The 2024 general election in Florida is coming to a close as official and unofficial results are being finalized. While most people skip over local results in favor of finding out who’s president, those who work in local government are often the ones with the most influence over our day-to-day lives. Here’s a brief rundown of some of the people in charge of your community.
According to the UF Election Lab, voter turnout in Florida was 66.7%, with 11 million ballots cast out of over 16 million eligible voters. In Osceola County, turnout was at 74.3%, with 174,304 ballots cast from 234,462 registered voters. Among active registered voters in Osceola, 86,191 are Democrats, 65,907 are Republicans, and 86,526 are affiliated with other parties.
In local elections, Osceola County voters reelected District 3 Commissioner Brandon Arrington with over 61% of the vote, and District 1 Commissioner Peggy Choudhry with 56%. “I am so excited to once again receive the support of our community,” Arrington said. “I look forward to continuing to work with my fellow commissioners to make Osceola first to what’s next.”
In Kissimmee, Jackie Espinosa won the mayoral race with over 60%, and Noel Ortiz secured a commission seat with nearly 54%. Carlos Alvarez was also reelected to the City Commission.
St. Cloud elected Chris Robertson as mayor with 53% of the vote, defeating Tony Busby. Jennifer Paul, with 51%, became the city’s first Black council member.
On the School Board, Paula Bronson, a kindergarten teacher, defeated incumbent Scott Ramsey for District 5 with 59.3% of the vote. In the Sheriff’s race, Marcos Lopez won reelection with over 57%, marking the first time a sheriff has been reelected in Osceola County since 2017.
Depending on the position, the newly elected officials will take office on different dates during the beginning of January. These races determine who will represent your voice and your interests, so make sure you know who is speaking for you.
