Voters won’t have the benefit of seeing a “D” or an “R” next to the names of nearly 20 candidates on the ballot for local and judicial office in Leon County when they go to the polls in the Aug. 18 primary election.
Unlike partisan races at the top of primary ballots — namely U.S. House and Senate and Florida governor — the contests for city commission, school board and circuit judge all are non-partisan. The same goes for county commission, though those races won’t appear on ballots until the Nov. 3 general election.
Of the 19 candidates running for local and judicial office in the primary, all but four belong to one of the two major political parties. And the four who now have no party affiliation all belonged to at least one of the parties in the past.
Party affiliation can be a sensitive subject in Leon County, a Democratic stronghold that has seen gains by Republicans in recent years. But many voters still use it to inform their ballot choices — especially in today’s hyperpartisan political environment.
The following is a list of local and judicial candidates appearing on primary election ballots and their political party histories in Leon County. It does not include information from other jurisdictions and may not have original registration dates for those who moved before 2006.
Tallahassee mayor
Loranne Ausley: Registered April 14, 1997, as a Democrat.
Michael Foust: Registered Feb. 23, 2004, as a Republican; switched to Democrat on Sept. 7, 2006; changed to Independent Party on Feb. 24, 2022; switched back to GOP on March 20, 2024; went back to the Independent Party on July 11, 2025; switched back Republican on June 11, 2026.
Jeremy Matlow: Registered Sept. 20, 2002, as Green Party member; changed to Democrat on Aug. 6, 2004.
Daryl Parks: Registered Oct. 6, 1987, as a Democrat.
Tallahassee City Commission Seat 3
Darryl “Dar Wavemaker” Alfred: Registered July 2, 2012 as NPA; switched to Democrat on Sept. 19, 2018.
Tom Derzypolski: Registered April 4, 2002, as a Republican; changed to Democrat on July 15, 2010; switched back to Republican on Oct. 29, 2010; changed to NPA on Aug. 20, 2025.
Talethia Edwards: Registered April 18, 2002, as a Democrat; switched to the Faith & Patience Party on Jan. 17, 2007; went back to Democrat on Jan. 23, 2008.
Max Herrle: Registered Sept. 16, 2010 as NPA; switched to Democrat on Dec. 6, 2012.
PJ Perez: Registered Feb. 9, 2004 as a Democrat; changed to NPA on Oct. 10, 2008; switched back to Democrat on Aug. 11, 2025.
Norm Roche: A former Democrat who switched to Republican before being elected as Pinellas County Commissioner in 2014. Registered as NPA on Dec. 29, 2017.
Tallahassee City Commission Seat 5
Tifany Hill: Registered Oct. 17, 2014, with no party affiliation; switched to Democrat on March 18, 2016.
Dot Inman-Johnson: Registered June 5, 1975, as a Democrat.
Dianne Williams-Cox: Registered Sept. 5, 1990, as a Democrat.
Leon County School Board District 5
Marcus Nicolas: Registered Nov. 13, 2007, as a Democrat; switched to NPA on Feb. 2, 2012; went back to Democrat on Feb. 1, 2018.
James G. Reilly Jr.: Registered May 26, 1988 as a Democrat; changed to Republican on Nov. 7, 1996.
2nd Judicial Circuit judge, Group 7
Stephanie Cager: Registered Sept. 9, 2022, as a Democrat.
Jason Jones: Registered Sept. 8, 2004, as a Republican; switched to NPA on Jan. 5, 2021.
2nd Judicial Circuit judge, Group 13
Rashad Green: Registered July 14, 2008, as a Democrat.
J. Lee Marsh: Registered as a Republican on Jan. 10, 1992; switched to Democrat on Jan. 15, 2002; changed to NPA on Oct. 18, 2011.
Correction: An earlier version of this article listed an incorrect year for P.J. Perez’s switch to the Democratic Party. Contact Jeff Burlew at jburlew@tallahassee.com or 850-599-2180.
This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Who’s a Republican or Democrat? Partisan guide to primary candidates
Reporting by Jeff Burlew, Tallahassee Democrat / Tallahassee Democrat
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Jeff Burlew, Tallahassee Democrat | USA TODAY Network
