MARION COUNTY, FL (352today.com) – We’re getting ever closer to the midterm general election on Tuesday, November 3, 2026; most counties in North Central Florida are entering their early voting windows, and today, Oct. 22, is the final day to request a mail-in ballot (the window closes at 5 p.m.).

And what about that ballot? In addition to the big state races, it includes multiple down-ballot choices, from county commissioners to school board members. It also includes three proposed amendments to the state constitution, and, in Marion County, the potential approval of continuing an ad valorem tax to benefit the school district and a referendum on bond issuance benefitting green space.

That’s a lot of stuff, and it’s our responsibility to be as informed as possible when we make those choices.

In that spirit, here’s everything that’s on the ballot for residents of Marion County, the most populous county in our coverage area. (Most of these races appear on ballots for every county, but make sure you request a sample ballot from yours to know exactly what your community is voting on.)

United States Senator

  • Ashley Moody (R)
  • Angie Nixon (D)
  • Neil J. Gillespie (NPA)

Representative in Congress District 6

  • Randy Fine (R)
  • Eric Yonce (D)
  • Andrew Parrott (LPF)
  • Michael Gist WITHDRAWN
  • Write-in Candidate

Governor and Lieutenant Governor

  • Byron Donalds/Bryan Avila (R)
  • David Jolly/Gwen Graham (D)
  • Scott Eckhard Jewett/Nicole Skelly (LPF)
  • Charles Burkett/Ruben A. Coto (NPA)
  • Frank J. Russo/Rachel Rodriguez (NPA)
  • Moliere “Moe” Dimanche/Benjiman Rojas (NPA)
  • Dean Ocean Abrams/Joe Van Vactor (NPA)
  • Jeffrey Peter “Dr. Jeff” Datto/Juan Santana (NPA)
  • Write-in Candidate

Attorney General

  • James Uthmeier (R)
  • Jose Javier Rodriguez (D)

Chief Financial Officer

  • Blaise Ingoglia
  • Annette Taddeo

Commissioner of Agriculture

  • Wilton Simpson (R)
  • Joey Mendoza Atkins (D)
  • Write-in candidate

Board of County Commissioners District 4

  • Jeff Bairstow (R)
  • Write-in candidate

Justice of the Supreme Court

  • Shall Justice Carlos G. Muniz of the Supreme Court be retained in office? (Y/N)

District Court of Appeal

  • Shall Judge John M. Harris of the Fifth District Court of Appeal be retained in office? (Y/N)
  • Shall Judge Scott D. Maker of the Fifth District Court of Appeal be retained in office? (Y/N)
  • Shall Judge F. Rand Wallis of the Fifth District Court of Appeal be retained in office? (Y/N)

School Board District 4

  • Mike Mills
  • Brigitte Smith

School Board District 5

  • Donald “Donny” Barber
  • Sarah James

Soil & Water Conservation District, District 5

  • Deborah A. Edwards
  • Vivi Serena

No. 1 Constitutional Amendment (Article III, Section 19)

  • Budget Stabilization Fund (Y/N)

No. 2 Constitutional Amendment (Article VII, Section 3/Article XII)

  • Exemption of Tangible Personal Property on Agricultural Land from Taxation (Y/N)

No. 3 Constitutional Amendment (Article VII, Sections 4,6 and 9/Article XII)

  • Increased Homestead Exemption; Lower Cap on Increases in Non-Homestead Property Assessment (Y/N)

Approval of continuing one mill ad valorem tax for School District operating expenses

  • (Y/N)

Marion County General Obligation Fund Bond Referendum for Parks, Trails, Clean Water Protection, Farms and Forests

  • (Y/N)