Jim Kennedy (Democrat, Cape Canaveral)
– Occupation: Engineer and scientist
– Veteran, “Second Amendment Democrat”
– Ideology/platform: Supports universal healthcare, more COVID-19 stimulus funding, abortion rights, term limits
– Thoughts on gun safety: “The right to possess firearms should not be removed, but it needs to be regulated. The first step is to have fewer people enter the criminal justice system in the first place by increasing funding for housing, education, and healthcare.”

Congressional District 9

Congressional District 9 area: All of Osceola County, parts of south Orange and east Polk counties.

FILE – U.S. Congressman Darren Soto (D-D9). Photo By Willie David/Florida National News

Darren Soto (Democrat, Orlando) (Incumbent)
– Occupation: Two-term U.S. congressman and attorney
– Serves on: House Committee on Energy and Commerce; House Committee on Natural Resources
– Successfully pushed through a bill to get Pulse recognized as a national memorial
– Ideology/platform: Medicare, Social Security, Medicaid, women’s rights, long-term job growth

Bill Olson (Republican, Davenport)
– Occupation: Retired U.S. Army First Class Sergeant, Walt Disney World guest relations
Ideology/platform:
– Christian conservative
– Veterans Affairs needs reform
– Eliminate job-killing regulations
– Pursue American energy independence
– Dismantle radical Islamist networks,
– Strengthening our nation’s borders by finishing the wall
– Improving border surveillance
– Eliminating illegal immigration ‘incentives’
– Repeal Obamacare’s disastrous regulations and expand quality, market-driven healthcare

Congressional District 10

Congressional District 10 area: Includes west Orange County.

FILE – Congresswoman Val Demings delivers remarks at the 2018 International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) Conference at the Orange County Convention Center. (File photo: Willie David / Florida National News / FNN News Network)

Val Demings (Democrat, Orlando) (Incumbent)
– Occupation: Two-term U.S. congresswoman, former Orlando Police chief
– Entered the national spotlight as an impeachment manager for proceedings against President Trump

Vennia Francois (Republican, Orlando)
– Occupation: Contract attorney for Lockheed Martin
– Former staffer for Senator Mel Martinez and Senator George LeMieux
– Endorsement(s): Senator Marco Rubio
– Ideology/platform: Opposed to defunding the police, but instead reform de-escalation training techniques; supports maintaining a private healthcare system; will oppose using public funds to promote or perform abortion or to fund organizations which perform or advocate in favor of abortions

State Attorney 9th Judicial Circuit (Orange and Osceola) (Open Seat)

Monique Worrell (Democrat, Winter Garden)
– Occupation: Chief legal officer at Reform Alliance, former director of the Conviction Integrity Unit at the state attorney’s office.
– Ideology/platform: Stop incarcerating people who are not a threat to the physical safety of others, reduce mass incarceration, end excessive sentencing, bail reform, rehabilitation and community safety, limit the direct filing of children into the adult criminal justice system, reducing police misconduct

Jose Torroella (No Party Affiliation, Orlando)
– Occupation: Lawyer
– Ideology/platform: “Law and order” conservative; vows to “retain and recruit top prosecutors who will relentlessly pursue justice for victims of crime”
– Endorsement(s): the Fraternal Order of Police, Florida State Lodge

Florida State Senator

Orange County has three Florida Senators, representing Districts 11, 13, and 15. State senators serve four-year terms, and are term-limited to eight years.

Florida Senate District 11

Randolph Bracy (Democrat, Orlando)(Incumbent)
– Occupation: One-term Florida state senator, business owner
– Vice Chair, Appropriations Subcommittee on Criminal and Civil Justice
– Ideology/platform: Fixing Florida’s broken unemployment system, reforming the criminal justice system, expanding Medicaid

Joshua Eli Adams (Republican, Orlando)
– Occupation: Attorney
– Ideology/platform: Anti-gun control, anti-abortion and anti-hairstyles being a “civil right”; “defend First Amendment speech rights against those in academia, media and politics who seek to silence conservatives”; anti-sanctuary cities in Florida;
short and long term institutionalization of those suffering “Habitual Homelessness, Drunkenness, Substance Abuse, Mental Illness, and other Violent Sycosis” [sic]; defend Florida’s coastline

