Sarasota County Republicans win out in 2024 general election

Sarasota County elections were red across the board on Tuesday night.

With the announcement of every victory from Donald Trump winning Florida to a Republican sweep of the Charter Review Board, a crowd of about 1,200 roared at the Hyatt Regency Sarasota, where the Republican Party of Sarasota County held its election night gathering. 

The closest race was for tax collector, in which Republican Mike Moran defeated incumbent Democrat Barbara Ford-Coates. Moran, a former Sarasota County commissioner, received 51.33% of the votes, whereas Ford-Coates, who has held the position since 1984, earned 48.67%. 

Republicans won out in every other election in the county, including the only contested race for the Sarasota County Commission in the general election. 

Incumbent District 5 Commissioner Republican Ron Cutsinger ran unopposed in the primary and also faced no opposition in the general election. Former Sarasota County Sheriff and Republican Tom Knight handily defeated incumbent Neil Rainford in the District 3 primary and faced little opposition in the general, handily defeating Independent Shari Thornton by a vote of 69.80% to 30.20%. Rainford was appointed by Gov. Ron Desantis to the unexpired term of the late Nancy Detert, who died in 2023.

In District 1, which includes much of the Sarasota city limit, Teresa Mast was unopposed in the general election after defeating Alexandra Coe in the Republican primary.

In the race for four open Charter Review Board seats, Republicans Jay Riley, Tom DeSane, Greg "Tex" Bukowski and Jose Jimenez secured their spots. 

DeSane, who won by a vote of 60.51% against Democrat William Brad Hardin was excited about his win and to be at the Republican Party of Sarasota County assembly with friends and family, who helped him along his campaign. 

"It's a great atmosphere. It's great to win, not just for myself but a lot of my friends and family were a part of this. Nobody wins a campaign on their own. It just feels great, a relief," DeSane said. 

He said he's looking forward to serving the people of Sarasota County by protecting the charter, which he compares to the United States Constitution. 

"If someone has a great idea to change it, I'm all for it. But, otherwise, we don't change the Constitution every year," DeSane said. 

Voters in Sarasota County also overwhelmingly voted to continue the school district millage with an 84.04% vote in favor of continuing the 1-mill property tax. A similar, but separate, referendum was on the ballot in Manatee County and also passed with similar margins.

Republican James Buchanan won 64.72% of the votes to keep his seat as State Representative for District 74. Fiona McFarland won the seat of State Representative for District 73 by a vote of 56.35% to 43.65% against Democrat Derek Reich. 

Incumbent Representative in Congress for Florida's District 17 Greg Steube also won to secure his seat for another term after earning 61.21% of votes in Sarasota County.

Correction: This story has been updated to correct the name of the Republican Party of Sarasota County.