Former Manatee County commissioner, supervisor of elections runs for Congress

In August 2024, after James Satcher lost his bid to stay on as Manatee County’s Supervisor of Elections (Gov. Ron DeSantis appointed him to the role in April 2024), he dreaded walking into his house the night of the primary election. 

“I got in the driveway and thought the kids were going to be upset,” said the father of six. “I walked in, and my entire family and some friends were there. They were worshiping the Lord, singing and having the time of their lives. The kids ran up with big smiles on their faces, and I thought, this is what life is actually about.”

Even so, had Satcher been asked that night if he’d run for an elected office again, he would’ve emphatically answered, “No.” But close to two years later, that answer has changed. 

Satcher, an Ellenton resident, is running to represent Florida’s 16th Congressional District, a seat that Rep. Vern Buchanan has filled since January 2013. Buchanan was elected to Congress in 2006, but the districts were redrawn in 2012. 

Buchanan announced his retirement in January.

Prior to Satcher's appointment as the SOE, he served as the District 1 Manatee County commissioner after being elected in 2020. 

Photo by Lesley Dwyer

To say his reception as SOE was not well received is an understatement. SOE employees publicly criticized Satcher’s performance, and over 2,000 citizens signed a petition to have him removed from office. 

But despite the criticism, despite the loss, Satcher is proud that he ran a “good, secure election.”  

“That was my No. 1 priority,” he said. “If we didn’t succeed at having a good election, that would’ve been detrimental. But if we ran a good election, we could make the case later that we showed up and did a good job.” 

While Satcher is eligible to run for two open seats on the Manatee County Commission — his former District 1 seat or the at-large District 6 seat — he has no interest in going back to the commission because he never encountered any "win-win situations" during his term.

No matter what decision he made from the dais, one side left the chambers upset, and Sunshine laws don’t allow any "wiggle room" to negotiate what’s best for both sides behind the scenes. 

“You have to vote on the proposal that’s in front of you with the laws and structure that you’ve been given,” Satcher said. “That’s not what I’m passionate about doing. It’s not what I feel like could change our country for the better for the next generation.”

The District 16 seat was Satcher’s first choice of offices. He ran against Buchanan for the Republican nomination in 2016, but the newcomer only received 19.4% of the votes.

Now, he’s going in with “some level of name recognition” and possibly support from unlikely places. 

“This is the type of job that I feel like a lot of people, who might not have always supported me in the past, will look and say, ‘Now, that’s the kind of job that Satcher can do well, and that’s where he can really represent my thoughts and my views,’” he said. 

Satcher attributed that sentiment to the courage of his convictions to stand up to the “liberal mob” and his ability to work with people to accomplish meaningful goals. He noted that the most he ever accomplished in county government was off the dais, working with staff on roads and parks projects. 

Courtesy image

Satcher said there are plenty of lawyers and business people in Washington, D.C. Perhaps, D.C. needs some more preachers.  

Satcher, 47, holds a Bachelor of Arts from Berry College and a diploma in Pastoral Studies from Rhema Bible College. 

He’s entering the race the week the qualifying period ends on June 12, but noted that the district lines were redrawn late. 

Satcher was hoping his Ellenton address would end up in District 14, but he’s undaunted by the challenge of having less time and money than his Republican primary opponents: Sydney Gruters, Ed Pope and Eddie Speir. 

“Generally, if you’re on the right track, the provision follows the vision,” Satcher said. 

He pointed to his 2024 run for SOE when he entered the race on time with endorsements and a campaign account filled with contributions — none of it mattered; he still lost. 

He said voters will likely look at two things: The candidates’ bodies of work and if the candidates’ beliefs line up with their own. 

Satcher also had a campaign manager for his last two elections — Anthony Pedicini. Pedicini became synonymous with candidates labeled as “developer puppets.” 

While Pedicini was at the top of his game during the 2020 and 2022 elections when he represented every Manatee County commissioner to be elected to the board, his clients were pummeled in the 2024 elections. 

Both instances included Satcher. Satcher won his commission seat with Pedicini in 2020 and lost the SOE Republican primary with Pedicini in 2024. Current SOE Scott Farrington won both the primary and general election in 2024.

Satcher is campaigning solo as of now, and if the time comes to hire a campaign manager, he’s looking for “a fresh perspective” and someone from outside the political system in Manatee County.

He hasn’t spoken with any developers about his campaign either. Instead, he’s been praying on it. 

Satcher’s decision came a week ago during a prayer meeting. He was thinking to himself that he didn’t want to miss an opportunity, but he only wanted to run if he was supposed to run.

Soon after the thought, the pastor read a piece of scripture that offered Satcher some direction: “I admit that I haven’t yet acquired the absolute fullness that I am pursuing, but I run with passion, so that I may reach the purpose for which Christ Jesus laid hold of me to make me his son.” 

“I even thought to myself, if (the pastor) says 'run' while he’s up there, I’ll know. So here we are,” Satcher said. "I have complete faith that the Lord can take imperfect people and do amazing things."