# Central Florida Voters Prepare for Key Election Day Races on Aug 18
*Early voting concludes as Orange County and Seminole County residents prepare to decide local school board, mayoral, and congressional races.*

- Medio: Civic Coast News (https://civiccoastnews.com)
- URL: https://civiccoastnews.com/noticia/central-florida-voters-prepare-for-key-election-day-races-on-aug-18
- Sección: Politica
- Autor: Civic Coast News Staff
- Publicado: 2026-08-18T07:12:34.043Z
- Actualizado: 2026-08-18T09:43:05.613Z
> Early voting ends in Central Florida as residents prepare for Election Day on August 18. Voters will decide key races including the Orange County school board chair, mayoral positions, and a contested GOP congressional primary.

## Las claves

- Election Day is Tuesday, Aug. 18, following early voting across Orange and Seminole counties
- Key contests include Orange County School Board Chair and multiple mayor races
- Rep. Cory Mills faces a Republican primary after Gov. DeSantis withdrew support

Early voting is wrapping up in Orange County, Seminole County, and across Central Florida, putting the focus on Election Day on Tuesday, Aug. 18. Voters will decide several major local and congressional races that are expected to shape governance in the region for the coming year. As polls prepare to open at 7 a.m., candidates and community leaders emphasize the importance of turnout in determining outcomes for school boards, mayoral positions, and federal representation.

### Orange County School Board Chair Contest

In Orange County, one significant race is the contest for school board chair. Alicia Farrant and Angie Gallo are running to replace Teresa Jacobs, who currently holds the seat. The competition between these two candidates highlights diverging priorities regarding education policy and community standards. News 6 anchor Matt Austin sat down with both candidates ahead of the election to discuss their platforms as voters prepare to make their choice.

The race for Orange County’s next mayor may not be settled on Election Day night. Four candidates are running for the position: Chris Messina, Tiffany Moore Russell, Stephanie Murphy, and Mayra Uribe. The electoral rules in this jurisdiction require a candidate to receive more than 50% of the vote to win outright. If no single candidate clears that threshold, the top two vote-getters will advance to a runoff election scheduled for November.

### Florida’s 7th Congressional District Primary

North of Orange County, attention is focused on Florida’s 7th Congressional District. Republican U.S. Rep. Cory Mills is seeking another term but faces a competitive Republican primary on Tuesday. The race gained added national and state-level attention after Gov. Ron DeSantis publicly stated Friday that he does not support Mills’ candidacy.

Mills must win the Republican primary to move forward into November’s general election. This dynamic introduces uncertainty for voters in the district, as party leadership dynamics often influence voter behavior during primaries. The outcome will determine who represents Central Florida on the federal stage and could impact legislative priorities related to education funding and regional infrastructure.

### Election Day Logistics

For residents who did not cast their ballots during early voting, polls will be open Tuesday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Election officials in Orange County and Seminole County have prepared for high turnout as the community prepares to decide these key races.
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Fuente original: https://civiccoastnews.com/noticia/central-florida-voters-prepare-for-key-election-day-races-on-aug-18