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Escambia County Election Results 2026: Voters Decisive on LOST Tax Renewal and Local Races

Escambia County voters cast ballots in the 2026 local election, deciding key contests across Pensacola, Ferry Pass, and Warrington. Major items include the Local Option Sales Tax renewal, the County Commission District 2 race, and Florida Congressional District 1.

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1 hour ago

November 3, 2026

Randy Breland, Managing Editor

Escambia County Election Results 2026: people work at tables in a room with election charts on screens

Pensacola Local News & Breaking Updates | NewsWK

Escambia County Election Results 2026: Voters Decisive on LOST Tax Renewal and Local Races

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Voters Across Escambia County cast their ballots on Tuesday, November 3, 2026, wrapping up an active local election season. Precincts across Pensacola, Ferry Pass, Brent, Cantonment, and Perdido Key closed at 7:00 p.m. Election workers immediately shifted to tabulating votes for major federal, county, and municipal contests across Northwest Florida.

How Will the Escambia County LOST Renewal Impact Local Taxpayers and Services?

The Proposed Escambia County LOST renewal asks voters to extend a one-cent local option sales tax. The tax generates nearly $70 million annually for local infrastructure, roads, drainage, and public safety equipment. Crucially, visitors pay a large share of the tax. This setup relieves local property owners of direct tax burdens while maintaining vital municipal services.

The Escambia County Commission voted unanimously in July 2026 to place the one-cent sales tax renewal on the ballot. If voters approve the measure, local governments will split the tax revenue. Specifically, Escambia County will receive approximately $63 million per year. Meanwhile, the City of Pensacola will receive roughly $9.8 million annually. The Town of Century also receives dedicated funding for local municipal improvements.

Proponents highlight that tourists and regional visitors pay a substantial share of the local sales tax. Therefore, county leaders argue the tax keeps property rates lower while funding essential municipal services. Specifically, the tax revenue funds key community priorities:

Road resurfacing and paving projects across Pensacola, Ferry Pass, Brent, and Myrtle Grove
Stormwater drainage and flood mitigation infrastructure in low-lying neighborhoods
Public safety equipment, including vehicles for the Sheriff’s Office, EMS, and Fire Rescue
Park improvements and capital facility Upgrades Across Escambia County

What Are the Key Stakes in the Escambia County Commission District 2 Election?

The Escambia County Commission District 2 election pits Republican incumbent Mike Kohler against Democratic challenger Mathious Robinson. This race determines leadership for key coastal and urban neighborhoods in Escambia County. Consequently, voters are weighing platform promises centered on infrastructure, low taxes, public safety, and community revitalization to guide local governance.

Incumbent Mike Kohler advanced to the general election after winning the Republican primary on August 18, 2026. He secured 62 percent of the primary vote against challenger Glenn Dorsey. During his campaign, Kohler focused heavily on flood mitigation, public safety funding, infrastructure upgrades, and maintaining low local taxes.

Meanwhile, Democrat Mathious Robinson qualified earlier in the summer to challenge Kohler in the general election. Robinson focused his platform on community revitalization, expanded youth programming, affordable housing initiatives, and increased civic engagement. District 2 includes key areas in West Pensacola, Warrington, and Pensacola Beach. As a result, local drainage and infrastructure remain top priorities for voters in those communities.

What Are the Key Differences in the Florida Congressional District 1 Election 2026? Escambia County Election Results 2026

In Florida’s Congressional District 1 election for 2026, incumbent Republican Jimmy Patronis faces Democrat Gay Valimont and Independent candidate Tyler L. Davis. Voters across Northwest Florida will decide their congressional representative. Key issues driving the election include defense spending, military installations, fiscal policy, and federal healthcare access for the region.

Patronis entered the general election with a significant campaign finance advantage over his opponents. Official campaign disclosures through October 14, 2026, showed Patronis raised approximately $4.5 million. He maintained roughly $939,000 in cash on hand. Meanwhile, Valimont raised about $296,000 and held approximately $35,000 on hand. In addition, outside groups contributed around $179,400 in independent expenditures supporting Patronis.

Campaign messages also highlighted clear policy contrasts. Specifically, Patronis focused his message on fiscal conservatism, defense funding, veteran healthcare improvements, and protecting military installations like Naval Air Station Pensacola. In contrast, Valimont emphasized federal support for public education, expanded healthcare access, and targeted community investment across Escambia, Santa Rosa, and Okaloosa counties.

How Will These Ballot Choices Directly Affect Daily Life Across Escambia County?

Tuesday’s election outcomes directly affect daily services, emergency response times, and local tax rates for Escambia County residents. Decisions made at the ballot box will shape major community projects for years to come. These choices impact residents across Pensacola, Gulf Breeze, Bellview, Ensley, and surrounding communities.

For instance, if voters extend the LOST sales tax, local emergency services will continue receiving dedicated funding for modern rescue vehicles and fire apparatus. Similarly, road resurfacing projects in growing areas like Gonzalez, Cantonment, and Pace will proceed as scheduled. Additionally, county commissioners will manage multi-million-dollar flood mitigation projects designed to protect homes in Pensacola and West Pensacola during severe weather events.

How Did August Primary Results Set the Stage for the 2026 Escambia County Elections?

The November general election builds upon major decisions that Escambia County voters already approved during the August 18, 2026 primary election. Most notably, voters passed a historic charter referendum to return the school superintendent to an elected position. This context remains essential as electors await final canvassing returns for 2026.

Specifically, the school superintendent referendum passed overwhelmingly with 71.16 percent of the vote, representing 38,588 voters in favor. Only 28.84 percent, or 15,639 voters, opposed the change. This measure reverses an appointed-executive system that voters adopted in 2018. Starting in November 2028, voters will once again directly elect the school district leader.

Additionally, Three Incumbent Escambia County School Board members secured reelection outright during the primary election cycle:

Kevin Adams retained his seat representing District 1
Paul Fetsko retained his seat representing District 2
David Williams retained his seat representing District 3

As official tallies roll in, residents looking for Pensacola election results 2026 can track verified precinct tallies through official Supervisor of Elections channels. Ultimately, official canvassing boards will certify the final vote totals in the coming days.