Florida Senate District 13

Linda Stewart (Democrat, Orlando) (Incumbent)
– Occupation: State senator, former state representative
– Serves on Appropriations, Commerce and Tourism, and Infrastructure and Security committees

Josh Anderson (Republican, Orlando)
– Occupation: Pyrotechnician
– First-time candidate, mentored by Longwood mayor Matt Morgan
– Ideology/platform: Moderate Republican balancing fiscal conservatism with environmental concerns, criminal justice reforms and the need to revamp Florida’s unemployment system

Florida Senate District 15

Victor M. Torres Jr. (Democrat, Orlando) (Incumbent)
– Occupation: State senator
– Term-limit: 2024
– Serves on committees for Education, Transportation & Economic Development Appropriations Subcommittee
– Has strong organized labor ties
– Ideology/platform: Expanding Medicaid, overhauling Florida’s unemployment system, raising the minimum wage, workers’ rights

Mike James (NPA, Kissimmee)
– Occupation: Diesel truck and trailer repair (first-time candidate)
– “Fight socialism at every corner”

Louis T. Minnis Jr. (Republican, Gotha)
– Occupation: Retired sheriff’s deputy
– Ideology/platform: Minnis supports restrictions on abortions; believes minorities deserve equal protection under the law related to our criminal justice system

Florida State Representative (Florida House)

Legislators’ duties include serving on committees, filing up to six bills each per year, and managing constituent needs for state services. State representatives run every two years and are term-limited to eight consecutive years.

Florida House District 30

District 30 area: Includes parts of Orange and Seminole counties, including Maitland, Casselberry and Altamonte Springs.

Joy Goff-Marcil (Democrat, Maitland) (Incumbent)
– Occupation: Attorney, former vice mayor of Maitland
– Ideology/platform: Representative Goff-Marcil has fought against Republican-led legislative encroachments on environmental and other local protections
– Endorsement(s): Florida Education Association, Ruth’s List

Bob Cortes (Republican, Longwood)
– Occupation: Former state representative
– Seminole State College District Board of Trustees, former mayor of Longwood
– Campaigning to win back the seat he lost two years ago and held from 2014-2018
– Endorsement(s): Florida Right to Life, Central Florida Hotel and Lodging Association

Florida House District 31 (open seat)

District 31 area: Parts of Orange and Lake counties, with parts of Apopka and Mount Dora, Tavares, Eustis, Umatilla.

Crissy Stile (Democrat, Mount Dora)
– Occupation: Mount Dora City Council member, accountant, bookstore owner
– Ideology/platform: overhauling the unemployment system, raising the state’s minimum wage
– Endorsement(s): Think Green Vote Blue, Rainbow Democrats

Keith Truenow (Republican, Mount Dora)
– Occupation: Sod farmer
– First-time candidate
– Ideology/platform: “Support President Trump and Governor DeSantis’ Plan to get our state and country healthy and back to work! border protection and deporting “illegal aliens found in our jails and prisons”; will never raise taxes on families and small businesses; support the agriculture industry, fight to protect the unborn; defend and promote 2nd Amendment rights; school choice

Florida House District 44

District 44: Includes southwest Orange County, Windermere, Disney, parts of Winter Garden and Oakland.

Geraldine F. Thompson (Democrat, Orlando) (Incumbent)
– Occupation: three-term state representative and incumbent state senator.
– Current committee assignments include Transportation & Infrastructure Subcommittee, Civil Justice Subcommittee
– Filed the lawsuit challenging Gov. Ron DeSantis’ appointment of Florida Supreme Court justice who wasn’t qualified under the Florida Constitution
– In favor of overhauling the state’s broken unemployment system and expanding Medicaid

Bruno Portigliatti (Republican, Doctor Phillips)
– Occupation: President of Florida Christian University, CEO of Excellence Senior Living, political newcomer
– Against the separation of church and state
– Endorsement(s): by Florida Chamber of Commerce

Florida House District 47

District 47 area: Includes parts of Orange County, including east Orlando, Winter Park, Edgewood and Belle Isle.

