Bradenton Election Results 2026: City Council, Manatee County Commission, School Board Races [LIVE UPDATES]

Updated: Tuesday, 8:35 p.m.

MANATEE COUNTY, FL — Polls have closed on Election Day across Manatee County, though anyone still in line at the time of their 7 p.m. closure will still be allowed to cast a ballot.

Voters in the Bradenton area had a say in governor, U.S. Senate and U.S. House of Representatives, and state legislative races, along with local contests, in the Nov. 3 midterm election.

They also made decisions on state constitutional amendments and county charter referendums on Tuesday.

In Bradenton, the local races of note included the Manatee County Board of County Commissioners, the School Board and Bradenton City Council.

Find the latest vote tally updates below:

(Note: Because the state has two time zones, preliminary election night results won’t be released until 8 p.m. EST. Be sure to check back here and refresh this page for the latest as results begin to flow in.)

Manatee County Races

Bradenton City Council

Check back here with Patch for local results as they’re reported throughout the night.

Most Florida polling places were open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. EST on Election Day, while some counties in the Panhandle are open until 8 p.m. EST because they're in the Central Time Zone. Expect results to start being released at 8 p.m.

Other Issues And Candidates

Bradenton Referendums

Remove Mayor’s Tie Vote Right and Ex Officio President Designation; Add Mayor Not Council Member

Shall the Bradenton City Charter be amended to remove the Mayor’s right to cast a vote in the event of a tie; and, to remove the designation of Mayor as “ex officio president of the Council” and add language to provide that the Mayor is not a member of the City Council

Choices:

• Yes
• No

Providing for Term Limits for the Mayor and City Council Members

Shall the Bradenton City Charter be amended to provide term limits for the Mayor and City Council. The terms shall be limited to three full, consecutive terms in the same office, beginning January 2028. A break in service of a minimum of two years after service of three full, consecutive terms in the same office is required before a mayor or council member can run again for the same office.

Choices:

• Yes
• No

Manatee County Referendum

Water Quality Protection, Overdevelopment Prevention, Natural Lands Preservation, and Public Preserves General Obligation Bond Referendum

To acquire, improve, maintain, and contribute to the acquisition of lands and other property interests to protect drinking water sources, water quality, wildlife habitat, natural and environmentally sensitive lands from overdevelopment and provide public preserves, shall Manatee County levy an additional 0.16 mill ad valorem tax and issue general obligation bonds not exceeding $75,000,000, maturing within 20 years, bearing interest not exceeding the legal rate, payable from ad valorem taxes, and provide annual public audits?

Choices:

• For bonds
• Against bonds

Other Races

Depending on where they live, Manatee County voters also have the following races on their ballots:

• Federal: U.S. Senate and U.S. House District 16.
• Statewide: Governor and lieutenant governor, attorney general, chief financial officer and commissioner of agriculture.
• State Legislature: Senate Districts 20 and 22 and House Districts 70, 71 and 72.
• Judicial retention: One Florida Supreme Court justice and four judges on the Second District Court of Appeal.
• Municipal: Holmes Beach mayor and commissioner, and Palmetto commissioner for Ward 2.
• Special districts: Manatee County Mosquito Control; East Manatee, Parrish and West Manatee fire districts; and community development or stewardship districts serving Copperstone, Cross Creek, Eagle Pointe, Harrison Ranch, Heritage Harbour North, Lakewood Ranch, Legends Bay, Silverleaf and Tara.

Other Local Referendums

• Holmes Beach: Whether to vacate an unused, inaccessible alleyway at 2902 Avenue East in favor of the property owner.
• Palmetto: Whether to amend the city charter to include a city boundary map.
• Parrish Fire District: Whether to add a $68 annual assessment for each developed residential, commercial and industrial parcel to fund staffing associated with reducing firefighters’ standard workweek from 56 to 42 hours. Vacant, acreage and golf course parcels would be excluded.

Florida Constitutional Amendments

• Amendment 1 — Budget Stabilization Fund: Would raise the fund’s maximum balance from 10% to 25% of general revenue collections, require annual transfers under specified conditions and allow withdrawals for critical state needs.
• Amendment 2 — Agricultural Property Tax Exemption: Would exempt qualifying tangible personal property used for agricultural production or agritourism on agricultural land, beginning with the 2027 tax year.
• Amendment 3 — Property Taxes: Would increase the homestead exemption for non-school taxes to $150,000 in 2027 and $250,000 in 2028, with inflation adjustments afterward; establish a delayed increase for certain new residents; allow further local increases; reduce the annual assessment-growth cap for non-homestead property from 10% to 5%; and restrict how local governments use property tax revenue, with exceptions.

Voters could select Yes or No on each of these local referendums and constitutional amendments

Follow along with Patch throughout the night on the biggest issues around town.