing approaches when necessary.
City of Sarasota Elections
Commissioners-at-Large
Jen Ahearn-Koch and Flo Entler finished first and second respectively in the primary.
They advanced to the general election and face a third candidate, John Harshman, in the race for the two open seats.
Jen Ahearn-Koch’s connection to Sarasota goes back to 1970, when her parents bought a home here. She graduated from a local high school, and in 1996 moved back for good, returning with her husband and their two-year-old son. This is her city. That’s not a talking point.
Before she was your commissioner, Jen was your neighbor. She became President of the Tahiti Park Neighborhood Association, then represented her neighborhood on the Coalition of City Neighborhood Associations. She spent six years on the City’s Planning Board — learning exactly how development decisions get made and where residents get cut out. That’s not background. That’s why she ran.
Before entering public life, she was Art Director at the Asolo Theatre, then founded JAK Consults in 2002 — a marketing firm she still runs today. She understands how institutions make decisions — and where residents get left out.
First elected in 2017. Served as Mayor in 2019-2020. Now in her second term — and still fighting the same fights she ran on.
Flo Entler, a 37-year Sarasota resident and small business owner, has spent nearly a decade leading on city issues. Born in the Bronx and raised on Long Island, she was the first in her family to earn a college degree, graduating from SUNY Cortland with a B.A. in Speech Pathology and Audiology.
Professionally, Flo has worked in bookkeeping, law office administration, advertising sales, and human resources, giving her a practical grasp of budgets, contracts, and operations.
She now owns a local fitness business, where she applies the same discipline she brings to training marathoners—she’s a long-distance runner, triathlete, and four-time Boston Marathon finisher—to public service.
For nearly ten years, Flo has been one of City Hall’s most persistent citizen advocates, tackling issues like flooding, overdevelopment, traffic, tree protection, and affordable housing.
She has served on the Arlington Park Neighborhood Association board since 2022 and is in her fourth year as its president. She also served as Second Vice President of the Coalition of City Neighborhood Associations.