Local elections are just four months away, and so far, 28 Escambia County and Pensacola candidates have raised more than $300,000 in campaign contributions ahead of the Aug. 18 primary.
Candidates reported their first quarter numbers in April, and three candidates—Pensacola Mayor D.C. Reeves, Escambia County Commissioner Ashlee Hofberger and Commissioner Mike Kohler—account for 70% of the total amount raised out of all local candidates at more than $211,000.
Additionally, Hofberger and Kohler are among four candidates who have already filed enough verified petitions signed by registered voters to guarantee a spot on this year’s ballot, according to the Escambia County Supervisor of Elections office. The other two candidates are Boyce White, who is running for Pensacola City Council District 4, and Steven Lupert, who is running for the Santa Rosa Island Authority’s elected board seat.
Among all donors to those top three fundraising candidates, 133 donors, from individuals and businesses, gave the maximum amount of $1,000 each.
Among all donors to those three candidates, the top listed occupation was real estate, totaling $24,650 across 37 donations; construction at $16,000 across 22 donations; and “retired” at $15,299 across 33 donations.
Here’s a closer look at where the fundraising stands across the biggest local races:
Pensacola Mayor
Fundraising numbers give the incumbent, Reeves, a large advantage, with $72,975 raised and $69,219 cash-on-hand in his campaign account as of March 31.
Reeves also has the additional support of a local political committee set up to support his candidacy, called Citizens for Pensacola, which has $57,716 in its accounts. The committee had about $25,000 at the end of last year, and since Reeves announced his reelection bid, it has raised $32,000.
The next mayoral candidate with the most cash raised is Alicia Trawick, a local government consultant, who has raised $9,828 and has about $1,500 remaining in cash-on-hand. Trawick is also the highest in the mayor’s race with verified voter petitions to qualify for the ballot, with 1,537 petitions verified by the Escambia elections office and 152 being processed — just 481 shy of the 2,018 verified petitions to qualify for the ballot.
Mayoral candidates who don’t obtain enough verified petitions can still qualify for the ballot by paying a fee of $4,020 on top of the $1,340 filing fee. The deadline to turn in the petitions is May 11.
Jermaine Williams, a mental health worker and community activist, posted the next highest fundraising total at $7,956 raised with $5,452 cash-on-hand.
Former Pensacola City Council member Ann Hill has raised $4,126, with $239 cash-on-hand. Hill also has turned in 1,576 petitions, but they are still being processed by the elections office as of April 20.
Pensacola resident Jasmine Brown has raised $2,068 with $721 cash-on-hand.
Escambia County Commission
With both incumbent commissioners up for election this year having turned in enough petitions to qualify for the ballot, it remains to be seen if any other candidates will qualify to challenge their reelection.
Kohler, who is running in District 2, which covers southwest Escambia County, is facing at least one challenge in the Republican primary from Pensacola businessman Glenn Dorsey. Dorsey has raised $25,880 so far and has $14,346 cash-on-hand.
Mathious Robinson is seeking the Democratic nomination for the seat and has been actively campaigning, but so far only posted a $350 fundraising total. He is facing Erica King Pleas Sims Riley, who has raised $1,600 and no active campaign presence.
Commission candidates in District 2 must turn in 370 valid petitions. In District 4, the number is 452. Partisan candidates who don’t turn in enough petitions can still qualify by paying a $6,296 fee. Non-partisan candidates can qualify with a $4,197 fee.
Hofberger has raised the most cash of any local candidate with $74,729 raised and $49,835 cash-on-hand.
Local historian Joe Vinson recently filed to run against Hofberger as a non-partisan candidate, but his entrance is too recent to show any campaign finance reports.
Other races:
Escambia School Board District 1
Erin Toler – $3,050 raised
Kevin Adams (incumbent) – $200 raised
Escambia School Board District 2
Paul Fetsko – $400 raised
Escambia School Board District 3
Dr. Isaac Williams – $190 raised
David Williams (incumbent) – $100 raised
Pensacola City Council District 2
Charles Bare (incumbent) – $50 raised
Sherri Myers – $0 (filed after finance report deadline)
Pensacola City Council District 4
Brian Cole – $8,840 raised
Boyce White – $12,075 raised
Pensacola City Council District 6
Allison Patton (incumbent) – $2,500 raised
ECUA District 2
Lois Benson – R (incumbent) – $1,500 raised
Chase “Andy” Romagnano – D – $0 raised
ECUA District 4
Greg Litton – R – $$0 raised
Ralph Schofield Jr. – NPA – $500
County Court Judge Group 2
Charles Philip Young – $8,000 raised
Century Town Council Seat 3
Shelisa Abraham (incumbent) – $50 raised
Santa Rosa Island Authority
Steven Luppert – $1,100 raised
This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Escambia candidates raise more than $300,000 ahead of 2026 election
Reporting by Jim Little, Pensacola News Journal / Pensacola News Journal
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
