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2024 Elections

With the approach of election year, WSLR is here to provide information regarding the upcoming 2024 elections.

Not registered to vote? Solve that issue by registering to vote online! Florida citizens can register to vote here.

For those looking to vote by mail, don’t forget that vote-by-mail requests made prior to November 8, 2022 have expired. Requests can be made online or in person at any election office.

Below are detailed explanations of the offices up for election during the 2024 year. The candidates of each office are also included with a brief description of who they are and what they stand for.

Election Podcasts/Videos
Sarasota County Elections
Manatee County Elections

President of the United States

Voters have until 5pm Thursday, Oct. 24 to request a ballot be mailed to them for the coming election. A voter may request a vote-by-mail ballot in one of the following ways: In person at any of the three elections offices in Sarasota, Venice, or North Port, by phone at 941-861-8618 or online at SarasotaVotes.gov/VotebyMail.

Republican & Democratic Party Candidates

Donald Trump - rep

Trump served as the 45th president of the United States from 2017 to 2021 and is now running for re-election. He won the 2016 presidential election against Democratic Party nominee Hillary Clinton, despite losing the popular vote. This made him the first U.S. president with no prior military or government experience. Deploying the military domestically to fight crime, a big tax on foreign imports and “record-setting” deportations are among Trump’s main 2024 pledges (NBC). Trump intends to slash the federal Education Department entirely, a 4,400-person operation with a $68 billion budget. Trump claims this would give full educational authority back to the states, even though an elimination of the department wouldn’t directly transfer over any new state power. One of Trump’s most consistent talking points on the trail centers on his intention to prosecute Biden if he regains executive power.

Kamala Harris - DEM

“In this moment, I believe we face a choice between two different visions for our nation: one focused on the future, the other focused on the past,” she told members of the historically Black sorority Zeta Phi Beta at an event in Indianapolis on Wednesday. “And with your support, I am fighting for our nation’s future.” That path forward focuses on lifting up working and middle-class Americans, enabling them to join unions, retire with dignity, live without the fear of gun violence and obtain affordable health care, she said. Harris has also touted the Biden administration’s efforts to lower drug costs, reduce child poverty, forgive student loan debt and remove medical debt from credit reports.

To see a full listing of the candidates that have filed to run for statewide office in the State of Florida, visit https://dos.elections.myflorida.com/candidates/

United States - Senate

Candidates

Rick Scott - REP

Scott was elected in 2018 and is currently serving is first term representing the state of Florida. He previously served two terms as the 45th Governor of Florida from 2011 to 2019. Scott served in the U.S. Navy for more than two years before attending the University of Missouri and earning his BA in business administration in 1975. He then went on to earn his JD from Southern Methodist University in 1978. Scott made the decision to run for Governor following Florida's economic collapse. During his time, he focused on repairing Florida's economy.

Debbie Mucarsell-Powell - DEM

Powell was born in Ecuador and immigrated to the U.S. with her mother and sisters when she was young. After making it through high school, she earned her BA in political science from Pitzer College in 1992. She then went on to earn her MA in international political economics from Claremont Graduate University in 1996. She then worked for Florida International University's College of Health and Medicine, leading a program to expand affordable healthcare. She served as a U.S. representative for Florida's 26th congressional district, making her the first Ecuadorian American and South American-born immigrant to serve in Congress.

Feena Bonoan - LIB

As a U.S. Senate candidate, Bonoan is focused on advocating for policies that promote economic prosperity, protect civil liberties, and ensure a more peaceful and cooperative international stance. She is committed to fighting for tax reform that eases the burden on individuals and businesses, advocating for criminal justice reform, and pushing for an end to unnecessary foreign interventions that compromise America's security and fiscal stability. Bonoan's journey is marked by an unwavering commitment to the Libertarian principles of limited government, personal freedom, and fiscal responsibility.

