Can ‘Bubbie’ break the county commission’s 60-year Democratic drought?

Unexpected allies back Julie London’s low-budget run.

By Ramon Lopez

Original Air Date: October 22, 2026

Host: In his run for the Sarasota County Commission, Republican Jim DeNiro feels confident he’ll win. But Julie London, his Democratic opponent, is getting help from unexpected political players. WSLR News reporter Ramon Lopez caught up with Julie London’s campaign.

Ramon Lopez: Julie London is as unconventional as you can get. London, or Bubbie—that’s what she calls herself on her Dear Bubbie Substack—has a large following. Supporters and opponents have taken her comments, sharp analysis and breaking news about school politics—and, more recently, local government issues—seriously. And it’s been shared and published extensively. Between her substack and social media, she has thousands of followers.

Julie London and Joe Neunder | Photo: Ramon Lopez

In the upcoming November 3 general election, Democrat London faces Republican Jim DeNiro, a retired cop, in the race to replace District 4 Sarasota County Commissioner Joe Neunder. London and DeNiro have little in common except for the fact that neither have ever held public office.

There are 81,000 registered Democrats in the county versus 163,000 Republicans. As a result, political pundits give DeNiro a sharp edge in winning the November 3 election. It’s been a staggering 60 years since the Democratic Party has been represented on the five-member county commission, the county’s five-district governing body. That’s a long time not being part of the county’s inner circle of political power.

Lourdes Ramirez is head of the Sarasota County Council of Neighborhood Associations and Protect Siesta Key. She unsuccessfully ran for the county commission. Ramirez says London is trying to do the right thing but faces an uphill battle. Says the community activist, nobody knows who she is: “When you’re the grassroots candidate, you gotta get your name out there.” And it’s Ramirez’s opinion that London does not have a clear picture as to what needs to be done.

Conni Brunni is a local conservative political activist who founded the Sarasota County Republican Assembly chapter. It merged with Sarasota Patriots to form the Sarasota MAGA Patriots, which she currently heads. Brunni backed Neunder’s effort to hold onto his commission seat. For this race, she broke ranks with the GOP. She now backs Julie London, as does staunch Republican Elizabeth Neunder—Joe’s mother.

Meanwhile, the Sarasota Herald-Tribune says London is thoughtful and passionate, but endorsed DeNiro, who will “be constantly pushed to prove his performance as a commissioner matches his rhetoric as a candidate.”

In an exclusive interview with WSLR News, London said her campaign is “about us, not me.” And she labels herself as a “watchdog for the wallet.”

Of DeNiro, London says, “I absolutely do believe he’s running a Trojan horse campaign and that we’ll see his real pro-development side come out if he’s on the board.” She says DeNiro would be the worst for county residents.

Julie London

Julie London: I don’t think he will be as accessible as I will be. I don’t see him being as accessible. Side by side, who are you going to come to with a problem?

RL: With the general election just around the corner, London has quickened her pace, ramping up face-to-face meetings with residents through November 3. Her strategy has been to discuss any issues that constituents deem pertinent.

London won’t take developer-backed PAC money. So she’s working with a minuscule $10,000 war chest.

JL: We have $10,000-plus in our war chest. We would win with $100. The point of this campaign is we’re going to prove that you don’t need money to win. It’s about the people. It’s about the organization of people. It’s about meeting with the people. They’re smarter than the mailers they get. We’re doing this without money because we’re not politicians. Ab-so-lute-ly anybody can win without money.

RL:  So how does London plan to beat DeNiro?

JL: The way I’m going to beat him is through my own messaging and making them aware of their choices. I am not taking PAC money; I am not involved with developers.

RL: I’m a voter on November 3. Who should I vote for?

JL: Julie London. You’re getting a real, authentic person who is them. I am them. They are me. They’re getting one of them represented on the board. You can’t ask for more than that. Their voices haven’t been heard, and now they’re getting their voice because I am them.

RL: On the campaign trail, this is Ramon Lopez for WSLR News.

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