Live Blog: Record-breaking primary turnout in multiple counties; some upsets

Jacksonville, Fl —

Wednesday, August 19 - Turnout in the Florida Primary Election was record-breaking in Clay County, with overall turnout at 33%. The race for Sheriff saw Michelle Cook beat incumbent Darryl Daniels, who was recently suspended by Governor DeSantis following criminal charges.

LISTEN: Michelle Cook reacts to her primary win

Clay County Interim Superintendent David Broskie beat former Superintendent Charlie Van Zant.

LISTEN: David Broskie reacts to his primary win

Baker County turnout was 42%. Turnout in Nassau County was 38%. St. Johns County turnout was 29%. And turnout in Duval County was 25%, far below the expected 33% stated by Supervisor of Elections Mike Hogan.

State Representative Kimberly Daniels was upset by Angie Nixon in the Democratic Primary.

Republican Jennifer Bradley easily won her state Senate primary contest.

The race for an open seat on the Jacksonville City Council will be decided in November. Democrat Nicole Hamm finished ahead of Republican Kevin Carrico, but failed to get a majority so the two will face off again in November. The seat was vacated by Scott Wilson, who lost his bid for Clerk of the Courts to Jody Phillips in the Primary.

Kat Cammack wins the Republican Primary in US House District 3. She’s a former staffer to Congressman Ted Yoho, who did not seek re-election. Cammack will take on Adam Christensen, who narrowly won the Democratic Primary. Incumbents Al Lawson and John Rutherford each won their primary challenges and move on to the November general election.

St. Johns County voters selected Rob Hardwick as the Republican winner in the race for Sheriff. Hardwick faces a write-in challenger in November.

LISTEN: Rob Hardwick reacts to his Primary win

Tuesday, August 18 - Some people may be concerned about the safety of voting in person today, but area supervisors of elections assure us they’re taking every precaution amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Clay County Supervisor of Election Chris Chambless says he thinks most people who want to wear a mask will bring one in Clay, but they’re ready for anyone who forgets theirs.

“Should that be something that they have failed to remember, we will have masks available for them upon request”, said Chambless.

He says they’re also planning to have staff clean the voting stations constantly. Early voting turnout in Clay County was over 19%, and there are several notable cases on the ballot in today’s primary.

Five challengers are trying to unseat Sheriff Darryl Daniels, who was suspended last week following his arrest. Tonight’s winner will face a write-in challenger in November. The interim superintendent of schools is running to keep his job, against a former superintendent who lost his most recent election. We’re also following races for County Commission and the School Board.

MORE: Clay County candidates, voter information

Duval County Supervisor of Elections Mike Hogan says poll workers will wearing face coverings, but masks will not be required.

“I can’t require that, that would be voter suppression”, Hogan said. During early voting, Hogan said an overwhelming majority of voters wore masks.

Early voting turnout in Duval County was over 15%. A special election to replace City Council Member Scott Wilson features multiple challengers. There are four seats on the Duval County School Board. Two county judge positions are on the ballot, as well as the race for Clerk of Courts.

MORE: Duval County candidates, voter information

In St. Johns County, a race to replace longtime Sheriff David Shoar is grabbing the most attention. Rob Hardwick and Chris Strickland are locked in a battle. Because there is a write-in candidate the race won’t be officially decided tonight. There are races for St. Johns County Commissioner, as well as the St. Augustine City Commission.

MORE: St. Johns County candidates, voter information

Nassau County saw 26% early voting turnout. There are several races of interest, including Superintendent of Schools, Supervisor of Elections, and races for County Commission.

MORE: Nassau County candidates, voter information

Follow live results tonight beginning at 7pm on 104.5 WOKV.

Monday, August 17 - Duval County saw its largest single day turnout as early voting ended on Sunday, as 7,055 ballots were cast. Overall, early voting turnout in Duval County was 15%. Vote by mail was 55% and in-person voting was 45%. Democrats outpaced Republicans, 56% to 36%.

St. Johns County had 19% early voting turnout, with 60% mail-in ballots and 40% in person.

Clay County had nearly 19% turnout in early voting, with 54% mail-in ballots and 46% in person. It was the highest turnout of any other primary in Clay County in both early and vote-by-mail. Supervisor of Elections Chris Chambless projects overall turnout around 30%.

Nassau County finished with 25% early voting turnout. 56% were mail-in ballots and 44% in person.

Baker County finished with 2,334 ballots cast, which is 14% of registered voters.