Ben Everidge - NPA

Ben has a Bachelor of Arts degree in international studies from American University in Washington, D.C., where he attended full-time while working on Capitol Hill as a congressional aide. Ben later earned his Master’s degree in American government from Georgetown University, where he was named a University Fellow. Ben subsequently served on Bill Nelson's congressional staff for a decade. Today, Ben is the Managing Partner of Cannon & Caius, a strategic consulting practice that empowers preeminent wealth to do great social collaborative good. Knowing that independents would be a more dominant force in American politics if they were organized into a broad-based party, Ben has been organizing that effort by launching the 21st Century Democratic-Republican Party (DRP) this year. The DRP is a successor party to that formed by Declaration of Independence author Thomas Jefferson and father of the United States Constitution James Madison in 1792 when our nation first emerged after the American Revolution.

Tuan Nguyen - NPA

Tuan “TQ” Nguyen came to the United States in 1997 and has established residence in the great state of Florida since 2003. In the aftermath of the Vietnam War, witnessing the poverty and suffering of the Vietnamese people under the communist rule has instilled in him compassion and a sense of justice. After having managed to flee the Vietnamese communist regime, TQ had the opportunity to live, study and work in several countries. He also had the opportunities to visit all the five continents and hence acquired a broad understanding of different systems of government and state institutions. Being an engineer by profession and a human rights advocate by vocation, TQ has blended his experiences into a unique skill set that focuses on problem-solving to help those who are the less fortunate such as victims of human rights violations and religious persecutions. TQ holds a M.Sc. in Global Strategic Communication from Florida Institute of Technology, a M.Sc. in Information Technology Management from Creighton University and a Bachelor of Electrical Engineering from Concordia University.

United States - House of Representatives

Sarasota County Candidates

United States Representative District 17

District Map

Greg Steube - REP

Steube served two years in the Florida Senate and six years in the Florida House. After graduating from the University of Florida with both undergraduate and law degrees, Steube enlisted in the U.S. Army, serving with distinction from 2004 to 2008. Steube currently serves the House Committee on Ways and Means and the Select Subcommittee on the Weaponization of Federal Government. Steube advocates for small businesses, ranchers and farmers, and Florida seniors. He also supports putting Americans first and has conservative immigration policies.

Manny Lopez - DEM

Lopez previously served as a member of the Whitney, Texas School Board from 1993 to 1996. During that time, he also served on the executive board of the Central Texas Economic Development Council for four years. He served in the U.S. army and as a firefighter for the Key West Fire Department. He served as captain of the Sarasota Chalf Festival in Venice. In 2014, he served as chairman on the Sarasota Board of Realtors. Lopez plans to focus on infrastructure development, healthcare, and education.

Manatee County Candidates

United States Representative District 16

District Map

Jan Schneider - DEM

Schneider has earned her BA from Brown University, a certificate from the University of Geneva, a master's degree in international affairs from Columbia School of International and Public Affairs, and a JD from Yale Law School. Her professional experience includes working for the Law Offices of Jan Schneider, serving as president and director of U.S. East Inc., working for the United Nations, and working as an adjunct professor at the American University Law School. Schneider plans to focus on reducing energy costs while securing reliable energy sources. She also wishes to contribute to environmental protections.

Vern Buchanan - REP - Incumbent

U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan is co-chair of the bipartisan 30-member Florida congressional delegation and Vice Chair of the powerful House Ways and Means Committee, which has jurisdiction over tax policy, international trade, health care, welfare, Social Security and Medicare. Buchanan is the most senior Republican on the committee and currently serves as Chairman of the Health Subcommittee, a key panel that has broad jurisdiction over traditional Medicare, the Medicare prescription drug benefit and Medicare Advantage. Buchanan has also been ranked one of the most bipartisan and effective members of Congress by two respected non-partisan organizations: the Lugar Center and the Center for Effective Lawmaking. In 2020, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce also rated Congressman Vern Buchanan the highest among the 29-member Florida congressional delegation for his record of bipartisanship and creating jobs.

State Elections - Florida House of Representatives

Sarasota County Florida House CandidateS

HD 73 covers covers most of Sarasota west of I-75 down to Venice. Voter registration numbers for this District from the October 2022 2Election.

STATE REPRESENTATIVE DISTRICT 73

Fiona McFarland - REP

McFarland graduated from the United States Naval Academy with a degree in Political Science in 2008. While in active duty, she completed her Masters of Business Administration from the University of Chapel Hill's Kenan Flagler business school in 2013. In 2016 she transferred to the U.S. Navy Reserves. She has received two Navy Achievement Medals. During her civilian lifestyle, she worked as a consultant with global business management consulting firm McKinsey and Company.

