Some election winners but hot contests await

The 2024 election is more than just Biden vs. Trump.

It is down-ballot races to decide everything from Florida’s U.S. senator to the Palm Beach County sheriff to county court judges.

As of noon Friday, the matches are set. 

Both parties made it a point to field a candidate in most cases, even in races where the demographics favor their opponent. Still, seven local politicians and nine County Court judges escaped without a challenge and will take elected office without election. 

You’ll be hearing nonstop about the presidential race. But we know you’ll want to know, too, about candidates who perform vital functions at the local level.

Without further ado, the candidates facing off in the Aug. 20 primary or the Nov. 5 general election (and the unopposed winners) are … 

Winners without opposition 

• Palm Beach County Commissioner Maria Marino, a Republican in north county District 1, second and final four-year term.
• Property Appraiser Dorothy Jacks, a Democrat, elected to her third term.
• Tax Collector Anne Gannon, a Democrat, elected to her fifth term.
• Newcomer Virginia Savietto, elected to an open seat in the nonpartisan School Board District 2 race. She’s an aide to County Commissioner Gregg Weiss, a Democrat, and she replaces Alexandria Ayala, a one-term School Board member who also once served as a County Commission aide.
• Incumbent Democrat Wayne Richards, Port of Palm Beach Group 1, where he has served since 2001.
• State Rep. Kelly Skidmore, a Democrat, state House District 92 in south county, second two-year term.
• Mack Bernard, a Democrat, to replace state Sen. Bobby Powell, a Democrat, in state Senate District 24, which is central Palm Beach County. Powell resigned with two years remaining on his term to run for Bernard’s County Commission seat. Bernard previously served in the state House.
• Post publication addition: Incumbent Democrat Jevonte “Tae” Edmonds in state House District 88 in central Palm Beach County. Subscribed

🗳️ Contested races

Palm Beach County Commission

District 7: In the Democratic primary, former state Sen. Powell will face former West Palm Beach City Commissioner Richard Ryles for the seat vacated by term-limited Bernard. Winner faces Republican Leonard Serratore.

District 3: Michael Barnett, a Republican appointed to the seat by Gov. Ron DeSantis to replace Democrat Dave Kerner, will face Greenacres Mayor Joel Flores, a Democrat. 

District 5: Incumbent Maria Sachs, a Democrat, will be on the November ballot against Republican John Fischer.

Sheriff

Incumbent Ric Bradshaw has a primary opponent, Alex “Chief” Freeman. The winner faces the top vote-getter in the Republican primary, Bradshaw’s former Chief Deputy Mike Gauger or former PBSO Capt. Lauro Diaz. 

• While Gauger has raised more than $150,000, Bradshaw is nearing $700,000.

School Board

District 1, north county: Former Palm Beach Gardens Council member Matt Lane faces Page Lewis and Francesca Wernisch.

District 5, south county: Five candidates will vie in August: Gloria Branch, Mindy Koch, Mike Letsky, Suzanne Page and Charman Postel.

Clerk and Comptroller

• Incumbent Democrat Joe Abruzzo faces Republican Samuel Thompson.

Supervisor of Elections

• Incumbent Democrat Wendy Sartory Link faces Republican Jeff Buongiorno.

Port of Palm Beach

Group 2: Democrat Varisa Dass, the appointed incumbent, drew opposition from Kelly Fleury and Jeffery Jackson. Winner faces Republican Ted Sarandis.

Group 3: Incumbent Democrat Jean Enright has a challenge from Republican Roderick Clarke.

State House

District 87: Incumbent Republican Mike Caruso vs. Democrat Sienna Osta.

District 88: Incumbent Democrat Jevonte “Tae” Edmonds vs. Republican Ramon Arte Barber. 

Editor’s post-publication correction: Barber did not qualify, awarding the seat to Edmonds.

District 89: Democrats Destinie Baker Sutton and Debra Tendrich face off in the primary to run against Republican Daniel Zapata for the seat held by term-limited David Silvers.

District 90: Incumbent Democrat Joe Casello vs. Republican Bill Reicherter and no-party candidate Jesse Arthur David Bradshaw.

District 91: Incumbent Republican Peggy Gossett-Seidman vs. Democrat Jay Shooster.

District 93: Republican Anne Gerwig, a former Wellington mayor, faces Christian Rios for the right to run against incumbent Democrat Katherine Waldron.

District 94: One Democrat, former Palm Beach Gardens Council member Rachelle Litt, will face the winner of a five-way Republican primary to fill the seat of term-limited Republican Rick Roth. The five Republicans are: Christian Acosta, Anthony Aguirre, Jon Carter, Gabrielle Fox and Meg Weinberger.

County Court judge

• Nine county court judges return without an election.

They are: April Bristow, Ashley Zuckerman, Sara Alijewicz, Edward Garrison, Danielle Sherriff, Ori Silver, Stephanie Tew, Sherri Collins and Frank Castor.

One race remains. Lourdes Casanova, Douglas Leifert and Jean Marie Middleton are vying for the open Group 2 seat.

More election coverage: Qualifying for federal offices and some state offices closed in April. See Stet’s coverage here.  

Find your precinct and the office holders who represent you here.