ORLANDO, Fla. (FNN) — Orange County Democratic voters are choosing Tuesday between former Orange County Property Appraiser Rick Singh and longtime court administrator and attorney Roberta Walton Johnson in a competitive primary for Orange County Clerk of Courts, a contest that combines experience, political endorsements and questions about which candidate is best prepared to oversee one of the county’s most important constitutional offices.

The Aug. 18 primary will determine the Democratic nominee for the office responsible for maintaining court records, processing legal filings, collecting and distributing millions of dollars in court-related payments and providing public access to records across Orange County.

The race has taken on additional urgency after Maribel Gomez Cordero withdrew from the contest. Her name remains on ballots already printed, but the Orange County Supervisor of Elections has advised Democratic voters that votes cast for Cordero will not count toward determining the nominee.

That leaves Singh and Walton Johnson competing directly for the Democratic nomination.

WHY IT MATTERS TO ELECTION DAY VOTERS

Tuesday’s decision is about more than name recognition or political endorsements.

The Clerk of Courts manages records and services that residents encounter during some of the most consequential moments of their lives — including criminal and civil cases, traffic matters, family court proceedings, marriage licenses and other court-related transactions.

For Election Day voters who have not yet made a choice, the race presents two distinctly different arguments about experience.

Singh offers voters the experience of having previously won countywide office and managed another Orange County constitutional office.

Walton Johnson offers direct institutional experience inside the Clerk of Courts operation and argues that her legal and administrative background prepares her to lead the office immediately.

SINGH BRINGS COUNTYWIDE ELECTORAL EXPERIENCE

Singh served as Orange County Property Appraiser from 2013 until 2021 after winning countywide elections.

That history gives Singh one of his strongest arguments: Orange County voters already know his name, and he has previously demonstrated an ability to build a coalition large enough to win countywide.

Singh has emphasized executive experience and his record managing a constitutional office while campaigning to return to elected county government.

His previous electoral record, however, cuts both ways.

Singh lost the 2020 Democratic primary for property appraiser to Amy Mercado, giving Walton Johnson an opening to argue that voters should choose new leadership rather than return a former constitutional officer to countywide office.

WALTON JOHNSON CAMPAIGNS ON CLERK EXPERIENCE

Walton Johnson has centered her candidacy on experience directly connected to the office she is seeking.

She serves as general counsel for the Orange County Clerk of Circuit and County Courts, providing her with firsthand knowledge of the agency’s legal responsibilities and operations.

Her campaign can therefore make a simple argument to undecided voters: She already knows the office.

Walton Johnson has also attracted support from prominent political figures, including Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer, strengthening her position among Democratic voters who place significant weight on endorsements and institutional experience.

WALTON JOHNSON’S PAST BECOMES CAMPAIGN ISSUE

The campaign has also focused attention on a decades-old criminal case involving Walton Johnson.

Florida Politics reported that the case involved stolen tax-refund checks in Georgia approximately three decades ago. Walton Johnson has described the matter as a mistake from her youth and has pushed back against political attacks surrounding the case and questions about whether it affects her qualifications to serve.

The issue gives Election Day voters another question to consider: how much weight should be given to conduct from decades ago compared with a candidate’s subsequent professional and public-service record?

The increasingly personal attacks surrounding the issue have also generated criticism from Democrats who say the campaign has become unnecessarily divisive.

SINGH’S RECORD ALSO FACES SCRUTINY

Singh enters Election Day with his own political baggage.

His eight years as property appraiser provide him with executive experience, but they also give voters a public record to evaluate.

His 2020 defeat demonstrated that countywide name recognition does not guarantee victory and gives Walton Johnson an opportunity to contrast her current Clerk of Courts experience with Singh’s previous tenure in another constitutional office.

For undecided Democrats, the question may ultimately become whether they prefer previous countywide executive experience or current Clerk of Courts experience.

CORDERO WITHDRAWAL CREATES ELECTION DAY WILDCARD

Cordero’s withdrawal adds an unusual complication.

Because ballots had already been prepared, her name remains before voters. The Supervisor of Elections has warned that votes cast for Cordero will not count in determining the Democratic nominee.

That makes voter awareness particularly important Tuesday.

The remaining campaigns also have an incentive to reach voters who previously supported or considered supporting Cordero. In a close election, even a relatively small bloc of redirected voters could affect the outcome.

WHAT UNDECIDED VOTERS ARE DECIDING

For voters entering the polling booth without a firm preference, the contest can be distilled into several questions:

• Does Singh’s experience winning and managing a countywide constitutional office outweigh his 2020 defeat and controversies associated with his previous tenure?
• Does Walton Johnson’s direct experience inside the Clerk of Courts make her better prepared for the specific job?
• How much weight should voters give political endorsements?
• How should voters evaluate controversies and attacks involving each candidate?
• Which candidate is more likely to effectively manage the Clerk’s office while maintaining public confidence in its operations?

Those questions could be especially important among voters making their decision in the final hours.

