DeSantis Endorsees Dominate School Board Races

School board races are non-partisan. Candidates compete on the primary ballot and if no one candidate gets a simple majority of votes, the top two vote-getters compete in a runoff during the general election. This was the first year that candidates were elected only by voters in their district, as opposed to countywide, after voters elected to make the change in a 2018 referendum.

In the district 2 race, Cindy Spray, who'd been one of three candidates to receive the endorsement of Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, led with 39 percent of the vote, while Byrd, a former Bradenton City Councilman, received 35.5 percent. Audit committee member Susan Arguso got 25.5 percent of the vote.

In district 4, grassroots candidate Sean Conley looked as if he might pull off an upset over a better-financed opponent who also had DeSantis' endorsement, having held the lead once vote by mail and early voting ballots had been tallied. However, a very strong Election Day turnout for Choate, who'd been appointed by DeSantis to fill the vacancy left by Scott Hopes becoming Manatee County Administrator, allowed the Manatee High alum to pull ahead by more than 10 percent.

With three contestants in the district 5 race, it seemed unlikely that there would be a winner last night. However, retired Air Force Colonel Richard Tatem (also endorsed by DeSantis) managed to get just over 50 percent of the vote, despite facing incumbent James Golden and grassroots candidate Chantel Wilford.

Click here to view the complete Manatee County election results.