In sharp contrast to 2024 primary results, Manatee County grassroots candidates took a beating in Tuesday's primary, as big-money developer-backed candidates carried the day. District 1 Manatee County Commission candidate Liz Arnold proved to be the sole exception.
Manatee County Commission: Arnold survives attacks to win; incumbents Ballard and Rahn easily fend off grassroots challenges in BOCC Districts 2 and 4. Poulton emerges in countywide D6 race to replace Jason Bearden.
Manatee County District 1 candidate Liz Arnold addressed the county commission during public comments in 2025
Big Development went all in to defeat grassroots smart-growth candidate Liz Arnold in District 1, but it wasn't enough, as Arnold was able to win by five points over Mark Stanoch, despite splitting much of the vote with fellow grassroots candidate John Dunn in the crowded Republican primary.
J6 insurrectionist Adam Johnson only managed to get 11 percent of the vote, while local attorney Leland Taylor finished next to last with 9%. Michael Harrison, who did not campaign in any meaningful way, drew only 6% of the vote.
Arnold will face Democrat Sari Lindroos-Valimaki in November's general election.
Ed Bailey ran an impressive grassroots campaign but was unable to mount an effective challenge against Amanda Ballard, losing by more than two to one in the D2 Republican primary. Ballard will now face former D2 commissioner Charles Smith in the general election.
Glen Gibellina, who campaigned alongside Bailey as part of D5 Commissioner Bob McCann's endorsed slate, lost to incumbent Mike Rahn by a nearly identical margin in the D4 Republican primary. Rahn is unchallenged in the general election.
In the countywide D6 At-Large Republican primary, Tara Poulton, District Chief of Staff to Congressman Vern Buchanan, enjoyed the largest campaign war chest and nearly every endorsement of consequence.
A highly polished and articulate candidate, Poulton seemed on her way to a landslide in the field of four. However, longtime Manatee County employee Ed Ference, a grassroots candidate who was decidedly unpolished, managed to come within striking distance, earning an impressive 32% of the vote to Poulton's 38%.
John Calovich, who had also had an endorsement from McCann, got 15% of the vote, while Tony Barrett, who was arrested on domestic violence charges during his campaign, received 14%. Poulton will now face former D2 Commissioner Reggie Bellamy in November's general election.
Manatee School Board: Spray and Jefferson advance in D2 race; Mullis and Bedinghaus advance in D5
Incumbent Cindy Spray earned an impressive 35% of the vote in a five-candidate field for the D2 Manatee School Board seat. Longtime educator Sharon Jefferson came in second with
an equally impressive 27 percent, while Margi Nanney, JT White, and James Golden fell out of the competition. Spray and Jefferson will move on to a Nov. runoff in the non-primary race.
In the District 5 Manatee School Board Race to replace the seat being vacated by Richard Tatem, Jonathan Mullis earned 36% of the vote, while Cam Bedinghaus pulled ahead of Chantal Wilford on Election Day votes, getting 33% to Wilford's 31%, which was enough to send the 21-year-old candidate to the November runoff.
State House: Varnadore and Conerly easily defeat grassroots challengers
In the two Republican primaries for Florida House seats, developer-backed candidates Jordan Varnadore and Bill Conerly easily fended off grassroots challengers. Varnadore defeated local attorney Melton Little 62%-30%, while Dylan Paul Modarelli collected 7% of the vote in the D71 race. Bill Conerly easily protected his incumbency in D72, defeating John "Captain" Phillips nearly two votes to one.
Congress: Kirschner and Gruters easily advance to D16 Congressional General Election
In the race to replace retiring 20-year Congressman Vern Buchanan, Democrat Kelly Kirschner and Republican Sydney Gruters easily won their primaries despite aggressive competition.
Kirschner, who had served as city councilman and mayor of Sarasota, easily defeated a crowded field that included former D16 candidate Jan Schneider. Kirschner got over 40% of the vote, about 2-1 over Schneider, while Jon Harris, Tamika Lyles and Glenn Pearson split the remaining tally.
