Candidates running for state and local office are turning in their paperwork this week to get their names on 2026 ballots.
The qualifying period for most local and state candidates kicked off at noon Monday and runs through noon Friday. Candidates must either submit voter signatures or pay fees, which vary race to race, to appear on the ballot.
It’s actually the state of Florida’ second qualifying period of the election year. Qualifying for judicial races happened in April.
As it stands now, nearly every city, county and School Board race has at least two filed competitors, though that could change by the time qualifying ends.
County Commissioner Bill Proctor, School Board member Daryl Jones and state Rep Jason Shoaf, R-Port St. Joe, are the only state and local incumbents who have not yet drawn a challenger. Two incumbents, County Commissioner Nick Maddox and School Board member Alva Smith, both have opposition but only from write-in candidates.
Leon Circuit Judges Tiffany Baker-Carper and Steven Everett and Leon County Judge Nina Ashenafi-Richardson were automatically re-elected in April after they qualified without opposition. Circuit Judge Jason Jones is facing challenger Stephanie Cager in Group 7 while Circuit Judge J. Lee Marsh is facing opponent Rashad Green in Group 13.
Below are candidates for local and legislative office who have filed to run, with those who have qualified in bold. The list will be updated throughout the week.
Leon County Commission at-large Group 2
Leon County Commission District 1
Leon County Commission District 3
Leon County Commission District 5
Tallahassee City Commission Seat 3
Tallahassee mayor
Tallahassee City Commission Seat 5
Leon County School Board District 1
Leon County School Board District 3
Leon County School Board District 5
Florida House District 7
Florida House District 8
Florida House District 9
Contact Jeff Burlew at jburlew@tallahassee.com or 850-599-2180.
This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: 2026 election: Live updates on Leon, Tallahassee candidate qualifying
Reporting by Jeff Burlew, Tallahassee Democrat / Tallahassee Democrat
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Jeff Burlew, Tallahassee Democrat | USA TODAY Network
