Gov. DeSantis appoints State Rep. Jenna Persons-Mulicka to be next Lee County Supervisor of Elections
Gov. Ron DeSantis has announced the appointment of Jenna Persons-Mulicka as Lee County Supervisor of Elections.
Persons-Mulicka, a Republican, is currently elected to the Florida House of Representatives, representing District 78.
“It is the honor of a lifetime to be appointed by Governor DeSantis to serve as Lee County’s Supervisor of Elections,” said Persons-Mulicka in a prepared statement issued Thursday. “Election integrity has been my top priority in Tallahassee, and I will bring that same commitment to this office. Every Lee County voter deserves to know that their vote counts.”
During an appearance at Fort Myers High School earlier this month, DeSantis lauded Persons-Mulicka for leading the passage of an abortion bill and the recent redistricting bill through the State House, and said she was the “leader in the clubhouse” for the supervisor of elections position. Both the six-week abortion bill and redistricting bills garnered national attention and were controversial. Democrats argued that that the redistricting bill was political gerrymandering which could eliminate several Democratic seats in the U.S. House.
Persons-Mulicka succeeds Tommy Doyle, the longtime supervisor of elections who retired in January. His role has been temporarily filled since January 2026 by Chief Deputy Bernie Feliciano as acting supervisor of elections. The position will be up for vote in the upcoming 2026 election.
Lee County Commissioner Cecil Pendergrass had sought the position, and had put in an application to the governor. Pendergrass had stated he was the only candidate who didn’t have a conflict.
Persons-Mulicka is the wife of Lee County Commissioner David Mulicka and is the daughter of School District of Lee County School Board member Armor Persons.
The appointment will leave an opening for Persons-Mulicka’s State House seat, which covers most of Fort Myers. Democrat Cindy Banyai is the only candidate to have filed now that Persons-Mulicka will withdraw from the race. Persons-Mulicka will have to run in November to keep her Supervisor of Elections post.
Persons-Mulicka said she will also continue her role as a founding partner at Strayhorn & Persons-Mulicka, a Fort Myers-based law firm. The law firm has been involved in political lobbying activities. Persons-Mulicka co-chairs the Lee County Bar Association’s History Committee.
Persons-Mulicka did not respond to messages seeking further comment, or an email regarding her work at the law firm.
A six-generation Lee County native, Persons-Mulicka was first elected to the Florida House in 2020. In addition to her service in the Florida House, Persons-Mulicka also serves on the Florida Commission on the Status of Women.ghout her tenure.
She has served on many state and local committees and boards and has received numerous awards, including the Housing Authority of the City of Fort Myers’ Community Impact Award, Autism Acceptance Awards 2022 Champion of the Year Award, and Women of Distinction 2024 Woman of the Year Award.
Persons-Mulicka was also recognized by the Florida Chamber of Commerce with Distinguished Advocate Awards in both 2025 and 2026. She has served in a variety of roles with civic and professional organizations, including the Florida Commission on the Status of Women, and Lee County Bar Association.
Editor’s note: This report has been updated to include additional information, including a quote from Rep. Persons-Mulicka.