Gruters, the wife of RNC Chair and former Florida Senator and Trump campaign co-chair Joe Gruters, got over 65% of the vote and carried all six counties in the redrawn district, despite challenges from Eddie Speir and Ed Pope.
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Manatee Watch
THE NEW MANATEE COUNTY ---MORE COOKIE CUTTER HOUSES MORE STRIP MALLS MORE TRAFFIC JAMS EVERYWHERE....RUNNING OUT OF WATER AND INFRASTRUCTURE.. A DISASTROUS TRAIN WRECK. BERUFF NEAL FAT REX JENSEN BENDERSON AND THE REST OF THE NATIONAL HOME DEVELOPERS GET RICHER, THE GREAT UNWASHED SIT IN TRAFFIC WAITING FOR THEIR LATEST JUNK FOOD AT THE NEW STRIP MALL AND GHETTO APARTMENT COMPLEX NEXT TO THEIR HOMES. COMPLETELY RUINED OUR ONCE BEAUTIFUL COUNTY. THINK ABOUT WHAT IT WILL LOOK LIKE IN 10 YEARS, THEY NEVER DID, BUT THEY GOT THEIR MONEY
Tuesday, August 18 Report this
lib224
Sadly, the sheep kept voting for the wolves, who cleverly blamed the sheepdogs.
Tuesday, August 18 Report this
graumli22
By a few hours after polls closed it was clear that incumbents Rahn's and Ballard's big developer money, and the lying postal propaganda, enabled both to pull off an election win. It will be hard to stomach looking at and listening to either one of them at the BOCC meetings for the next four years.
So what happened? Did voters fall for the propaganda? Are voters THAT ilinformed? There's been a lot of talk about voting reform. Perhaps a competency test should be included! It will be interesting to see if disgruntled residents like me turn to Ballard's Democrat opponent in November! Just sayin'.
Wednesday, August 19 Report this
dreed135
Looks like the citizens of Manatee County endorse runaway growth with little to no concurrent infrastructure. A really sad day. I’m sure they’ll also vote for amendment 3 and give the state much greater control over home rule and cause massive tax increases in other forms. Too bad Old Florida is long ago dead.
Wednesday, August 19 Report this
Janet
I get it that voters may be uninformed about candidates and issues what with holding down multiple jobs, etc. But they need to look to sources they trust for endorsements, i.e. TheBradentonTimes.com. or other credible sources--not just blindly voting for the candidate with the most campaign ads, mailings or signs.
Wednesday, August 19 Report this
Ranchron
.It is disappointing that only 30% of Manatee County voters cared enough about the future of our county to show up and vote. It is also unfortunate that 25% of our voters are registered as Independents and, as a result, have no say in the primary elections that often decide who will represent us. I understand not liking one party or another, but a primary vote can make a huge difference. So, for the 60% who could not or chose not to vote in this primary election—don't complain about the traffic and new housing developments; you had your chance to make a difference.
Wednesday, August 19 Report this
Debann
Shocker...NOT..now district 2 And 4 will STILL HAVE NO REPRESENTATION..RAHN AND BALLARD LAUGHING ALL THE WAY TO THE BANK...AGAIN...their getting NEW RUBBER STAMPS FROM THE DEVELOPERS
..HAVE FUN MANATEE COUNTY...
Wednesday, August 19 Report this
sandy
This is why we need OPEN primaries. I switched to Republican so I could vote in primaries after being a
democrat for 48 years in 2024 and living in a predominately republican county, but independents and no party affiliation can't vote in primaries. They need to get rid of the write in because they are meaningless.
Wednesday, August 19 Report this
mmeehan
We love you, Glen. Sorry it didn't pan. I appreciate the work you've done and will hopefully continue to do for Manatee's future, and the forthright and community-led way you conducted your campaign. Seeing your name on the ballot was a refreshing moment of hope. I look forward to seeing it there next cycle.
Wednesday, August 19 Report this