Sarasota Election Results: Battie, Alpert, Arroyo Win Seats

Updated 11:21 p.m.: With all precincts reporting, Trump leads the presidential race in Sarasota County with 147,127 votes. Biden has received 118,858 votes.

Updated 9:11 p.m.: Kyle Scott Battie, Liz Alpert and Erik “E” Arroyo have been elected to serve four-year terms on the Sarasota City Commission based on unofficial results from Tuesday’s general election, the city said in a news release.

The commissioners-elect will be sworn into office at the City Commission’s Nov. 6 statutory meeting at Sarasota City Hall.

SARASOTA COUNTY, FL — The polls closed at 7 p.m. on Election Day in Sarasota County. Now, voters await the outcome of both the presidential and local races.

Just two days before Election Day, Sarasota County hit 64 percent voter turnout. By the time early voting ended on Sunday, about 153,000 county residents had mailed in their ballots and another 88,000 voted early.

And the office expected an enthusiastic turnout Tuesday. By 9 a.m., more than 10,000 voters had cast their ballot in Sarasota County, said Rachel Denton, communications and voter outreach manager for the Sarasota Supervisor of Elections.

“Election Day is going well. Enthusiasm is high, and voters are casting their ballots at their polling locations today until 7 p.m.,” she said.

Ernestine Taylor, the clerk at the Tri-Par Recreation Center, located at 5101 Bel-Air Ave. in Sarasota, said, “It’s been a really great turnout. This morning was especially great. We’ve never had lines this long.”

She said about 20 voters were in line before the polls even opened at 7 a.m. This is unheard of in their community, she added. “Usually, it’s spread out throughout the day. I think they just wanted to make sure their vote counted.”

At the Robert Taylor Community Complex, located at 1845 34th Street in Sarasota, lines formed early said Helen James, president of the Suncoast Women of Action non-partisan organization.

“They were lined up way before 7 a.m.,” she said. “By 9 (a.m.) they slowed down. It’s perked up at different points throughout the day, but it’s been continual.”

The mood has been upbeat all day, James added. “Everyone here today has been so happy to vote. They’re so happy to be a part of it. They’re happy to make a difference.”

Karen Bastis, a volunteer with the Democratic Party, said there has been “a steady stream” of voters at Robert Taylor throughout Election Day.

“It’s slowed since this morning, but it’s been steady,” she said.”

Over the past 14 days, she and other volunteers from her party have volunteered every day at early voting sites. Turnout for early voting was significant, she said, which likely means less people are coming out on Election Day. She also said she’s seen a diverse group of voters coming out, as long as many first-time voters.

Like the rest of the country, Sarasota-area voters are eager to learn the winner of this year’s presidential race between Pres. Donald Trump and Democratic challenger, Vice Pres. Joe Biden. In addition to this widely followed match-up of national interest, voters had a say in putting numerous local candidates in office this year. These include those with a broader regional reach - congressional and state legislative races – and local contests, including county commissioners, city councilors and school board members.

Now that the polls have closed, keep checking in with Patch for real-time local election results. Subscribe to free News Alerts.

Here’s a list of the key races in Sarasota County.

Representative in Congress, District 16

Updated 11:24 p.m.: With all precincts reporting, Buchanan leads in Sarasota County with 73,736. Good has 66,723 votes.

Current Florida State Rep. Margaret Good, a Democrat, challenged incumbent Republican U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan for the District 16 congressional seat. Learn more about these candidates here.

Representative in Congress, District 16

Updated 11:25 p.m.: With all precincts reporting, Steube leads this race in Sarasota County with 76,751 votes. Ellison has 45,256 votes, while Murray has 1,274.

Democrat Allen Ellison, Republican Greg Steube and Theodore "Pink Tie" Murray, running with no party affiliation, are vying for the District 17 congressional seat.

State Senator, District 23

Updated 11:26 p.m.: With all precincts reporting, Gruters leads with 146,462 votes. Norman has 107,927 votes and Kaplan has 5,451 votes.

Republican Joe Gruters, Democrat Katherine Norman and Independent Robert Kaplan are running for the State Senate seat in District 23.