Anna V. Eskamani (Democrat, Orlando) (Incumbent)
– Occupation: Two-term state representative
– Set a record for the most Floridians assisted by a state House office during the pandemic

Jeremy Sisson (Republican, Orlando)
– Occupation: CEO of Evan James and Associates, a commercial real estate brokerage firm
– Ideology/platform: Running to be the “voice of business” in the district, releasing a series of videos explaining his positions; filed for bankruptcy in 2019

Florida House District 48 (open seat)

District 48 area: Includes parts of Orange County including the Orlando International Airport, Azalea Park and the Sand Lake area.

Jesus Martinez (Republican, Lake Nona)
Occupation: Real-estate broker
– Previous pastor, Spanish-language TV host and basketball coach
– Ideology/platform: higher benefits for unemployment recipients, addressing affordable housing crisis, public schools

Daisy Morales (Democrat, Orlando)
– Occupation: Orange Soil & Water Conservation District Supervisor since 2014
– Won a five-candidate Democratic primary in August 2020
– Ideology/platform: affordable healthcare for all, repairing the broken unemployment system, facing the affordable housing crisis, championing the environment, protecting women’s rights, improving public school education
– Endorsement(s): U.S. Congressman Darren Soto, Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Nikki Fried, SEIU Florida, Florida Education Association, Florida for All Coalition

Florida House District 49

District 49 area: Includes parts of Orange County including the UCF area, Union Park and Alafaya.

Carlos Guillermo Smith (Democrat, Orlando) (Incumbent)
– Occupation: Two-term state representative
– First openly gay Latino to be elected to the House
– Very popular progressive voice in the Florida House, in a Democrat-leaning district
– Ideology/platform: Gun control, recreational marijuana legislation, anti-discrimination legislation and affordable housing

Robert Prater (Republican, Orlando)
– Occupation: Dean at Oak Hill Elementary School
– Unsuccessful school board candidate in 2018
– Ideology/platform: Fighting for Florida educators

Florida House District 50

District 50 area: Includes parts of east Orange and north Brevard counties including Bithlo, Christmas and Titusville.

Florida House Representative (R-50) Rene “Coach P” Plascencia. (Courtesy photo)

Rene “Coach P” Plasencia (Republican, Orlando) (Incumbent)
– Occupation: Teacher and coach at Colonial High School
– Three-term member of the House representing District 50
– Ideology/platform: Moderate Republican

Nina Yoakum (Democrat, Orlando)
– Occupation: Former permanent substitute teacher with Orange County Public Schools and mental health counselor
– First-time candidate,
– Ideology/platform: affordable, quality healthcare; expanding Medicaid to cover the more than 800 thousand uninsured Floridians; making access to mental health available for all; better elder care opioid crisis care; defending women’s reproductive rights
– Endorsement(s): Planned Parenthood, Rainbow Democrats

Sheriff

John Mina (Democrat, Orlando) (Incumbent)
– Occupation: First-term Orange County Sheriff

Tim Lucas Adams (Write-in)

Winston Johnson (Write-in)

School Board District 4

Pam Gould (Incumbent)
– First elected to OC School Board in 2012
– Ideology/platform: Building new schools to serve the growing West Orange County population; pathways to help address community issues such as mental health, substance abuse, access to healthy food, skills building and career readiness
– Endorsement(s): Orange County Teachers Association, Florida Educators Association

Prince Brown
– Veteran
– OCPS Volunteer, Juvenile Offender Counselor
– Ideology/platform: Reward veteran teachers with competitive pay and retention packages that will attract & keep the best educators

School Board District 5

Property Appraiser

Amy Mercado (Democrat, Orlando)
Occupation: Current state representative for District 48 (chose not to run for re-election, but to instead run for Orange County Property Appraiser)

Tim Loucks (Write-In)

– former Groveland Mayor

Florida Judges

There are six Florida Supreme Court justices, each serving staggered six-year terms, with a mandatory retirement age of 75. Justices don’t face opponents on the ballot, but are retained or dumped by voters. There is only one justice on your November ballot.

Shall Justice Carlos G. Muñiz of the Supreme Court be retained in office?
— VOTE NO
Muñiz, age 51, was appointed by Gov. Ron DeSantis on Jan. 22, 2019. Before that he was former Attorney General Pam Bondi’s chief of staff. On the 2020 Florida Bar Merit Retention Poll, only 63 percent of in-state Bar members with “considerable knowledge” of Muñiz feel he should be retained.

