# Collier County Florida Primary Election Guide: Key Races to Watch
- Medio: Civic Coast News (https://civiccoastnews.com)
- URL: https://civiccoastnews.com/noticia/collier-county-florida-primary-election-guide-key-races-to-watch
- Sección: Politica
- Autor: Civic Coast News Staff
- Publicado: 2026-08-17T11:43:43.112Z
- Actualizado: 2026-08-17T14:47:17.423Z
> Collier County residents vote Tuesday, Aug 18. Key races include governor, Congress, school board, and local referendums.

## Las claves

- Primary election day is August 18 with polls open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
- Key statewide races involve Florida Governor and U.S. House Districts
- Local issues include Bonita Springs bond referendum and school board seats

Collier County, Florida residents are preparing for the upcoming primary election on Tuesday, August 18. Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., and voters can verify their specific polling locations through the Collier County Supervisor of Elections website at colliervotes.gov. Thousands have already cast ballots either by mail or during early in-person voting, which concluded on Saturday, August 15.

### Voting Procedures and Ballot Submission

The Florida Department of State advises that voters who have not yet mailed their Vote-by-Mail ballot should deliver it by hand instead. A returned voted ballot must be received by the Supervisor of Elections' office no later than 7 p.m. local time on Election Day, regardless of postmark status. The News-Press and Naples Daily News will provide live updates from the polls throughout the day.

### Statewide and Congressional Races

Voters across Florida are determining which candidates will face each other in November's general elections. In the Republican primary for Governor, Southwest Florida Congressman Byron Donalds is considered a front-runner among a long list of contenders. The winner will compete against the Democrat nominee.

In U.S. House District 19, more than a dozen candidates are vying to replace Byron Donalds, who has moved into the gubernatorial race. Eleven Republicans and three Democrats are on the ballot for this seat. Meanwhile, in newly drawn U.S. House District 22, which spans from inland Collier County through Hendry County to parts of Palm Beach and Broward counties, voters will select a newcomer to represent the vast district.

### Local Government and School Board Elections

In rural Florida House District 82, Republicans must choose between Liesa Priddy, a long-time local rancher, and Bill Poteet, a longtime Realtor. Both candidates identify as conservatives with pro-business platforms. In Collier County Commission District 4, incumbent Dan Kowal faces challenger Dan Zegarac, who cites over-development issues such as traffic and flooding as his top priorities.

For the Collier County School Board District 5 seat, incumbent Tim Moshier is running for reelection against Ford Dalusma. Moshier emphasizes student achievement and fiscal responsibility, while Dalusma focuses on expanding vocational education and affordable housing for teachers.

### Bonita Springs Bond Referendum

Voters in Bonita Springs will decide the fate of a proposed linear park with bike and walking trails along old rail tracks. The referendum asks whether to approve $35 million in bonds to pay for the city's portion of the BERT (Bonita Estero Rail Trail) project.
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Fuente original: https://civiccoastnews.com/noticia/collier-county-florida-primary-election-guide-key-races-to-watch