State Representative, District 71

Updated 11:28 p.m.: With all precincts reporting, Mele has a narrow lead with 8,287 votes. Robinson has 7,923 votes.

Republican Will Robinson and Democrat Andy Mele are vying for the State House seat in District 71.

State Representative, District 72

Updated 11:29 p.m.: With all precincts reporting, McFarland leads with 54,420 votes. Buckman has 45,125 votes.

Republican Fiona McFarland and Democrat Drake Buckman are vying for the State House seat in District 72.

State Representative, District 73

Updated 11:30 p.m.: With all precincts reporting, Gregory leads this race with 12,226 votes. Fairey has 6,179 votes.

Republican Tommy Gregory and Democrat David Reeves Fairey are vying for the State House seat in District 73.

State Representative, District 74

Updated 11:30 p.m.: With all precincts reported, Buchanan leads with 72,862 votes. Stortstrom has 44,475 votes.

Republican James Buchanan and Democrat Lisa Stortstrom are vying for the State House seat in District 74.

Sarasota Board of County Commissioners, District 1

Updated 11:34 p.m.: With all precincts reporting, Moran leads with 29,327 votes. Pienkos has 23,078 votes so far.

Republican Michael A. Moran and Democrat Mark E. Pienkos are running for the Sarasota Board of County Commissioners District 1 seat. Learn more about these candidates here.

Sarasota Board of County Commissioners, District 3

Updated 11:35 p.m.: With all precincts reporting, Detert leads with 37,074 votes. Hutchinson has 21,683 votes.

Republican Nancy Detert and Democrat Cory Hutchinson are running for the Sarasota Board of County Commissioners District 3 seat. Learn more about these candidates here.

Sarasota Board of County Commissioners, District 5

Updated 11:35 p.m.: With all precincts reporting, Cutsinger leads with 27,713 votes. White has 17,518 votes.

Republican Ron Custinger and Democrat Alice White are running for the Sarasota Board of County Commissioners District 5 seat. Learn more about these candidates here.

Sarasota City Commission, District 1

Updated 11:36 p.m.: With all precincts reporting, Battie leads with 3,438 votes. Shaw earned 2,936 votes.

Kyle Scott Battie and incumbent Willie Chares Shaw are running for the Sarasota City Commission’s District 1 seat. Learn more about these candidates here. Learn more about these candidates here.

Sarasota City Commission, District 2

Updated 11:37 p.m.: With all precincts reporting, Alpert leads with 5,991 votes. Turner has 5,647 votes.

Liz Alpert and Terry Turner are running for the Sarasota City Commission’s District 2 seat. Learn more about these candidates here. Learn more about these candidates here.

Sarasota City Commission, District 3

Updated 11:38 p.m.: With all precincts reporting, Arroyo leads with 3,616 votes. Clermont has 3,438 votes.

Erik “E” Arroyo and Daniel A. Clermont are running for the Sarasota City Commission’s District 3 seat. Learn more about these candidates here. Learn more about these candidates here.

Constitutional Amendments

Updated 11:39 p.m.: With all precincts reporting:

• 197,205 voted yes for Amendment 1, while 58,404 voted no.
• 149,549 voted yes for Amendment 2, while 106,808 voted no.
• 128,141 voted yes for Amendment 3, while 122,558 voted no.
• 107,250 voted yes for Amendment 4, while 139,993 voted no.
• 196,678 voted yes for Amendment 5, while 51,997 voted no.
• 234,359 voted yes for Amendment 6, while 19,391 voted no.

Voters also decided the fate of six amendments to Florida’s constitution. Here are the amendments voters considered:

Amendment 1: Provides that only U.S. citizens who are at least 18 years old, a permanent resident of Florida and registered to vote may vote in a Florida election.

Amendment 2: Raises Florida’s minimum wage to $15 per hour by 2026.

Amendment 3: Allows all registered voters to vote in primaries for state legislature, governor and cabinet regardless of political party affiliation.

Amendment 4: Requires proposed amendments or revisions to Florida’s constitution be approved in two elections.

Amendment 5: Increase the period of time accrued Save-Our-Homes benefits may be transferred from a prior homestead to a new homestead from two to three years.

Amendment 6: Allows a homestead property tax discount to be transferred to the surviving spouse of a deceased veteran.