2026 Leon, Tallahassee election: Guide to what races are on the ballot, who's running
For the first time in eight years, voters will pick a new governor, as Ron DeSantis wraps his second and final term, and a new mayor, as John Dailey, who announced Aug. 11 he won't seek re-election, does the same.
Dailey's announcement came hours after City Commissioner Jeremy Matlow filed to run for mayor, moves that left their seats up for grabs and appeared to have ushered in political season in Tallahassee after a summer lull.
Another race, for Leon County Judge Seat 1, also opened up last month after DeSantis appointed Jason Jones to the 2nd Judicial Circuit bench.
The fields won't be set until after qualifying periods in April for judicial candidates and June for state, county and city candidates.
The primary election will be held Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2026, with the general election falling on Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026.
Below is a look at some of the key races appearing on Leon County ballots in 2026. Political party affiliation is listed only for partisan races:
U.S. House of Representatives, 2nd District
Incumbent: Neal Dunn (R-Panama City)
Who's running: Yen Bailey (D-Tallahassee) filed Dec. 6, 2024. Dunn filed for reelection April 9, 2025. Nicholas Zateslo (D-Tallahassee) filed April 23, 2025.
Florida House, District 7
Incumbent: Jason Shoaf (R-Port St. Joe)
Who's running: Shoaf filed for reelection Jan. 8, 2025.
Florida House, District 8
Incumbent: Gallop Franklin (D-Tallahassee)
Who's running: Franklin filed for reelection Nov. 6, 2024. Paul Dellinger (Democrat) filed Aug. 5, 2025.
Florida House, District 9
Incumbent: Allison Tant (D-Tallahassee)
Who's running: Tant filed for reelection Nov. 19, 2024.
2nd Judicial Circuit Judge, Group 4
Incumbent: Tiffany Baker-Carper
Who's running: No one, including the incumbent, has filed yet.
2nd Judicial Circuit Judge, Group 6
Incumbent: Lance Neff
Who's running: No one, including the incumbent, has filed yet.
2nd Judicial Circuit Judge, Group 7
Incumbent: Jason Jones
Who's running: Jones was appointed to the seat in July. No one has filed yet.
2nd Judicial Circuit Judge, Group 9
Incumbent: Stephen Everett
Who's running: No one, including the incumbent, has filed yet.
2nd Judicial Circuit Judge, Group 13
Incumbent: J. Lee Marsh
Who's running: No one, including the incumbent, has filed yet.
2nd Judicial Circuit Judge, Group
Incumbent: Angela Dempsey
Who's running: No one, including the incumbent, has filed yet.
Leon County Commission, At-large, Group 2
Incumbent: Nick Maddox.
Who's running: No one, including the incumbent, has filed yet.
Leon County Commission, District 1
Incumbent: Bill Proctor
Who's running: No one, including the incumbent, has filed yet.
Leon County Commission District 3
Incumbent: Rick Minor
Who's running: Charles Bryan Lorch filed Aug. 8, 2025.
Leon County Commission District 5
Incumbent: David O'Keefe
Who's running: No one, including the incumbent, has filed yet.
Leon County School Board, District 1
Incumbent: Alva Swafford-Smith
Who's running: No one, including the incumbent, has filed yet.
Leon County School Board, District 3
Incumbent: Darryl Jones
Who's running: No one, including the incumbent, has filed yet.
Leon County School Board, District 5
Incumbent: Marcus Nicolas
Who's running: No one, including the incumbent, has filed yet.
Tallahassee City Commission Seat 3
Incumbent: Open seat.
Who's running: Norm Roche filed July 7, 2025. PJ Perez filed Aug. 11, 2025. Talethia Edwards filed Aug. 11, 2025.
Tallahassee City Commission Seat 4 (Mayor)
Incumbent: Open seat.
Who's running: Camron Cooper filed June 27, 2025. Jeremy Matlow filed Aug. 11, 2025.
Tallahassee City Commission Seat 5
Incumbent: Dianne Williams-Cox
Who's running: Williams-Cox filed for reelection July 1, 2025.
Leon County Judge Seat 1
Incumbent: Vacant/open seat
Who's running: No one has filed yet.
Leon County Judge Seat 2
Incumbent: Stefanie Newlin
Who's running: No one has filed yet.
Contact Jeff Burlew at jburlew@tallahassee.com or 850-599-2180.
This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: 2026 Leon, Tallahassee election: Races on the ballot, who's running
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