Fifth District Court of Appeal

None of these judges have done anything to merit opposition this year, so vote as you see fit.

Shall Judge Kerry I. Evander of the Fifth District Court of Appeal be retained in office?
– Appointed by Jeb Bush in 2006
– In-state Bar members with “considerable knowledge” voting to retain: 86 percent

Shall Judge Jamie Grosshans of the Fifth District Court of Appeal be retained in office?
– Despite her low score in the Florida Bar Merit Retention Poll, Governor DeSantis appointed Judge Grosshans to the Florida Supreme Court in September.

Shall Judge John M. Harris of the Fifth District Court of Appeal be retained in office?
– Appointed by Rick Scott July 27, 2018
– Bar members with “considerable knowledge” voting to retain: 81 percent

Shall Judge Richard B. Orfinger of the Fifth District Court of Appeal be retained in office?
– Appointed by Jeb Bush in 2000
– Bar members with “considerable knowledge” voting to retain: 87 percent (the highest of the 5th Circuit)

Shall Judge Meredith Sasso of the Fifth District Court of Appeal be retained in office?
– Appointed by Rick Scott on Jan. 7, 2019
– Bar members with “considerable knowledge” voting to retain: 66 percent (tied for lowest among the 5th Circuit)

Shall Judge F. Rand Wallis of the Fifth District Court of Appeal be retained in office?
– Appointed by Rick Scott on May 29, 2013
– Bar members with “considerable knowledge” voting to retain: 82 percent

Orange Soil and Water Conservation District Supervisor

There are four seats up for election: Seats 1, 2, 3 and 5. Everyone in Orange County can vote in all of the Soil and Water roles, since these are only seats, not specifically drawn districts.

The Soil and Water District Supervisors have some limited abilities to fine polluters, but their primary responsibilities include educating the public on environmental best practices, securing funding for land owners and farmers as well as for any community environmental initiatives, and submit letters of resolution to Tallahassee.

Soil and Water Conservation District Supervisor Seat 1

Bobby Agagnina (Nonpartisan, Orlando)
– Occupation: Teacher
– Active in the SEA teachers’ union
– Focuses on protecting local wetlands and rural areas from development, educating and engaging with the public on the importance of conservation
– Endorsement(s): Orange County Democratic Party

Nate Douglas (Nonpartisan, Celebration)
– Occupation: Substitute teacher, student
– Ideology/platform: Wants to bring a progressive voice to the board to speak out against climate change, pollution, injustice
– Endorsement(s): Orange County Democratic Party

Tim Veigle (Nonpartisan, Orlando)
– Occupation: Realtor, member of Casselberry Chamber of Commerce
– Ideology/platform: Wants to increase community engagement with the Board, increase partnerships with other agencies
– Endorsement(s): Casselberry Mayor Dave Henson

Soil and Water Conservation District Supervisor Seat 2 (Special Election)

Karolyn Campbell (Nonpartisan)
– Occupation: Sustainment engineer
– Serves on Orange County Disability Advisory Board and MetroPlan Orlando Community Advisory Committee; is an active member of the Central Florida Chapter of the National Federation of the Blind
– Advocate for environmental education, life cycle sustainment, soil and water conservation management and green initiatives
– Endorsement(s): Orange County Democratic Party
– Former OSWCD Board Chair and Seat 2 Supervisor Daisy Morales

Sean L. McQuade (Nonpartisan)
– Occupation: Project manager
– Involved with the start-up of a local textile recycling company
– Ideology/platform: Bring more awareness, education, partnerships and sustainability to the Orange County Soil and Water Conservation District Board

Soil and Water Conservation District Supervisor Seat 3

Raquel Lozano (Nonpartisan)
– Occupation: Student at UCF
– Worked for Orange County Board of County Commissioners and Commissioner Emily Bonilla
– Ideology/platform: Fighting over-development; drinking water quality; eco-friendly initiatives
– Endorsement(s): Orange County Democratic Party

Daniel Romeo (Nonpartisan)
– Occupation: Biology professor
– Ideology/platform: Emphasizes conservation issues, a science-centric approach and more transparency with the public
– Endorsement(s): Orange County Democratic Party

Vibert “Issa” White (Nonpartisan)
– Withdrew from the race, but will still appear on ballot.

