Candidate Guide 2026

The Oviedo Community News team has created a first-of-its kind (for OCN) preliminary guide that will help voters get information about candidates very early on in the election process. Our readers asked for this guide as candidates are courting them for their support. Some of the candidates have not yet qualified and therefore may not end up on the ballot, more candidates will likely join the race closer to the election and OCN plans to add more races to our coverage.

As we get closer to the election, OCN will give voters an opportunity to submit their questions and priorities to OCN that we will then pose to the candidates, turning this guide into a one-of-a-kind resource that centers the conversation around voters’ needs. This will act as a living guide that will expand with the election. Check back for updates.

OCN is a nonprofit and does not endorse candidates or provide opinions. Find our ethics policy here. 

This guide would not be possible without the vital work of OCN editorial interns Sarah Morelli, Azlyn Cato and Demetrius Montero; reporters Abe Aboraya, Eric Orvieto; Senior Editor Alex Babcock; Managing Editor Isaac Babcock and Editor-in-chief Megan Stokes. Countless hours were spent reporting, fact checking, reaching out to candidates, laying out the guide and deliberating on how to produce the most useful, fair and equitable resource possible.

This guide would also not be possible without contributions from OCN’s individual donors and our corporate and major donors. Thank you for helping us to provide this critical community service. Contribute here to keep work like this possible.

Thank you to those candidates who participated in the guide. It’s noted which candidates did not return phone calls and emails. Also of note, OCN used BillTrack50 to help you see how your representatives have voted on issues in the past. This resource was not available for those who have never previously been elected to office nor for those in local office.

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Voting information

Candidate Qualifying Dates:

• Federal, State, Public Defender, Judicial Offices: April 20 -24
• Governor, Cabinet, County and Special Districts: June 8-12
• Federal, State, Public Defender, Judicial Offices: April 20
• Governor, Cabinet, County and Special Districts: June 8, 2025

Election Day

• Primary Election: Aug. 18
• General Election: Nov. 3
• Find your polling location here. 
• Find information for military or overseas voters here.
• Interested in becoming an election worker? Click here.

Register to vote

• Deadline to register for Primary Election: July 20
• Deadline to register for General Election: October 5, 2026 
• Register to vote here.
• Check your voter registration status and record here.
• Fill out the Voter Registration Application here to update your signature, change your name, or if the online form provided by the state is not working.  

Mail-in voting

• Deadline to request a mail ballot to be mailed for the Primary Election: Aug. 6
• Deadline to request a mail ballot to be mailed for the General Election: October 22, 2026 
• Ballots must be received by the Supervisor of Elections Office by Election Day.
• Drop off mail-in ballots in person at Seminole County Supervisor of Elections, 1500 E. Airport Blvd. in Sanford. Alternatively, drop off mail-in ballots at any early voting location (find below). 
• Have questions about your mail-in ballot? Find answers here. 
• Did you know that you can track your ballot? Do that here. 

Early voting

• Seminole County Primary Election Early Voting: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Aug. 8 – 15
• Seminole County General Election Early Voting days and times: October 19 – November 1, 7 am to 7 pm

Candidates

Click on the arrows to find the candidates’ profiles. Click on “More about” to find a candidate’s full profile.

Candidates are included who are so far uncontested (any race with a single candidate) races.

U.S. Congressional candidates

U.S. House of Representatives Dist. 7

State candidates

Florida House of Representatives Dist. 36

Florida House of Representatives Dist. 37

Florida House of Representatives Dist. 38

Florida House of Representatives Dist. 39

County candidates

Seminole County Commissioner Dist. 2

Seminole County Commissioner Dist. 4

Seminole County School Board Dist. 1

Seminole County School Board Dist. 2

Seminole County School Board Dist. 5

Seminole Soil and Water Conservation District

Local candidates

Oviedo City Council Group 2

Oviedo City Council Group 3

Oviedo City Council Group 4

Winter Springs City Commission Dist. 2

Winter Springs City Commission Dist. 4

Winter Springs Mayor

Questions?

If you have questions about this guide, find that something is missing or have additional election-related information that you would like to provide the OCN team, contact us.

Past Voter Guides