The 2026 elections will impact Florida’s city and county commissions, along with the balance of power within the state House and Senate chambers. So far, 15 candidates have registered to campaign next year, with several of them already starting.
Mainstreet will provide each candidate opportunities to talk about the important issues in our Meet the Candidates series closer to the election. For now, here’s a list of the early birds already lined up for votes, starting with the largest geographic districts and working down.
Lineup
- Florida House
- Florida Senate
- Alachua County Board of County Commissioners
- Gainesville City Commission
Florida House District 10
Baker, Bradford, Columbia, Union, and northern Alachua County (cities of Waldo, Alachua and High Springs)
Rep. Chuck Brannan III is term-limited and will leave the Florida House after the 2026 election, allowing a new candidate after eight years.
- Chase Brannan (Republican)
- Son of incumbent Chuck Brannan III
- Real estate business owner
- Served as director of intergovernmental affairs under Florida CFO Jimmy Patronis
- Website: Chase Brannan for Florida House District 10
- Marshall Rawlings (Republican)
- Operates Free State Growers, a multi-county agricultural business
- Washington, D.C., aide for Congressman Paul Broun
- Legal assistant to Secretary of State Cord Byrd
- Website: Marshall Rawson for State Representative
- Joseph Thorton (American Solidarity Party)
- Worked professionally as a physician and psychiatrist
- Medical Executive Director at North Florida Evaluation and Treatment Center
- Founded the Alachua Area Medical Reserve Corps
- Website: Thornton FLHD10
Florida House District 21
Northwest Marion County and Southeast Alachua County (including Hawthorne, Micanopy and eastern Gainesville)
Rep. Yvonne Hayes Hinson announced her retirement in September, after six years in the House. She endorsed her former staff member, Malik Moore, to replace her.
- Malik Moore (Democrat)
- Served as the chief of staff to State Rep. Dianne Hart, chair of the Florida Legislative Black Caucus
- Government Affairs Manager for Cox Communications
- Website: Malik Moore for Florida House District 21
- Xavier Jarrod Monroe (Democrat)
- Science and Technology Policy Fellow at the National Science Foundation
- Former president of the Alachua County NAACP Youth Council
- Website: Xavier J. Monroe For Florida House Senate District 21
Florida House District 22
Levy County, Gilchrist County and Southwest Alachua County (including western Gainesville, Newberry and Archer)
Rep. Chad Johnson stepped into this seat in 2024 after a term-limited Chuck Clemons left the House. He’ll run to defend his seat.
- Chad Johnson (Republican)
- Incumbent
- Career in agriculture sales
- Former Levy County commissioner
- Website: Chad Johnson for State Representative
- Amy Trask (Democrat)
- Landscape Analyst for Harvard Safra Center for Ethics.
- Organizer for Santa Fe College’s “Free to Learn” Symposium
- Website: Amy Trask for FL House 22
Florida Senate District 6
Baker, Bradford, Clay, Columbia, Gilchrist, Union and the north half of Alachua County
Elected to the Florida Senate in 2020, state Sen. Jennifer Bradley will seek to defend her seat for a final term. So far, no one has filed to run against her.
- Jennifer Bradley (Republican)
- Incumbent
- Owner of Hibernia Property Management
- Board member of PACE Center for Girls Clay
- Website: Jennifer Bradley for Senate
Alachua County District 2
High Springs, Alachua and parts of Northwest Gainesville (but elected by the entire county)
Commissioner Marihelen Wheeler announced that she would not seek re-election, ending her countywide service after the first term.
Currently, four candidates have started campaigning for the seat. It could be the most highly contested next year in the local area and features a former mayor and a current school board member.
- Byran Williams (Democrat)
- Former High Springs mayor and commissioner for over a decade
- Pastor at Mt. Carmel UMC
- Website: Facebook Campaign
- Tina Certain (Democrat)
- School Board of Alachua County member since 2018
- Career as a certified accountant
- Adam Joy (Democrat)
- High Springs pastor
- Manager of Deeper Purpose Community Food Ministries
- Website: Facebook Campaign
- Robert Woody (Republican)
- Former Alachua County Jail director
- Former Gainesville Police Department community relations director
Alachua County District 4
Hawthorne, Melrose and Southwest Gainesville (but elected by the entire county)
In eastern Alachua County, incumbent Ken Cornell has filed to defend the seat he’s held since winning the November 2014 election.
- Ken Cornell (Democrat)
- Incumbent
- Realtor with Bosshardt Realty Services
- Website: Ken Cornell for Alachua County Commission District 4
Gainesville Mayor
A crowded field in 2022 made for a tight race with a term-limited mayor. This election has started slowly, with only one candidate and incumbent Mayor Harvey Ward likely running.
- James Lesesne Jr.
- Went to Eastside High School
- Studied at Art Institute of Atlanta
- Website: Facebook
Gainesville District 2
Primarily Northwest Gainesville
Commissioner Ed Book serves as the incumbent, but no one has yet filed to run.
Gainesville District 3
Primarily Southwest Gainesville
- Casey Willits
- Incumbent
- Residency Program Coordinator at the University of Florida
- Website: Casey Willits for Gainesville City Commission District 3
Gainesville District 4
Primarily Central Gainesville
Commissioner Bryan Eastman serves as the incumbent, but no one has yet filed to run.