2022 elections

Republican Brian Clowdus is running to represent Bay County in the Florida House. He's facing County Commissioner Griff Grifftts. The GOP primary on Aug. 23 will determine who represents the district because no other candidates are running.

Democratic State Sen. Loranne Ausley of Tallahassee is running for a second term in November 2022.

Republican political newcomer Brian Clowdus is running to represent Florida House District 6, which covers all of Bay County.

Early voting in Bay County runs from Aug. 10 - Aug. 20. All county voters have choices on their ballot in the midterm primary elections.

Tallahassee Mayor John Dailey has filed an elections complaint against his challenger, County Commissioner Kristin Dozier and is accusing her campaign of failing to disclose who paid for an attack mailer sent weeks ago. Dozier refutes the complaint, filed Wednesday, and says her campaign has complied with the legal requirements and that Dailey’s actions are “shameful.”

Tallahassee City Commissioner Jeremy Matlow and his challenger for Seat 3, Dr. David Bellamy, are locked in a duel over the nature of their campaigns and their plans for the city.

The issue of gun rights is on the minds of Republicans in Bay County as they get ready to choose their candidates in next month’s primary races.

The race to replace DeeDee Rasmussen on the Leon County School board features two district veterans and a self-described “right-wing conservative." Two of the three candidates say they support the conservative group Moms for Liberty, which has become a political force for parental rights during the pandemic. The overall effort by Republicans to exert influence at the local level is working, as candidates weigh their messages carefully.

Tallahassee City Commissioner Jeremy Matlow is running for a second term in Seat 3. He faces a single challenger: orthopedic surgeon David Bellamy. During a Wednesday candidate forum, the two covered a lot of ground—and rarely agreed.

Gov. Ron DeSantis is expanding his influence down to local politics, especially when it comes to school board races. Lynn Hatter reports that’s playing out in school board races in Leon County where some candidates are being careful when it comes to issues like how to address LGBTQ students, and how to discuss race and history in the classroom, following new laws that place restrictions on each.