Derek Reich - Dem

Reich was born in Sarasota before being raised in Venice and North Port. He graduated from Florida State University with his Bachelor's degree in Social Science Education in 2018. From there, he taught at Brookside Middle School for his last semester at FSU before moving on to teach the 2018-19 school year in Freedom High School in Orlando. He then returned to Sarasota and worked as a part-time substitute teacher while pursuing his Master's degree. He earned his Master's in Curriculum and Instruction in 2020.

STATe REPRESENTATIVE DISTRICT 74

HD 74 covers Sarasota east of I-75 and a portion of North Sarasota east of US41. Voter registration numbers for this District from the October 2022 Election.

James Buchanan - Rep

Buchanan has served in the Florida House of Representatives for the past two years and running again for the 2024 election. He has been a real estate agent since 2006 and has served as a broker and small business owner in Sarasota County since 2009. He earned his Bachelor's degree from Florida State University with a double major in Finance and Entrepreneurship before graduating with his MBA from the University of South Florida.

Nancy M.H. Simpson - DEM

Simpson graduated with her BA in Economics from Georgie State University in 2012. She began working for Resilience AmeriCorps VISTA in 2016 before moving on as a Planning and Zoning Administrator in North Dakota. She left North Dakota approximately two years later to become a Senior Planner for Pasco County Government. She then became a Multi Modal Planner for Sarasota/Manatee Metropolitan Planning Organization. Now, Simpson is the CEO and Founder of Hoover Floodplain Consulting.

Florida house District 75 - South Sarasota

HD 75 covers parts of Charlotte and Sarasota counties and was drawn to elect a Republican. Voter registration numbers show that the GOP held a two-to-one advantage over Democrats as of October.

Tony Dunbar - DEM

Tony Dunbar made Englewood his permanent home in 2018, after being a frequent visitor to our area since 1966. He retired from a thirty-year law practice in New Orleans and Texas, primarily managing financial litigation and commercial transactions for local and national banks. While in New Orleans, he volunteered to help protect abused and neglected children through his service on the board of CASA, a Guardian ad Litem program. Concerned about the ethical practice of law, he chaired a Bar Association panel charged with hearing legal and ethical complaints against attorneys. Tony has always had a keen interest in preserving Florida's natural beauty. Shortly after moving here, he completed the University of Florida's Certified Florida Master Naturalist program. He joined the board of the Charlotte Harbor Environmental Center and he volunteers weekly at both the Cedar Point Environmental Center and the Lemon Bay Environmental Park. Tony is committed to preserving our country's democracy and passing it on to the next generation. He is the award-winning author of numerous non-fiction books about the South and civil rights as well as more than a dozen mystery novels. Tony and life-time partner, Nancy Shoemaker, live in Englewood. Their family includes three children, Sam, John Henry and Annalisa, and grandchildren.

Danny Nix Jr - REP

Nix has lived in Southwest Florida for the past 12 years and currently works as a Realtor at Coldwell Banker Sunstar. A campaign news release said he plans to use his professional experience “to help solve Florida’s housing crisis.” His resumé lists numerous board positions — he is a past Chair and former Trustee of the Board for Florida Southwestern State College and the former President of the Economic Development Partnership of Charlotte County. He is also the current President of the Realtors of Punta Gorda, Port Charlotte, and DeSoto, Inc. The campaign announcement also included plaudits for Gov. Ron DeSantis. “Gov. DeSantis has inspired me to answer the call to serve. His leadership on protecting and defending our freedoms is unmatched and, as a freedom-loving Floridian, I plan on focusing on continuing that fight,” Nix said. Nix and his wife, Carla, have two children.

MANATEE COUNTY Florida House CANDIDATES

state representative district 70

HD 70 covers northwest Manatee County and South Hillsborough County . Voter registration numbers for this District from the October 2022 2Election.

Michael Owen - Rep

Former Hillsborough County Commissioner Michael Owen filed to run for this seat after Mike Beltran's surprise announcement that he would not run for re-election.

