Sarasota Voters Shift the Balance of the School Board

Sarasota County voters delivered a major shift to the School Board in the August primary, electing former educators Beth Mayberry and Megan Tennimon and ending the conservative majority that had controlled the board since 2022.

The victories give Mayberry and Tennimon seats alongside Liz Barker and Tom Edwards, creating a new majority on a board that has drawn significant attention in recent years over contentious political and culture-war debates. Both candidates ran with a focus on strengthening public schools, supporting educators, improving academic outcomes, and expanding opportunities for students.

One race is still unsettled. Jimmy Glover led the three-way contest for District 1 but fell short of the 50% needed to win outright. He will face Heidi Brandt in a November runoff for the seat previously held by Moms for Liberty co-founder Bridget Ziegler.