Voter turnout was high in St. Johns County for the Nov. 3 general election. Of 243,889 active eligible voters, 64.37% cast votes, significant for a midterm election.
Republican candidates prevailed in the county, with 57.4% of the ballots cast by registered members of the GOP. Incumbents were overwhelmingly re-elected.
Here’s a look at the results. Note that, due to rounding and third-party challenges, the total may not always add up to 100%.
St. Johns County School Board, Seat 4: Tammie McClafferty received 60.64% of the vote to Jillian Tozer’s 39.36%, winning the runoff election.
Republican incumbent Kim Kendall was re-elected District 18 state representative, receiving 65.16% of the vote to Democrat challenger Art Stresing’s 34.84%.
Republican incumbent John H. Rutherford was re-elected District 5 U.S. representative, receiving 56.43% of the vote to Democrat challenger Rachel Grage’s 43.57%. Rutherford’s support was stronger in St. Johns County, where he received 62.30% of the vote.
Republican gubernatorial candidate Byron Donalds prevailed over Democrat challenger David Jolly, 50.02% to 48.71%. Donalds’ support in St. Johns County was at 61.09%.
Republican incumbent Judson Sapp was re-elected District 20 state representative, receiving 70.62% of the vote to Democrat challenger Lee Butler’s 29.38%.
Republican incumbent Sam Greco was re-elected District 19 state representative, receiving 58.56% of the vote to Democrat challenger Susanna Pavelle’s 41.44%.
Republican incumbent Randy Fine was re-elected District 6 U.S. representative, receiving 58.95% of the vote to Democrat challenger Eric Yonce’s 39.93%.
Wilton Simpson, a Republican, was re-elected state commissioner of agriculture, receiving 51.08% of the vote to Democrat Joey Mendoza Atkins’ 48.92%.
Blaise Ingoglia, a Republican, was elected Florida’s chief financial officer with 50.94% of the vote statewide to Democrat Annette Taddeo’s 49.06%.
James Uthmeier, a Republican, was elected Florida attorney general with 50.94% of the vote statewide to Democrat Jose Javier Rodriguez’s 49.06%.
The St. Johns County Land Conservation Referendum passed, receiving 75.28% of the vote.
State Constitutional Amendment 3 passed, receiving 61.99% statewide. Support was stronger in St. Johns County, where the proposed amendment received 65.37%.
The amendment increases the homestead exemption for all non-school taxes to $150,000 in 2027 and $250,000 in 2028. It adjusts for inflation thereafter.
It also reduces the cap on assessment increases for non-homestead properties from 10% to 5%.
The amendment requires counties and municipalities to use property taxes solely for public safety, education and schools, infrastructure, natural resources, bond debt service, retirement benefits for employees and operations and administration.
Voters across the state rejected Constitutional Amendment 1, which received only 40.9% of the vote. Passage required a 60% supermajority. St. Johns County voters were even less supportive, only giving it 39.31% of the vote.
This amendment would have increased the amount of funds that may be retained in the budget stabilization fund to 25% of general revenue collections, among other provisions.
Voters approved Constitutional Amendment 2, which received 58.22% of the vote, but it failed to pass because passage required 60%. St. Johns County voters were more supportive, saying yes by 65.37% of the vote.
This amendment would have exempted personal property on land classified as agricultural, under certain conditions, from ad valorum taxation.