NO CLEAR PUBLIC POLLING LEADER

Unlike higher-profile statewide contests, the Clerk of Courts race has not been accompanied by extensive independent public polling.

That makes claims that either candidate is decisively ahead difficult to independently substantiate.

Singh’s countywide electoral history and name recognition could give him an advantage among voters who recognize his name on the ballot.

Walton Johnson’s direct Clerk experience and political endorsements could counter that advantage, particularly among Democratic voters familiar with county government.

The absence of reliable public polling makes turnout — and each campaign’s ability to get supporters to the polls — especially important.

WHY TURNOUT COULD DECIDE IT

County constitutional-office primaries generally receive less public attention than races for governor, Congress or the Legislature.

That means relatively small differences in turnout can have an outsized impact.

Singh and Walton Johnson do not necessarily need to persuade every Democratic voter in Orange County. They need to turn out their respective coalitions while winning enough undecided voters to create a countywide plurality.

With Cordero no longer an active candidate, the effectiveness of each campaign’s Election Day organization could prove decisive.

THE BOTTOM LINE FOR VOTERS

Tuesday’s Democratic primary offers Orange County voters two candidates with substantially different résumés.

Rick Singh is asking voters to return a former countywide constitutional officer to public office, emphasizing executive and electoral experience.

Roberta Walton Johnson is asking voters to promote someone already working within the Clerk of Courts operation, emphasizing legal knowledge, continuity and direct institutional experience.

The choice ultimately comes down to what Democratic voters value more: a former elected executive with countywide campaign experience or an attorney with direct experience inside the office she wants to lead.

Polls close at 7 p.m. Tuesday, and voters in line by 7 p.m. are permitted to cast a ballot.

The Democratic nominee will move on from Tuesday’s primary to the Nov. 3 general election.

FLORIDA NATIONAL NEWS ELECTION 2026
Florida National News will continue covering the 2026 Florida primary election and Orange County races as results become available.

ORLANDO, Fla. (FNN NEWS) — FL NOW PAC has announced endorsements in four Florida House races, backing Eric Gray in House District 35, Dr. Jane Aman in District 37, Felipe Sousa-Lazaballet in District 42 and Samuel Vilchez-Santiago in District 43.

The political action committee said the endorsements were based on candidates’ responses to a questionnaire examining issues including women’s rights, women’s equality, LGBTQIA+ rights, reproductive health care, racial justice and economic justice.

According to FL NOW PAC, the candidates demonstrated support for policy priorities associated with the National Organization for Women.

“FL NOW PAC believes these candidates are ready to tackle critical issues affecting our communities especially affordability in housing, cost of living, insurance, Medicaid and SNAP, providing critical support to millions of Floridians,” FL NOW PAC President Julie Kent said in the endorsement announcement.

The PAC also said the endorsed candidates would support what it described as efforts to protect constitutional rights, democratic institutions and ethical government.

Eric Gray — Florida House District 35

FL NOW PAC endorsed Eric Gray in Florida House District 35, highlighting his work as executive director of the Christian Service Center for Central Florida.

According to the organization, Gray’s campaign priorities include affordable housing, strengthening public education, reproductive rights and voting access.

The PAC said Gray has also expressed concerns about policies that could disproportionately affect voting access in marginalized communities.

Dr. Jane Aman — Florida House District 37

Dr. Jane Aman received the PAC’s endorsement in Florida House District 37.

FL NOW PAC described Aman as a University of Central Florida lecturer and longtime community organizer with a record of advocacy involving marginalized communities.

According to the endorsement announcement, Aman’s campaign priorities include affordability, education, reproductive health care access and protection of the rural boundary.

Felipe Sousa-Lazaballet — Florida House District 42

FL NOW PAC endorsed Felipe Sousa-Lazaballet in Florida House District 42.

The organization highlighted Sousa-Lazaballet’s background as an immigrant and LGBTQ+ Floridian and said his professional work has focused on expanding opportunity and advancing inclusive policies.

According to the PAC, his “Thriving Together Agenda” includes expanding access to affordable health care.

The organization also cited his support for reproductive rights, contraception access, maternal care and programs serving people with disabilities.

Samuel Vilchez-Santiago — Florida House District 43

FL NOW PAC endorsed Samuel Vilchez-Santiago in Florida House District 43, saying his campaign emphasizes affordability, public education, democracy, reproductive rights and women’s access to health care.

According to the PAC, Vilchez-Santiago has framed his campaign around “putting people over politics” and expanding opportunities for residents.

The endorsement announcement said his priorities were shaped by his personal experience growing up in the community and include lowering costs for Florida families and strengthening public schools.

FL NOW PAC Outlines Endorsement Criteria

FL NOW PAC said candidates seeking its support were evaluated through a questionnaire addressing several of the organization’s principal policy areas.

Those issues included freedom from violence against women, racial justice, reproductive health care, economic justice and constitutional equality.

The organization said its endorsed candidates best represented its political and policy priorities heading into the 2026 election.