Candidate lists finalized for state, local seats
The Primary Election ballots have shaped up with qualifying ending at noon last Friday.
On the Aug. 18 ballot are three of four Cape Coral City Council seats to be decided this election cycle.
The seats held by Cape Coral council members William Steinke, District 1; Jennifer Nelson-Lastra, District 4; and Keith Long, District 6, are up for election, as is the mayoral seat held by John Gunter.
With the slate now finalized, six candidates have qualified for the mayor’s seat: incumbent John Gunter, Richard Erickson, Richard Andrew Leon, Lisa Cohen-Adkinson, Dan Sheppard and Kara Rogers.
Four candidates have qualified for the District 1 seat: Sean Hartman, David Newton, Thomas James Senatore, and Thomas Shadrach. Steinke did not seek re-election.
In District 4, incumbent Jennifer Nelson-Lastra and James Vargas have qualified. The duo will not be on the primary ballot; both will advance to the General Election on Nov. 3.
Five candidates have qualified for District 6: Joseph Michael Angrisano, Jeffrey W. Huddleston, Liza King, Raymond Salvatore Mule, and Annette Warren. Long did not seek re-election.
Council members qualify in their respective districts but are elected at large, meaning all registered city voters may cast a ballot in each race. Candidates must reside in their district and have been continuous full-time residents of the city for the entire calendar year immediately preceding their qualification for office. Council elections are non-partisan. Terms are four years long, and members are limited to two consecutive terms.
Steinke and Long were elected in 2022. Nelson-Lastra was elected in 2024, defeating appointed incumbent Richard Carr, who was seeking to finish a two-year term that was left vacant by Patty Cummings. Cummings was suspended by the Governor’s Office after she was arrested on charges related to her claims of residency within her district.
Gunter was appointed mayor in January 2021 after the passing of Joe Coviello. He was elected mayor in 2022.
In other races:
There are three seats up for election on the Lee County Board of County Commissioners.
District 2 Commissioner Cecil Pendergrass (R-Fort Myers), whose district covers Fort Myers, is seeking re-election to a new four-year term and is facing a Republican primary challenge from Fort Myers Democrat Elliot Taylor.
District 4 Commissioner Brian Hamman (R-Cape Coral), whose district includes Cape Coral and Fort Myers, is being challenged by Fort Myers Democrat DeMaria “Princess” Artis.
District 5 Commissioner Trish Petrosky (R-Alva) is seeking to retain her seat after being appointed last year by Gov. Ron DeSantis to fill the office of the late Commissioner Mike Greenwell. Petrosky is facing a primary challenge from fellow Republican and Alva resident Amanda Cochran, who lost a primary bid against Greenwell in a close race. District 5 includes Alva, Buckingham, Lehigh Acres, and part of North Fort Myers.
There are four School District of Lee County School Board seats up for election. Each seat carries a four-year term.
The seats for District 1, District 4, District 5, and District 6 on the school board are all up for election..
District 1 is held by Sam Fisher, who is facing a challenge from Jenn McDaigle of Cape Coral.
District 4 is held by Debbie Jordan, who is being challenged by Fort Myers residents Carl Baxter and Gisele Gentile, and North Fort Myers resident Tony Beougher.
District 5 is held by Chair Armor Persons, who is facing challenges by Fort Myers residents Crystal Johnson and Carline Saintilus.
District 6 is the at-large seat currently held by Jada Langford-Fleming, of Fort Myers. Fort Myers resident India Palencia has announced she is challenging Langford-Fleming for the seat.
Lee County Supervisor of Elections Jenna Persons-Mulicka, who was appointed to her seat by Gov. Ron DeSantis after having served in the State House, is being challenged by Fort Myers Democrat Chris Vignieri.
In addition to the local races, there will be statewide races up for election this November including governor, and state House seats.
There are currently 15 candidates seeking the Congressional seat of outgoing Congressman Byron Donalds (R-Naples), who is seeking the governor’s office. Donalds is one of dozens of candidates who have filed to run.
Locally, State Rep. Adam Botana (R-Bonita Springs), who represents Fort Myers Beach in the state legislature, is facing a challenge from Estero Democrat William Moskal for the District 80 seat. District 80 covers Bonita Springs, Estero, Fort Myers Beach and Sanibel.
State House seats carry a two-year term.
Persons-Mulicka’s former District 78 State House seat is being sought by Fort Myers Republicans Audrey Brooks and Susan Frantz, as well as Fort Myers Democrat Cindy Banyai.
Other state representatives from Lee County seeking re-election include District 76 Republican Vanessa Oliver, who is being challenged by Republican Julie Louise McCormack and Democrat Phillip Ray Carter. District 77 Republican Tiffany Esposito is being opposed by Democrat Cornelius Fowler. District 79 Republican Mike Giallombardo, who represents Cape Coral, is running unopposed.
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Mailing of updated voter information cards has begun
On Wednesday, the Lee County Supervisor of Elections Office began mailing updated voter information cards to voters affected by congressional redistricting and polling place changes ahead of the 2026 election cycle.
Approximately 109,000 voters will receive updated voter information cards reflecting changes from Florida’s new U.S. congressional district map.
The new congressional map, signed into law by Gov. Ron DeSantis in May, revises congressional district boundary lines in several counties across the state.
Although Lee County remains within Congressional Districts 17 and 19, the boundary line between the two districts has changed. As a result, some voters previously in District 17 are now in District 19, while others previously in District 19 are now in District 17.
In addition to congressional district changes, the Elections Office is also sending updated voter information cards to approximately 45,500 voters with changes to their polling place location or polling place name.
Voters with changes made to both their congressional district and polling place will be notified within the same mailing.
“Our priority is to make sure voters are aware of changes to their congressional district or polling place before the primary election so they are prepared to vote,” said Lee County Supervisor of Elections Jenna Persons-Mulicka. “I encourage voters to carefully review their updated voter information card and to reach out to my office for any questions.”
Voters can view their personalized voter information, including their congressional district and polling place, HERE.
To view the entire list of polling place location changes and polling place name changes, please visit lee.vote.
The mission of the Lee County Supervisor of Elections is to deliver superior election services to the voters of Lee County.
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To reach CJ HADDAD, please email cjhaddad@breezenewspapers.com