Newsweek reported that Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, known for his assertive education policies, encountered significant setbacks in the recent school board elections across the state.
Despite endorsing 23 candidates, the majority failed to secure their races, signaling potential challenges for DeSantis' educational agenda.
The governor's influence was tested in multiple counties with mixed results. While his support did lead to victories in some areas, such as Duval County, where Tony Ricardo and Melody Bolduc secured their seats, many other DeSantis-endorsed candidates fell short.
Pinellas County proved particularly challenging for DeSantis. In a decisive victory, incumbent Laura Hine defeated DeSantis-endorsed Danielle Marolf, securing nearly 70% of the vote. Eileen Long also triumphed over Erika Picard, another DeSantis-backed candidate, capturing 54% of the vote. Stacy Geier, supported by the governor, will face Katie Blaxberg in a November runoff for an open seat.
In Hillsborough County, incumbents Nadia Combs and Jessica Vaughn held their positions against DeSantis-backed challengers Layla Collins and Myosha Powell. These outcomes underscore the difficulty DeSantis' candidates faced, even in districts where his influence has previously been strong.
Sarasota County also saw a significant upset, with Liz Barker defeating incumbent Karen Rose, who had DeSantis' endorsement. This loss in a historically conservative area adds to the growing list of defeats for the governor's slate of candidates.
Pasco County added to the list of losses for DeSantis when incumbent Alison Crumbley was defeated by Jessica Wright. Indian River County saw two incumbents face off with mixed results—while David Dyer unseated Kevin McDonald, Peggy Jones retained her seat against Robert MacCallum, another DeSantis-backed candidate.
Flagler County's race saw DeSantis-backed Derek Barrs lose to Janie Ruddy, while in St. Lucie County, incumbent Jennifer Anne Richardson defeated Nate Spera, who had the governor's support. These losses in smaller counties suggest a broader pattern of resistance to DeSantis' school board endorsements.
In Brevard County, however, there were some positive outcomes for DeSantis. John Thomas, a candidate he supported, won his race outright. Meanwhile, the race between DeSantis-backed Matt Susin and Avanese Taylor is headed to a November runoff.
Several races are set to continue into November runoffs, providing another opportunity for DeSantis-backed candidates. In Lee County, Bill Ribble, supported by the governor, won a seat on the school board. Melisa Giovanelli, also endorsed by DeSantis, retained her position. Vanessa Chaviano, another DeSantis-endorsed candidate, will face Sheridan Chester in a runoff.
In Martin County, Marsha Powers, an incumbent with DeSantis' endorsement, won her race. Hernando County will see Mark Cioffi, another candidate backed by DeSantis, head into a runoff. Miami-Dade County and Volusia County also have runoffs on the horizon, with DeSantis-backed candidates Mary Blanco and Donna Brosemer, respectively, still in the running for school board seats.
Despite these setbacks, DeSantis' spokesman, Jeremy Redfern, maintained a positive outlook, noting that many of the races were in "historically blue districts." He emphasized that the governor's efforts to shift the educational culture would not be limited to "winnable races."
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis faced significant challenges in the recent school board elections. Despite endorsing 23 candidates, the majority were unsuccessful, indicating potential difficulties for his education agenda. Although there were some victories, particularly in Duval County, many DeSantis-backed candidates struggled, especially in key counties like Pinellas and Sarasota.
