The presidential election is still two months away on Nov. 5, but several Florida Keys political races will be decided in the primary that ends on Tuesday, Aug. 20. And plenty of Monroe County voters have already cast their primary ballots either through vote-by-mail or by voting in person at one of the three county election offices.
As of Aug. 14, 14% of eligible voters in Monroe County — 7,158 of 50,456 voters — had voted. Republicans make up 48% of the early voters; Democrats 42% and voters with no partisan affiliation make up the other 10%, according to the supervisor of elections website, which keeps a running tally of early votes, where they are cast and by which party.
Races to watch
The county commission District 5 race features three Republicans and no Democrats, so all Monroe County voters will determine the outcome of that race on Aug. 20, regardless of party affiliation. In District 5, incumbent Holly Merrill-Raschein faces challenges from Melissa Ptomey and Paul Wunderlich.
School board races are nonpartisan in Florida, so all Keys voters will elect either Yvette Mira-Talbott or Zach Bentley, who are running for the District 2 seat long held by Andy Griffiths, who did not seek reelection.
The Key West City Commission races are nonpartisan, so the District 1 race between Monica Haskell and Ben Hennington will be decided Aug. 20, but only by Key West voters who live in the district.
The Key West District 6 commission race features three candidates — Aaron Castillo, Thaddeus Cohen and Marci Rose. Voters living in that district will choose their preferred candidate on Aug. 20. If one of them receives more than 50% of the vote, they will be declared the winner. If no one garners a majority, then the top two vote-getters will face each other on Nov. 5.
Supervisor of elections race draws attention
In the supervisor of elections race, registered Republicans will decide next week which Republican candidate — Margaret Romero or Sherri Hodies — will face Democrat Ron Saunders in November.
The race to succeed longtime Supervisor of Elections Joyce Griffin, who is retiring, has prompted some controversy in Monroe County.
Republican Dennis Ward endorsed Romero, although he’s a member of the countywide Republican Executive Committee, which had endorsed Hodies despite opposition from several members about the decision to endorse in a primary that included another Republican candidate and about the voting and vetting process itself.
An ongoing Facebook feud is unfolding between Ward, whose page is called GoodMorning Islamorada, and REC chair Rhonda Rebman-Lopez.
Ward said he is concerned about the MAGA-aligned, election-denying faction of the REC, including Hodies, potentially overseeing Keys elections.
“Wacko Right Wing republicans led by Chief Wacko Rhonda Lopez, are trying to convince you that there are serious problems with our ELECTION SYSTEM in Monroe County,” Ward posted on Aug. 13. “I believe in JOYCE GRIFFIN and the excellent job she’s done keeping our system pristine. Don’t fall for their SCARE TACTICS. Vote MARGARET ROMERO for SUPERVISOR OF ELECTIONS for MONROE COUNTY!!!”
For complete election and candidate information, visit keyselections.org.