Soil and Water Conservation District Supervisor Seat 5

Mark Meta (Nonpartisan, Oviedo)
– Occupation: Professor, Seminole State College
– Ideology/platform: Increase transparency and public engagement with the Board; accountability, budget; conservation; infrastructure improvements

Jimm Middleton (Nonpartisan)
– Occupation: Technology and telecommunications background
– Veteran
– Ideology/platform: Water quality; Board transparency; maintenance of existing systems; “No Flint here!”

Alaina Shaleen Slife (Nonpartisan)
– Occupation: Executive assistant
– Ideology/platform: Curbing pollution; promoting sustainability; stricter regulations on polluters; protecting parks and wetlands
– Endorsement(s): Orange County Democratic Party, State Representative Anna Eskamani

State of Florida Constitutional Amendments

State constitutional amendments require 60 percent of the vote or greater to pass, and if Governor Ron DeSantis doesn’t like one voters approve, he can fight it in court.

No. 1 Constitutional Amendment, Article VI, Section 2
Citizenship Requirement to Vote in Florida Elections
This amendment proposal is a xenophobic attempt to drum up Trump voters. State law already limits voting to U.S. citizens. This one is an easy no.
— VOTE NO

No. 2 Constitutional Amendment, Article X, Section 24
Raising Florida’s Minimum Wage
This amendment will raise Florida’s paltry $8.56 minimum wage up to $10 per hour at the end of September 2021, and then raise it on Sept. 30 each year thereafter by $1 per hour, until the minimum wage is $15 per hour in 2026. Then future minimum-wage increases are adjusted annually for inflation starting in 2027.
— VOTE YES

No. 3 Constitutional Amendment, Article VI, Section 5
All Voters Vote in Primary Elections for State Legislature, Governor, and Cabinet
The people supporting No. 3 want to overturn Florida’s closed-primary election system, which currently restricts primary elections to voters registered as Democrats or Republicans. On the surface it could sound promising, but what the Republican funders backing the proposal don’t mention is that it would seriously weaken minority voting strength in Florida. There are better ways to address Florida’s electoral mess than threatening Black electoral representation. This amendment would do more harm than good.
— VOTE NO

No. 4 Constitutional Amendment, Article XI, Sections 5 and 7
Voter Approval of Constitutional Amendments
Giant corporations funded this item to trick voters into making it harder to pass amendments. Laughably evil, this amendment would require voters to vote Yes in two separate elections before getting what they want. Just say no.
— VOTE NO

No. 5 Constitutional Amendment, Article VII, Section 4 and Article XII
Limitations on Homestead Property Tax Assessments; increased portability period to transfer accrued benefit
It increases, from two years to three years, the period of time during which accrued Save-Our-Homes benefits may be transferred from a prior homestead to a new homestead. We’re split on this one, so we’ll leave it to you: Would you rather see that money stay with homeowners, or would you rather see it being used by municipalities?
— You can vote YES or NO; it depends on how you feel about tax breaks.

No. 6 Constitutional Amendment, Article VII, Section 6 and Article XII
Ad Valorem Tax Discount for Spouses of Certain Deceased Veterans Who Had Permanent, Combat-Related Disabilities
It provides surviving military spouses a continuation in tax benefits, and we believe that those who’ve served should be paid back. We admit, though, that putting tax law in the Constitution is a slippery slope.
— VOTE YES

Orange County Charter Amendments

You can read the full text of the proposed county charter amendments on your sample ballot or at this Orange County link.

Proposed County Charter Amendment Question #1
Prohibiting Pollution of the Wekiva River, Econlockhatchee River and all other waters of Orange County
It gives natural resources legal standing, much like corporations.
— VOTE YES

Proposed County Charter Amendment Question #2
Protecting Split Oak Forest by Restricting Board of County Commissioners’ Amendment of Restrictions and Covenants
It would restrict the Board of Orange County Commissioners’ ability to amend, modify, or revoke restrictions and covenants involving the Split Oak Forest.
— VOTE YES

Proposed County Charter Amendment Question #3
Suspending time for Gathering Petition Signatures during Mandatory Reviews and Setting Deadline for 1% Notification
Expands signature periods for citizens to make changes to the county charter.
— VOTE YES