As of 5 p.m. Monday, June 8, Escambia County Supervisor of Elections and the Florida Secretary of State report the following candidates have qualified to run in 2026:
U.S. Senator
Gillespie, Neil J. (NPA)
Gleason, Chris (REP)
(i) Moody, Ashley (REP)
Nixon, Angie (DEM)
Perry, Neelam Taneja (REP)
Rivera, Ernest “Ernie” (REP)
Vindman, Alex (DEM)
U.S. Representative, District 1
(i) Jimmy Patronis (Rep)
Governor
Burkett, Charles (NPA)
Castillo-Bach, Evelyn (DEM)
Dembinsky, Richard Paul (WRI)
Donalds, Byron (REP)
Fernandez, Thomas Eloy (DEM)
Fishback, James (REP)
Renner, Paul (REP)
Russo, Frank J. (NPA)
Shaw, James W. (REP)
Williams, Bobby (REP)
Attorney General
Rodriguez, Jose Javier (DEM)
Chief Financial Officer
Collige, Frank William (REP)
State Representative, District 1
(i) Michelle Salzman (Rep)
Francesca Yabraian (Dem)
State Representative, District 2
Jon Fay (Rep)
Trei McMullen (Rep)
Escambia County Commission, District 2
Glenn Dorsey (Rep)
(i) Mike Kohler (Rep)
EErica King Pleas Sims Riley (Write-in)
Escambia County Commission, District 4
(i) Ashlee Hofberger (Rep)
Emerald Coast Utilities Authority (ECUA), District 2
(i) Lois Benson (Rep)
Escambia County School Board, District 1
(i) Kevin Adams
Escambia County School Board, District 2
(i) Paul Fetsko
Escambia County School Board, District 3
(i) David Williams I
Issac Williams
Santa Rosa Island Authority
Steven Luppert
City of Pensacola Mayor
Ann Hill
(i) Darcy “D.C.” Reeves
Jermaine J. Williams
Pensacola City Council, District 4
Brian Cole
Boyce T. White
Pensacola City Council, District 5
(i) Allison Patton
County Court Judge, Group 2
Charles Philip Young
NOT TOO LATE
The August ballot has not been finalized. We have prequalified candidates, who are allowed to collect petition signatures and contributions and spend money on yard signs and campaign materials. However, the qualifying period began yesterday and closes noon on Friday, June 12.
The good news is you have time to enter a race, and there are a few that need a challenger (or else the lone qualified candidate will be declared the winner without facing voters). The bad news is you missed the deadline to qualify by petition, so you will have to pay the full filing fee, which differs for each office. The filing fees can be found in the Escambia County Candidate Handbook, which is available online.
The Escambia County Supervisor of Elections Office is where you can register to vote, change parties and find your voting precinct. You can request a vote-by-mail ballot in person or online and track it after you return it. The staff can also answer any questions you may have if you are interested in running.
Supervisor of Elections Office
213 S. Palafox St., Second Floor
Phone: (850) 595-3900
TDD: (850) 595-3913
Email: soe@escambiavotes.gov
Hours: 8 a.m.-5 p.m., Monday-Friday
Website: escambiavotes.gov
To keep up with the latest updates, Bender also encourages voters to follow his office on social media:
Facebook: escambiavotes
X: @escambiavotes
Instagram: @escambiavotes
YouTube: escambiavotes
