Local Politics · Lake County
Florida voters approved Amendment 3 on Nov. 3, 2026, with 62% support exceeding the 60% threshold for constitutional amendments. The measure increases the homestead property tax exemption for non-school taxes to $150,000 in 2027 and $250,000 in 2028, while reducing the annual assessment cap on non-homestead properties from 10% to 5%. Lake County voters supported the amendment at 64.99%, with all 92 precincts reporting. The amendment takes effect Jan. 1, 2027, though results remain unofficial pending state certification.
Local Politics · Lake County
Lake County voters appeared to approve School Board Resolution 2026-02 by approximately 69% to 31% in unofficial results on November 3, 2026, with 88 of 92 precincts reporting. The measure renews and increases the district's property tax levy from 0.75 mills to 1 mill for four years beginning July 1, 2027, directing the additional quarter-mill toward teacher recruitment and retention while existing funds continue supporting school safety and student mental health programs. Property owners would pay roughly $25 annually per $100,000 in taxable value. School Board member Tyler Brandeburg estimated the additional revenue could support annual teacher bonuses of $2,500 to $5,000, though those figures are not guaranteed and subject to negotiation. Results remained unofficial and uncertified as of Tuesday evening.
Local Politics · Lake County
Lake County voters cast 178,253 ballots among 283,785 registered voters on Nov. 3, a 62.81% turnout, with all 92 precincts reporting. Unofficial results cover County Commission races in Districts 2 and 4, School Board District 1, and municipal contests including mayoral and city council seats in Astatula, Clermont, Eustis, Fruitland Park, Groveland, Howey-in-the-Hills, Leesburg, Mascotte, Minneola, Montverde, and Mount Dora. The elections office reported 269 vote-by-mail ballots requiring signature cures, 441 remaining for tabulation, and 43 provisional ballots awaiting review. All results are unofficial; bolded candidates lead in reported totals but are not certified winners.
Local Politics · Leesburg, FL
Leesburg voters reelected Allyson E. Berry to her District 1 commission seat, defeating Dr. Erika Jasper 794-711. Berry became Leesburg's first Black female mayor on Jan. 5 when fellow commissioners selected her for the role. Commissioner Alan Reisman won a second term over Darel Craine with more than 60% of the vote for Seat 2. James E. DeCastro, a CDD supervisor for the Leesburg section of The Villages, won Seat 3 with 2,348 votes over Michele Fiore's 764 and submitted his CDD resignation effective Nov. 14.
Local Politics · Orange County
Democrats flipped six state House seats across Central Florida on Tuesday, Nov. 3, helping break the GOP supermajority in the chamber. Gains came in Orange, Seminole and Osceola counties, with Democrats unseating Republican incumbents in districts covering Apopka, Sanford, Altamonte Springs, Kissimmee and other communities. The Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee confirmed the statewide goal was reached Tuesday night. Republicans held two Lake County seats in HD 25 and HD 26.
