Voters loosen Republican grip on Sarasota County School Board

When three sitting Republican members of the Sarasota County School Board opted not to seek reelection in 2026, it guaranteed that Sarasota voters would usher in a new era on Aug. 18. Regardless of the outcome of a Nov. 3 runoff between Democrat Jimmy Glover and Republican Heidi Brandt, the nonparti

What is the story about?

When three sitting Republican members of the Sarasota County School Board opted not to seek reelection in 2026, it guaranteed that Sarasota voters would usher in a new era on Aug. 18.

Regardless of the outcome of a Nov. 3 runoff between Democrat Jimmy Glover and Republican Heidi Brandt, the nonpartisan board will have a Democratic majority.

Democrat Beth Mayberry earned 56.67% of the vote to beat Republican Michelle Pozzie in District 5.

In the District 4 race, former teacher Megan Tennimon, an NPA candidate, earned 55.14% of the vote to top Republican businessman Frank DiCicco.

Glover earned 43.58% of the vote and Brandt 31.74% in District 1, while Republican Teresa DeWitt received 24.67% of the vote.

Sarasota County School Board District 1 candidate Jimmy Glover thanks organizers outside a polling place at the Robert L. Taylor Community Complex in Sarasota on Election Day, Aug. 18, 2026.

Glover could have won outright on Tuesday if

he had received more than 50% of the vote.

Arthur “Artie” Phillips, a father of four, voiced support for Glover, Tennimon and Mayberry.

“I had Jimmy Glover come out to the voting place and meet my daughter,” Phillips said.

Sarasota County School Board candidates Beth Mayberry, center, and Megan Tennimon, right, celebrate with volunteers and supporters Tuesday night, Aug. 18, 2026 at Tamiami Tap in Sarasota.

Mayberry will become the first North Port-based member of the Sarasota County School Board since 1990.

According to the unofficial tally by the Supervisor of Elections office, 33.06% of Sarasota County’s 328,751 registered voters cast ballots in the primary, including 37,444 on Aug. 18 while 18,127 took advantage of the early voting period and 53,105 voted by mail.

A total of 57,786 Republicans voted, along with 36,831 Democrats and 14,059 other or no-party-affiliation voters.

Overall, there are 162,747 Republicans, 80,594 Democrats, and 85,410 other or no-party-affiliation voters registered in Sarasota County.

You can see the Herald-Tribune's live election coverage here.

Earle Kimel primarily covers local governments in Sarasota County as well as land development and environmental issues for the Herald-Tribune. Follow him on Facebook, and X. He can be reached by email at earle.kimel@heraldtribune.com.

Support local journalism by subscribing.

This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Voters loosen Republican grip on Sarasota County School Board