Local Republicans and Democrats selected their candidates on Tuesday to go head-to-head in November’s General Election, encompassing the Alachua County Sheriff’s race, Alachua County Commission District 1 and Florida House District 22.
Chad Scott emerged as the Democratic nominee for the sheriff’s race, winning 51.1% of the vote. Latrell Simmons followed in second with 28.6% while Peter King finished with 20.2%.
“That is how you win,” Scott said on Facebook. “Thank you.”
Incumbent Sheriff Emery Gainey ran unopposed on the Republican ticket. Pamela Marshall-Koons is also campaigning for sheriff as an independent. These three final candidates will be on the November ballot.
While the incumbent, Gainey was appointed to the role in October 2023 by Gov. Ron DeSantis. November will be citizens’ first opportunity to weigh in following the resignation of former Sheriff Clovis Watson Jr., who was elected in 2020.
In another Democratic Party race, Alachua County Commissioner Mary Alford topped DeJeon Cain by 1,060 votes. Alford earned 72% of the vote as she heads into November’s election against Republican Lizabeth Doebler.
Voters sided with Alford in 2020 and 2022.
Two Republicans and two Democrats ran for the state House District 22 seat, currently held by a term-limited Rep. Chuck Clemons, R-Newberry.
David Arreola, a former Gainesville City Commissioner, edged out Amy Trask for the Democratic Party nomination—57% to 43%.
“We did it!!!” Arreola tweeted Tuesday night. “Now let’s go beat Chad Cracker Johnson.”
Chad Johnson, whom Clemons has endorsed, topped Raemi Eagle-Glenn for the Republican Party—66% to 34% with 96% of precincts reporting. Eagle-Glenn, a former Alachua County Commissioner, edged Johnson in Alachua County, but Johnson won by large margins in Levy and Gilchrist counties.
U.S. Congresswoman Kat Cammack remained the Republican candidate after fending off Alec Stevens with 87% of the vote. She’ll face Tom Wells in November.
“I am honored to be the Republican nominee for Florida’s Third Congressional District once again,” Cammack wrote on X. “Thank you to all the volunteers and supporters who have made this win possible. Let’s keep the momentum going on to the General Election on November 5th!”
This is proof why county voters need to reject single member districts in November. Alford won with a total of 1715 votes in her one district. The rest of the county has no say so in reelecting this overspending commissioner. This is not democracy.
Elections are the keystone of democracy. Thank you, Mainstreet, for your coverage of the candidates and issues and your quick, accurate report of the vote.
So sorry Arreola won. I may have to cross party lines or just not vote.
Yes he is clueless
“David Arreola, a former Gainesville City Commissioner, edged out Amy Trask for the Democratic Party nomination—57% to 43%.” – is that really edging out? Sounds like a landslide to me, 14% is a big gap.
A sad result