Luther Keith Wilkins - Dem

Proudly resided in Manatee County for over 20 years. With 12 years of service in the military and an honorable discharge, he acquired a strong sense of duty and leadership. As an executive member of the Manasota Black Chamber of Commerce, a shop steward for the United Steelworkers, and the president of the Manatee County NAACP, his commitment to public service and community involvement has remained steadfast throughout his career. Through volunteering with various local organizations, he has diligently worked to support schools and promote community development. His extensive experience has provided him with a profound understanding of the district's issues and the collaborative approach necessary to address them.

State representative district 71

HD 71 covers west Manatee County . Voter registration numbers for this District from the October 2022 Election.

Will Robinson - ReP

Robinson is a real estate agent who was awarded "Lawyer of the Year" by The Best Lawyers in America. He focuses on real estate and local government law. Robinson graduated from the University of Notre Dame with his BA in Finance in 1997. He then graduated from Stetson University College of Law with his JD in 2000. Robinson was elected in 2018 to represent District 71 in the Florida House of Representatives and was re-elected subsequently.

Adriaan DeVilliers - DEM

DeVilliers is a first generation immigrant American and a civil engineer. Initially a Republican voter, DeVilliers grew disillusioned with the party’s shift towards divisiveness and hostility. He is passionate about working with people from all walks of life to bridge our divides and create a future filled with opportunity and hope.

state representative district 72

HD 72 covers the eastern part of Manatee County. Voter registration numbers for this District from the October 2022 Election.

Bill Conerly - REP

A shareholder with engineering consulting firm Kimley-Horn, the professional engineer plans to run on an “America First” agenda. He served for 12 years on the Manatee County Planning Commission, including time as its chairman. Conerly is a fifth generation Floridian raised in South Florida. He served in the U.S. Navy for nearly six years and returned to civilian life to pursue further education in engineering. He said the top three issues state legislators should address are housing affordability, infrastructure needs, and additional insurance reform. He took a pro-life stance, and he supports Florida’s six-week abortion ban. He said communities built with a master plan in place, such as Lakewood Ranch and Wellen Park, are examples of smart growth by incorporating road and utility infrastructure along with new homes. He said his opinion on home rule varies and is supportive of some state efforts such as the Live Local initiative. He supports Donald Trump’s illegal immigration platform in his run for presidency, and that the state needs to defend against issues that arise from illegal immigration and immigration friendly policies often seen in other states. (Herald-Tribune - Jesse Mendoza, 5/21/24)​ “Florida is at a crossroads. We can continue to kick the can down the road, year after year, on issues like immigration, insurance and our quality of life or we can act. I am running to take quick action, just like President (Donald) Trump,” Conerly said. (Jacob Ogles- Florida Politics)

Lesa Miller - DEM

Miller has lived in Manatee County since 1987 and is a graduate of the University of South Florida and Stetson College of Law. She is currently the COO of Scout Comics – a start-up comic publishing company headquartered in Fort Myers. She has four daughters. Women's healthcare is healthcare. Lesa fully supports Florida's Constitutional Amendment 4 to enshrine this right for Florida's families. As the child of teachers and the mother of four children, education is a top priority for Miller.

State Attorney - 12th Circuit

Candidates

STATE ATTORNEY ED BRODSKY WAS RE-ELECTED WITHOUT OPPOSITION. 

Ed Brodsky

Brodsky has served as the State Attorney since January of 2013. This is his third term as State Attorney and is currently running for reelection. Brodsky served as a reserve police officer and with the Florida Army National Guard Military Police. He earned his degree in Criminology from the University of South Florida before enrolling in Nova University Law School where he earned his law degree. Brodsky briefly worked in the 17th Circuit in Broward County before moving to Manatee County.

Public Defender - 12th Circuit

Candidates

PUBLIC DEFENDER LARRY EGER WAS RE-ELECTED WITHOUT OPPOSITION. 

Larry Eger

Eger earned his BA and JD from the University of Florida. He has spent over 25 years working in the Public Defender's Office and currently serves as the head of the Manatee County division Public Defender's Office. He manages over 20 attorneys and 40 employees in total.