Why are 8 Manatee candidates running for this 2028 seat? What official says
As of Wednesday afternoon, eight candidates filed to run for Manatee County Government’s District 1 seat in 2028.
The District 1 seat remains vacant after Commissioner Carol Ann Felts died in February. Felts’ term would have expired in 2028, but the remainder of her term may be filled during an upcoming election.
Manatee County Supervisor of Elections Scott Farrington previously told the Bradenton Herald that Gov. Ron DeSantis must declare a vacancy, then DeSantis can choose to appoint someone to fill the District 1 seat until the next election.
A general election is already planned for November 2026, and, after DeSantis declares the vacancy, the District 1 seat could be added to the 2026 election.
However, an influx of candidates recently began filing for the District 1 seat. So far, all are Republicans.
In a statement to the Bradenton Herald on Wednesday, Farrington said those candidates filed because that is the next time the seat will be up for an election.
“When the Governor declares the vacancy, these candidates will have the option to move their candidacy to the 2026 race,” Farrington said in a statement. “We are expecting to receive the Governor’s Executive Order this week or next.”
Some of the candidates — including Adam Johnson, the Parrish man who went viral for moving a lectern during the Jan. 6 riot — withdrew from 2026’s District 6 at-large election to file in the 2028 District 1 race.
Here’s a full list of all eight candidates running for the seat:
- Elizabeth Arnold
- Andrew D. Cottrell
- Anthony Drake
- John Dunn
- Michael L. Harrison
- Eugene Hendry
- Adam Johnson
- Mark Stanoch
