Live updates: Voter turnout at 55% so far in Bradenton Florida on Election Day 2022
Now that polls have closed, find the latest live updates and results here.
Manatee County voters were trooping to the polls Tuesday to cast their ballots in an election which has major national, state and local implications.
By 3:52 p.m., 154,345 ballots had been cast, a 55% turnout.
Included in that unofficial tally were 44,310 on election day, plus 73,689 vote-by-mail ballots and 36,346 early voting ballots.
Voting was busiest between 7 a.m. and 8 a.m.
“We always expect a line at 7 a.m., and there will be another at 5 p.m. and at 7 p.m. All those in line will have a chance to vote,” Mike Bennett, supervisor of elections, said.
There were no problems reported early, Bennett said. Sarasota County did report an issue, however.
Power issues in Sarasota County
There was a brief power outage at one polling location in Sarasota County, the Supervisor of Elections reported on Twitter.
The outage was due to damage from Hurricane Ian that had gone previously undetected. Voters in line at the time were given the option of waiting or vote on a ballot and drop it into the auxiliary ballot box container. Ballots in that container will be counted after polls close.
Power was restored quickly and most voters chose to wait.
— Jessica De Leon
Braden River precinct
Juan Muratti was first in line to vote at the Braden River Library Branch, 4915 53rd Ave. E.
“I didn’t know how long the lines would be so I got here early,” Muratti said as he waited at the library entrance at 6:39 a.m.
“I am hoping we can get back on track with everything. There is too much fighting between the groups. We can’t keep fighting among ourselves,” he said.
Don and Pat Smith, formerly of Massachusetts, were also voting at the Braden River Branch Library, and voting Republican.
“You have to research and do what’s in your heart. People need to wake up and look around,” Pat Thomas said.
The library parking lot quickly filled with cars when the polls opened at 7 a.m.
Jacob Burnett voted at the Samoset Baptist Church precinct, 3200 15th St. E.
“I did it,” Burnett said as he emerged from the church.
His biggest concerns?
“The economy and anti-wokeness,” Burnett said.
— James A. Jones Jr.
Samoset precinct
Activity in Samoset was busy between 7 and 7:30 and then fell off, a poll worker said.
Loujeanna Michel voted at the Wakeland Support Center, 1812 27th St. E., across the street from Pirate City.
“We’re making sure that we vote for what matters most to us,” Michel said.
At noon, Cary Smith arrived at the Bradenton Dream Center precinct, 1816 Ninth St. W., to deliver two bikes to clients as part of the Bayside Community Church bicycle ministry.
“I didn’t realize this was also a polling place,” said Smith, known on the street as the “bike guy.”
He didn’t need to vote Tuesday, having already taken advantage of early voting.
His concerns?
“Inflation and the economy,” Smith said.
— James A. Jones Jr.
List of candidates
At stake:
▪ A U.S. Senate seat. Republican incumbent Marco Rubio faces Democrat Val Demings. Also on the ballot are Libertarian Dennis Misigoy, Independent Steven B. Grant and Independent Tuan TQ Nguyen.
▪ The District 16 U.S. House of Representatives seat: Republican incumbent Rep. Vern Buchanan faces Democrat challenger Jan Schneider.
▪ The governors office: Incumbent Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis and incumbent lieutenant governor Jeannette Nuñez face Democrat gubernatorial challenger Charlie Crist and lieutenant governor challenger Karla Hernandez. Also on the ballot are Libertarian candidates Hector Roos and Jerry “Tub” Rorabaugh and Independent candidates Carmen Jackie Gimenez and Kyle “KC” Gibson.
▪ Attorney General: Republican incumbent Ashley Moody faces Democrat challenger Aramis Ayala.
▪ Chief Financial Officer: Republican incumbent Jimmy Patronis faces Democrat challenger Adam Hattersley.
▪ Commissioner of Agriculture: Republican Wilton Simpson faces Democrat Naomi Esther Blemur. There is no incumbent in this race.
▪ Florida State House, District 70: Republican incumbent Mike Beltran faces Democrat challenger Eleuterio “Junior” Salazar Jr.
▪ Florida State House, District 72:. Republican incumbent Tommy Gregory faces Democrat challenger Roberts Guy Dameus.
▪ Manatee County Commission District 2: Democrat incumbent Reggie Bellamy faces Republican challenger Amanda Ballard.
▪ Manatee County Commission District 4: Republican Michael C. Rahn faces write-in candidates Daniel Hansen and Timothy Norwood.
▪ Manatee County Commission District 6: Republican Jason Bearden faces write-in candidates Robert Lesher and Manuel Antonio Llamas.
▪ Manatee County School Board District District 2: Harold E. Byrd Jr. vs. Cindy Spray
▪ Bradenton City Council Ward 2: Incumbent Marianne Barnebey faces challenger David Levin Ward.
▪ Bradenton City Council Ward 4: Incumbent Bill Sanders faces challengers Kurt Landefeld and Lisa Gonzalez Moore.
▪ Palmetto City Commission Ward 2: Sunshine Matthews faces Kurt Mattingly.
▪ Holmes Beach City Commission: Incumbent Jayne Christenson withdrew. Dan Diggins and Greg Kerchner were elected and will be sworn in Nov. 9.
This story was originally published November 8, 2022 at 5:50 AM.
