This story is part of a statewide partnership of 27 nonpartisan newsrooms and universities working to help Florida voters make informed decisions in the 2026 school board elections. Learn more about the Florida Elections Reporting Partnership.

Candidate qualifying has ended for the 2026 election cycle in Baker County, setting the stage for contested Republican primaries for two county commission seats while finalizing a slate of local, state and federal races that voters will decide in August and November.

The most closely watched local contests will be in county commission Districts 2 and 4, where incumbent commissioners face challengers in races that could effectively determine the eventual officeholders in heavily Republican Baker County.

According to the Baker County Supervisor of Elections, the county has 17,681 registered voters, including 12,510 Republicans, 2,833 Democrats and 2,338 voters registered with minor parties or no party affiliation. Republicans account for about 71% of all registered voters, compared with about 16% for Democrats and 13% for other affiliations, reflecting the county’s strong Republican lean.

Records from the elections show incumbent Jimmy Anderson and challenger Ricky Horne qualified for the Republican primary in County Commission District 2, while incumbent Blake Iverson and former county administrator CJ Thompson qualified for the Republican nomination in County Commission District 4.

Campaign finance reports filed through the county’s candidate tracking system show Anderson leading local fundraising with $11,000 in monetary contributions from himself and his business and about $3,100 in expenditures. Thompson reported $8,700 in contributions from local donors in Glen St. Mary and Macclenny and approximately $5,572 in expenditures. Horne and Iverson had not reported contributions or expenditures in the county’s summary reports at the time qualifying closed.

County Commission District 2 race

Anderson, a Macclenny contractor and roofing business owner, is seeking another term representing District 2.

In campaign materials, Anderson highlighted infrastructure improvements, public safety investments, economic development projects and recreational enhancements completed during his tenure on the commission. He also pointed to his service as a certified county commissioner, former president of the Northeast Florida Regional Council and participant in multiple regional and state government organizations.

Anderson said his approach to public service is rooted in Christian faith, fiscal responsibility and conservative values.

Challenging him is Horne, a Macclenny resident whose filing lists an address on State Road 121. Election records show Horne filed financial reports but did not include a candidate biography through the county election system.

County Commission District 4 race

The District 4 contest features two candidates with extensive government and business experience.

Iverson, a lifelong Baker County resident and current commissioner, owns an electrical contracting business that employs nearly 40 people. A Baker County High School graduate, he is a state-registered electrical contractor, master electrician and certified thermographer.

In campaign materials, Iverson said his business background provides practical experience in budgeting, workforce management and economic development.

Thompson, of Glen St. Mary, previously served as Baker County’s county manager and later held senior leadership positions with the City of Jacksonville and political consulting firm Majority Strategies.

A graduate of Baker County High School with finance and MBA degrees from Florida State University, Thompson cited his experience overseeing county budgets, planning initiatives, operational management and regional policy issues as qualifications for the office.

Thompson previously served on the county’s Land Planning Agency, including a term as chairman, and represented Baker County on the Northeast Florida Regional Council.

School Board races

Three School Board seats were on the ballot, though each attracted only the incumbents during qualifying.

Jack Baker Jr. qualified for School Board District 2. Election records list Baker as a Macclenny resident who filed campaign finance reports in April and June.

Mandi Canaday qualified for School Board District 4. Canaday’s filing lists a Macclenny address on Harry Rewis Road.

Clayton Lyons, a certified public accountant from Macclenny, qualified for School Board District 3.

The races are expected to be uncontested.

Congressional races

In Florida’s U.S. Senate race, Republican incumbent Ashley Moody qualified for election to the seat she currently holds. Other Republicans qualifying for the race include Chris Gleason, Neelam Taneja Perry and Ernest “Ernie” Rivera.

Democrats Alex Vindman and Angie Nixon also qualified, along with no-party-affiliation candidate Neil J. Gillespie.

The race will be one of Florida’s marquee statewide contests in 2026.

In Florida’s 3rd Congressional District, which includes Baker County, Republican incumbent Kat Cammack qualified for another term.

The Democratic primary field includes Troy Albers, Seth Harp, George Hubac and Tom Wells. Independent candidate Mike Klein qualified for the race. Editor’s note: A prior version of this story reported in error that Joseph Van Vactor Jr. of Glen St. Mary qualified, too, but he did not qualify according to the state division of elections website. Albers was also not initially included as a qualifier. The Press regrets the error and omission.

The Democratic nominee in the August primary will advance to face Cammack and the independent candidates in the general election.

State legislative races

In State Senate District 6, incumbent Republican Jennifer Bradley qualified for re-election. She will face Democrat Jason Bellamy-Fults and Joseph Thornton, who qualified under the Aspiring People’s Party banner.

The district includes Baker County and portions of Northeast Florida.

In State House District 10, a Republican primary will determine who advances to the general election.

Republicans Chase Brannan and Marshall Rawson both qualified for the GOP nomination. Democrat Merrillee Malwitz-Jipson qualified on the Democratic side and is expected to advance directly to the November ballot.

The district includes Baker County along with portions of Columbia, Hamilton, Suwannee and Alachua counties.

Looking ahead

The close of qualifying officially sets the field for Baker County voters, who will decide a range of local, legislative and congressional contests in 2026.

The most competitive races appear to be the Republican primaries for County Commission Districts 2 and 4 and State House District 10, where candidates will spend the summer making their case to voters before the Aug. 18 primary election. 

Winners will advance to the Nov. 3 general election, when Baker County voters will cast ballots in local, state and federal races across the ticket.

North Florida electioneering

For Baker County candidates whose districts directly include Baker County, there is a very clear pattern: many are tied into two Republican campaign-compliance networks: 

• Electioneering consultant William S. Jones of Gainesville is prominent in state elections data listed as treasurer for eight North Florida state lawmakers or candidates to become them, including Chase Brannan, Jennifer Bradley and others.

• Noreen Fenner of Tallahassee of PAC (Political Action Committee) Financial Management as associated with incumbent Congresswoman Kat Cammack and State Senator Bradley.

Many of the PACs Fenner handles are focused on rural Florida, agriculture, law enforcement and conservative county-level organizing in North Florida regional politics.

Jones’ lists of PACS is more concentrated around Republican infrastructure, Jacksonville/First Coast politics, conservative branding and several closed or committees revoked by the state.

Read the full story at The Baker County Press.