Central Florida voters cast ballots on Tuesday, August 18, to select party candidates for governor, Congress and the Florida Legislature. The elections also determined who would sit on county commissions and school boards across the region. In Orange County, residents weighed in on key races including mayor and chair of the School Board. Seminole County Republicans faced a closely watched congressional primary featuring U.S. Rep. Cory Mills against three challengers.
Local Races Define Voter Interest
Voters across Central Florida also cast votes for judicial positions, clerk of courts in Orange and mayors in Sanford. Turnout remained light throughout the region. By early afternoon, slightly more than 17% of registered voters in Orange County had submitted ballots. This figure aligns with primary turnout from two years ago according to data from the Florida Division of Elections. Participation was slightly lower in Lake, Osceola and Seminole counties.
At polling stations open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., reports indicated little to no waiting time for most voters. Tony Messires of Orlando arrived at the Renaissance Senior Center in east Orange at 10 a.m. He encountered no line but was turned away due to an incorrect precinct assignment.
Orange County Mayoral and School Board Contests
In Orange, four candidates vied for county mayor in a nonpartisan race: Chris Messina, Tiffany Moore Russell, Stephanie Murphy and Mayra Uribe. To avoid a November runoff, a candidate must secure more than 50% of the vote. The Orange County Board of Commissioners is expanding from seven to nine members. New districts have created crowded fields for many commissioner seats.
Voters also selected the next chair of the Orange County School Board between two current board members: Alicia Farrant and Angie Gallo. Although nonpartisan, the race drew distinct support bases. Farrant received backing from local Republicans and an out-of-state conservative group. Gallo won support from Democrats and the local teachers union.
Statewide Implications and Turnout Trends
In Maitland, part of new District 7 in north-central Orange, Susan Caswell voted at Maitland Church around 7:30 a.m. She noted she supported Moore Russell for mayor but declined to specify her choice among the dozen candidates running for District 7 commissioner.
Statewide, August primaries typically attract limited numbers despite significant advertising spending on television, radio and flyers. In 2024, just over 22% of Florida’s registered voters cast ballots according to state data. Orlando Democrats State Rep. Anna Eskamani, Congressman Maxwell Frost and State Sen. Carlos Guillermo Smith hosted an election day rally in east Orange to encourage participation.
Republican Primary Dynamics
In the GOP gubernatorial primary, James Fishback was one of four candidates who gained visibility but is expected to trail behind frontrunner Byron Donalds. Donalds is a congressman from Naples with the endorsement of President Donald Trump. In Seminole County, Republicans confronted one of the state’s most-watched congressional races involving Rep. Cory Mills.