STORY: Final preps underway in Northeast Florida ahead of primary Tuesday

Friday, August 14 - Clay County Supervisor of Elections Chris Chambless says there have been some robocalls in recent days, stating that Election Day will be held with a limited number of polling locations.

“That is just patently false...I just want to assure voters across northeast Florida that I know of no county that is going to have diminished services on Election Day”, said Chambless.

He says there have been no reported issues with early voting, with turnout at 15% in Clay County headed into the final weekend.

LISTEN: Clay County Supervisor of Elections addresses fake robocalls

Turnout in Duval County is at 12% through Thursday evening. 63% ballots have been returned by mail. Democrats are outpacing Republicans 56% to 36%

St. Johns County turnout is at 16%. 65% are mail-in and 34% are in person. Nassau County turnout is at 21%. 62% are mail-in and 38% are in person.

Thursday, August 13 - Five days and counting until the Florida Primary and we’re seeing a steady, daily increase in turnout.

Duval County is up to 11% percent turnout, and Democrats are outpacing Republicans 56% to 36%.

Clay County has 14% turnout, St. Johns is at 15% and Nassau is at 19%.

Clay County Supervisor of Elections Chris Chambless says with the close of Day 6, the county once again exceeded the turnout for hte same period of time in any previous Early Voting period.

“Many have asked if I think I can attribute the turnout thus far to COVID-19. On all methods of voting: Voting by Mail, Early Voting and Election Day, has resulted in as high as 72% of the turnout happening prior to Election Day”, said Chambless.

In all local counties, vote-by-mail is outpacing in-person voting.

Wednesday, August 12 - As early voting continues ahead of the August 18th Florida Primary, Nassau County has the highest turnout locally, at 18%. 65% have voted by mail, and 35% voted in person.

Duval County is at nearly 10% turnout overall. 64% of ballots have been vote-by-mail and 35% in person.

St. Johns County has 14% turnout. 70% of ballots cast were vote-by-mail and 30% in person.

Clay County has 13% turnout. 63% are mail-in ballots and 37% in person.

Early voting continues through Saturday in Baker County. Turnout results have not been published.

Tuesday, August 11 - One week until the Florida Primary Election and early voting continues to show daily growth.

Duval has more than 9% turnout. Democrats are outpacing Republicans 56% to 35%.

Clay County has 12% turnout. 67% are mail-in ballots; 33% in person. Supervisor of Elections Chris Chambless says Monday was an early voting vote-by-mail record, exceeding the total number of early voting ballots cast in the 2010 Primary.

St. Johns has 13% turnout. 73% are mail-in; 26% in person.

Nassau County has 17% turnout. 67% are mail-in; 33% in person.

Monday, August 10 - Following the first weekend of early voting in the Florida Primary Election, overall turnout in Duval County is approaching 9%. Democrats are outpacing Republicans, so far. And vote-by-mail is more than twice as much as in-person voting in Duval.

Nassau County has the highest overall turnout at just over 15%, followed by St. Johns County at 11% and Clay County at just over 10%.

Clay County Supervisor of Elections Chris Chambless reports the first four days of early voting has produced the highest cumulative primary early voting totals in the county’s history.

LISTEN: Clay Supervisor of Elections Chris Chambless updates record early voting turnout in first four days

On Saturday, more than 40,000 people cast ballots in person throughout Florida. Vote-by-mail ballots cast have already exceeded the 2016 primary with another 10 days for people to return them.

Friday, August 7 - The first week of early voting draws to a close with 10,992 ballots cast in Duval County. Overall, turnout is at 6.55%, with 30,754 votes by mail received at the Supervisor of Elections Office. Democrats are outpacing Republicans in overall ballots by nearly 8,000. There have been 3,295 No Party Affiliation ballots cast.

Duval County has 18 early voting sites. See the full list here. Early voting continues through Sunday, August 16th.

The St. Johns County Supervisor of Elections office reports turnout at 8.82%. There were 1,865 ballots cast on the first day of early voting. There have been 15,849 ballots cast by mail. Republicans outpace Democrats in St. Johns County by 1,670.

The Clay County Supervisor of Elections office reports turnout at 7.53%. There were 1,788 ballots cast on the first day of early voting. That is the highest first-day Primary turnout in the history of early voting in Clay County. To date, 10,131 ballots were cast by mail. Republicans outpace Democrats in Clay County by 4,786.

The Nassau County Supervisor of Elections office reports turnout at 12.8%. There have been 2,330 ballots cast in early voting. To date, 6,519 ballots have been cast by mail. Republicans outpace Democrats in Nassau County by 3,2143.

Cox Media Group