Live updates: Election Day 2024 in Leesburg
Julie Garisto(This story was updated to accurately reflect the most current information.)
Today is Election Day. Lake County voters will help decide national and state contests, as well as a few key local ones, such as property appraiser. Stay tuned here for updates throughout the day, and check dailycommercial.com after the polls close at 7 p.m. for election results and more.
2024 Lake County election results
2024 Sumter County election results
Lake County property appraiser
There was a big Republican-led effort to write in Property Appraiser Carey Baker. But the latecomer to the race, Mark Jordan, had the advantage with the ballot's sole bubble to fill in. As predicted by many, he easily won with 76.32% of the votes — a total of 140,401.
Incumbent Baker got 23.68% of the votes, 43,564 total.
Mayor of Mount Dora
The residents of Mount Dora have elected a new mayor. Mayor Crissy Stile announced via Facebook post last April that she wouldn’t be seeking re-election.
James L. Homich won with 53.89% of the votes, 4,801 total. Catherine T. Hoechst wasn't too far behind with 46.11% of the votes, 4,108 total.
Sumter County Clerk of Circuit Court and Comptroller
Erin Munz (REP) won the election 68.44%, 69,068 total. Gloria R. Hayward (DEM) got 31.56% of the votes, 31.56% total.
Bushnell City Council
Victoria "Tori" Summerlin won the race with 52.46%, 705 total. Erica Miller got 47.54% of the vote, 639 total.
Mayor City of Center Hill
Ginger Howard is the winner with 63.23% of the vote, 239 total. Thomas "Randy" Newman has 36.77% of the votes, 139 total.
Wildwood City Commission
Julian Green won with 53.39% of the vote, 10,742 total. Phil Montalvo was defeated with 46.61% of the vote, 9,376 total.
Groveland mayor loses re-election
Groveland Mayor Evelyn Wilson and recreational marijuana had a disappointing night. The incumbent lost to a professional chef-turned-politician. All seven precincts have reported their counts. Precinct details here.
Keith "Chef" Keogh's career has included 25 years with the Walt Disney Company in multiple executive roles. He's been president of COOK, senior vice president with Darden Restaurants and now a small business owner.
Chef Keogh skewered the race with 65.25% of the votes, 6,789 total. Wilson got 34.75% of the votes, 3,616 total.
State Representative, District 27
All eight precincts have reported. Precinct details here.
Richard Gentry (REP) won the Lake County portion of the race with 75.32% of the votes at a total of 12,157. Andy Ferrari (DEM) got 22.56% of the votes, a total of 3,641 and Dennis M. Simpson Jr (LPF) got 2.12% of the vote, 342 total. Gentry also prevailed districtwide.
Leesburg City Commission District 3
All seven precincts have reported for the nonpartisan Leesburg City Commission District 3 race. Precinct details here.
Jay Connell is the winner, with 42.38% of the vote (1,590 total.) Tim Sullivan got 34.09% of the votes (1,279 total.) Fred Griffin Jr. got 18.84% and Michael Patrick Huey got 4.69%.
— Julie Garisto
Ballot tally almost complete in Lake County
Visit https://enr.electionsfl.org/LAK/3522/Summary/ to see the incoming results of all the races from the Lake County Supervisor of Elections Office. Also, check the Daily Commercial's results pages:
2024 Lake County election results
2024 Sumter County election results
A glimpse of voter activity in Leesburg today
The Venetian Center saw a steady stream of voters entering and exiting the downtown area precinct in Leesburg.
Signs for several races greeted Election Day voters. From our vantage point, no long lines were visible.
We met a couple, Manuel and Nitza Diaz. They are originally from Puerto Rico but have lived in Florida more than three decades, the past year in Leesburg.
They voted for Donald Trump. Tony Hinchcliff's offensive "floating island of garbage" joke at the Madison Square Garden rally last week didn't faze the couple.
"Here in this country, they don't have a sense of humor anymore," Manuel said. "Back on the island, we used to make jokes like that about the Cubans, about the Dominican Republicans. The Cubans will make jokes. The same jokes. Switching the name, the person. But, what can you do?"
— Julie Garisto
Florida voter information webpage crashes on morning of Election Day
Here is the story.
'You can bring notes': Lake County Supervisor of Elections Office posts info for voters on Facebook
The post from Alan Hays' office says that there is no need to memorize what's on the ballot. Bring notes, sample ballot or voting guides to the polls with you to vote. Find your sample ballot here: https://ow.ly/grPl50TZRYZ
— Julie Garisto
What do the polls say about the presidential election?
This story explains the latest.
The race for property appraiser
Here's a look at the unusual race for Lake County property appraiser.
2024 Florida election results: President, amendments, Congress, state legislature
Leesburg decides on city commissioner for District 3 today
Controlled growth and business development are recurring themes in all four candidates' platforms. Their backgrounds and approaches vary widely.
(This story was updated to add new information)