Collier County 2024 Primary Recap

There were many bright spots in the Collier County Primary Election. First, the community came to bat for the candidates the CCCVPAC had endorsed, and all of our candidates won their election. The exception being 20th Judicial Circuit Judge Erik Leontiv, who carried Collier County, but lost overall with 48.1% of the vote, and Tracy Redd achieving 51.99% of the Five County Circuit contest.

The bad part – We had one of the lowest voter turnouts since the 2014 Primary election. Out of a total of 258,528 eligible voters, on 64,465 were cast, for a voter turnout of 24.9%. That year on the ballot was Kelly Lichter and Erika Donalds running for schoolboard, as well as Rick Scott and Charlie Crist running for the Republican and Democrat ticket for the General Election.

This year, 44,140 Republican voted (31.5% voter turnout), 13,167 Democrats voted (24.9% voter turnout), and 7,193 No Party Affiliates voted (10.7 voter turnout).

The campaigning was nasty and over the top. We were glad to see that those who didn’t resort to blatant obscene negative campaigning won their contests. Based on such low voter turnout on so many contested races, it obviously turned off many voters. Maybe the results from this year can help future races to deal with local issues and topics, versus national topics trying to work into the local races.

See the final Collier County voter Recap By Clicking Here

Recap of the Winners:

• Collier County School Board – District 2: Stephanie Lucarelli
• Collier County School Board – District 4: Eric Carter
• Florida House District 81: Yvette Benarroch
• US House District 26: Mario Diaz-Balart
• Collier County Property Appraiser: Vicky Downs
• Collier County Supervisor of Elections: Melissa Blazier
• Collier County Commission District 3: Burt Saunders
• Collier County Commission District 5: Bill McDaniel reelected
• Circuit Judge 20th Judicial Circuit Group 6: Erik Leontiev
• Circuit Judge 20th Judicial Circuit Group 28: Elizabeth V. Krier
• Collier County Republican Party State Committeeman Doug Rankin
• Collier County Republican Party State Committeewoman Kristina Heuser

How People Voted

In most precincts, Vote-By-Mail voters carried the day, followed next by Election Day voters, and last for turnout was Early voting.

What Happens Next Heading into the General Election

State and Federal Election Campaigns

Party affiliation doesn’t matter in the General Election, and you will be able to participate in every race on the ballot of your precinct.

There were no presidential candidates on the ballot, and we will see Republican Donald J Trump face off against Democrat Kamala Harris

• Republican Senator (Naples resident) Rick Scott will face off against Democrat Debbi Mucarsel-Powell
• District 18 Republican Scott Franklin (small portion of Eastern Collier County) will face off against Democrat Andrea Kale
• District 19 Republican Congressman Byron Donalds will face off against Democrat Karl Lerner
• District 26 Republican Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart will face off against Democrat Joey Atkins
• District 80 Republican State Representative Adam Botana will face off against Democrat Mitchel Schlayer and write-in candidate Patrick Post
• District 81 Republican State Representative primary winner Yvette Benarroch will face off against Charles Robert “Chuck” Work
• District 82 Republican State Representative Lauren Uhlich Melo will face off against Democrat challenger Arthur D Ostlund

Collier County Election Campaigns

• Republican Collier County Property Appraiser primary election winner Vickie Downs will face write in candidate Darren Aquino
• Republican Collier County Supervisor of Elections primary election winner Melissa Blazier will face write in candidate Joseph Bubala
• Republican Collier County Commission District 3 primary election winner Burt Saunders will face off with No Party affiliated Richard Conover
• Republican Collier County Commission District 1 Commissioner Rick LoCastro will face No Party affiliated write in candidate Michaela Kendall.
• Republican Candidate Russell Burland will face off against Democrat Lou Tinel for the nonpartisan race of Collier Mosquito Control District, Seat 5.
• Republican candidates Stanley A Bunner, Jr, Al Duffy, and Wayne J Martin will face off for the nonpartisan race of Greater Naples Fire District, (Naples Division) Seat 2
• Republican candidates Dominik P Biondo and Russell Tuff will face off for the nonpartisan race of Greater Naples Fire District (Golden Gate Division) Seat 5

Amendments on the General Election Ballot

We will delve into the specifics of the ballot initiatives in a later time.

• Amendment 1 – Partisan Election of Members of the District School Boards
• Amendment 2 – Right to Fish and Hunt
• Amendment 3 – Adult Personal Use of Marijuana
• Amendment 4 – Amendment to Limit Government Interference with Abortion
• Amendment 5 – Annual Adjustments to the Value of Certain Homestead Exemption
• Amendment 6 – Repeal of Public Campaign Financing Requirements