MANATEE COUNTY, FL. The primary dust has settled and two Manatee County School Board races are officially headed to a November 3rd runoff. In District 2, incumbent Cindy Spray led the pack with 34.17% of the vote, but fell short of the majority needed to win outright. She will face Dr. Sharon Jefferson, who secured 26.83% and brings 26 years of experience as an educator to the race. Three other candidates were eliminated in Tuesday’s primary.
District 5 is even tighter. Jonathan Mullis, a physical therapist and small business owner, advanced with a razor-thin 247-vote margin over Camden Bedinghaus, a journalist and Turning Point USA director. Chantal Wilford finished at 30.62%, just missing the cutoff. With margins that close, every vote in November is going to count. Meanwhile, District 4 incumbent Chad Choate ran unopposed and secured a second term without breaking a sweat.
School board decisions shape what happens inside our local classrooms, from budgets to curriculum to safety policies. With total primary turnout at 30.32% and 72,043 ballots cast, the runoff election will be a critical moment for parents, teachers, and taxpayers across Manatee County. Are you planning to vote in November? Which race are you watching closest? Let us know in the comments.
