2024 Elections: Brevard is having a big election year. Here are the races to watch.

The 2024 Brevard County election season is in full swing. A number of open seats and a deeper pool of candidates than in prior years virtually guarantees some new faces in office, including some in major positions around the county.

It also means voters will have more to pay attention to as we move toward the August primaries and then again in November.

Republicans will head to the polls on Tuesday to vote in the Florida presidential preference primary, although former President Donald Trump is the only candidate still in the race after Nikki Haley dropped out earlier this month.

There is no Democratic primary this year, after the Florida Democratic Party listed only President Biden as a candidate last fall.

Voters will have more choices in local elections this year. While it's still early and the playing field can change, here is an overview of the Brevard County races to watch so far, along with some links — including ongoing election coverage from FLORIDA TODAY — to help you plan your Election Day.

Brevard County sheriff

Republican Sheriff Wayne Ivey has held arguably the most influential county-level political office in Brevard since he was first elected in 2012. He has faced only one other challenger since that time, easily defeating Democratic former Assistant State Attorney Alton Edmond in 2020, with 66% of the vote.

This year, he faces another Republican in former Brevard County Deputy Brian Potters. Potters was the deputy wounded in the deadly ambush-style shooting near West Melbourne in August 2021 that made national news.

Potters, who used to work for Ivey before retiring in 2022 and has never held political office, has made claims of poor and hypocritical treatment from the sheriff in the wake of the shooting. Ivey broke his long silence against FLORIDA TODAY to rebut the accusations, calling them "ridiculous and out of touch."

Ivey is running on his record in office and long law enforcement experience to secure another term.

A long-shot win by Potters would would mean policy changes in Brevard's largest law enforcement agency and move the needle on the balance of political power in the county, which could have impacts on future races elsewhere in Brevard.

More on sheriff's race:

Former deputy says Sheriff Ivey treated him poorly after shooting. Now he wants the job

Brevard County Commission

There are three open positions on the County Commission — enough to shift the dynamics of Brevard's major governing board for years to come.

Longtime Commissioners Rita Pritchett and John Tobia are out due to term limits (though both are running for other offices); Commissioner Jason Steele, who was appointed by Gov. Ron DeSantis last year after Kristine Zonka stepped down to be administrator of the Florida Department of Health in Brevard, is not running.

That leaves Districts 1, 3 and 5 up for grabs. At least 11 candidates have lined up, including five for District 1 alone in North Brevard. The Democrats have fielded candidates for each of the open seats, and one District 1 candidate is running on a third-party ticket.

Assuming all the announced candidates qualify for the ballot, all three races will see August primaries and be decided in November.

More on commission races:

West Melbourne Councilman John Dittmore files for County Commission seat

Republican state committeewoman files to run for Brevard County Commission

Community activist Seigler is first official 2024 candidate for Brevard County Commission

Robert Jordan announces District 1 County Commission candidacy for North Brevard

Candidates lining up for appointment as District 5 county commissioner to fill vacancy

Taranto to run for Brevard County Commission in South Brevard's District 5 in 2024 race

Republicans Thad Altman and Dave Neuman file for 2024 Brevard County Commission race

Brevard County School Board

School Board member Jennifer Jenkins, the board's only Democrat, is not running for reelection after redistricting changes last year pushed her out of her own District 3. Two others are running for the seat. Incumbent School Board member Matt Susin, meanwhile, faces two challengers of his own for District 4.

The results are unlikely to sway the balance of the board, as what Brevard political party leaders have called its "conservative coalition" (a group that includes Susin) — School Board members Gene Trent, Megan Wright and Katye Campbell — still hold the other three seats.

Still, it remains a closely watched race for a number of reasons. Democrats will seek to beef up their presence on the officially nonpartisan board and unseat Susin, who faces challenges from the mother of a victim in last year's Viera High School football hazing scandal, and from a current Brevard Public Schools student who may be the youngest ever to run for county School Board.

More on school board races:

Two candidates file to run for Brevard school board in District 3

Mother of Viera High hazing incident victim files to run for Brevard School Board

'The youngest I've ever seen': Viera High School student, 18, announces school board run

Florida Senate District 19

State Sen. Debbie Mayfield is up against term limits after her first election to the Florida Senate in 2016. Her departure leaves a vacancy in the county's largest senatorial district, which four challengers are vying to fill.

Among them is Republican State Rep. Randy Fine, who looks to extend his time in Tallahassee after he also terms out of the Florida House this year. Fine will face off against Charles "Chuck" Sheridan and former Port Canaveral Commissioner Robyn Hattaway in a three-way GOP primary battle in August.

The winner is slated to face Democrat Vance Ahrens in the November general election.

More on State Senate race:

Rep. Randy Fine announces 2024 run for Florida Senate

Robyn Hattaway enters State Senate race against Randy Fine

Randy Fine picks up Trump endorsement after breaking with DeSantis

Florida House of Representatives

Fine and Republican State Rep. Thad Altman both step down this year due to term limits (but are seeking other offices: Fine for State Senate and Altman for County Commission), leaving Districts 32 and 33 open.

In Altman's District 32, Republican former U.S. Rep. Dave Weldon is slated to face Democrat Juan Jose Hinojosa in November. The hotly contested race for Fine's District 33 includes three Republican challengers, two Democrats and a Libertarian Party candidate.

Florida Reps. Chase Tramont (R-District 30) and Tyler Sirois (R-District 31) each have Democratic opponents they will face in November, while State Rep. Robert Brackett (R-District 34) is currently unopposed.

More on State House races:

Former Republican congressman Weldon to run for Florida House seat

Palm Bay Republican enters race for Florida House District 33 seat

Two more Democrats file for Randy Fine's District 33 Florida House seat in South Brevard

Two more enter race for South Brevard House seat currently held by Randy Fine

Constitutional officers

Pritchett and Tobia, both termed out of their County Commission seats, look to score other Brevard County offices.

Pritchett is challenging longtime Tax Collector Lisa Cullen, who has served since 2008.

Tobia, meanwhile, has his eye on the Supervisor of Elections office currently held by Gov. Ron DeSantis-appointee Tim Bobanic, who took over after former Supervisor Lori Scott retired in 2022.

All four are running as Republicans.

Property Appraiser Dana Blickley and Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller Rachel Sadoff are currently unopposed.

More on constitutional offices:

County Commissioner Rita Pritchett to run against incumbent Lisa Cullen for tax collector

County Commissioner Tobia running for Brevard supervisor of elections in 2024

U.S. House District 8

Republican U.S. Rep. Bill Posey once again faces a multiple opponent race, this time fielding primary challenges from three candidates within his own party. The winner will face another three-way race in the general election against Democrat Daniel McDow and a non-affiliated candidate, Henry Schuman.

Municipal races

Among the Brevard cities that will hold local council elections this year and have announced candidates are Cocoa, Melbourne, Palm Bay, Titusville and West Melbourne. Other Brevard municipalities also will be listing candidates as the qualifying period gets closer

Four of them — Cocoa, Melbourne, Palm Bay and West Melbourne — already have announced candidates for mayor.

The Cocoa, Melbourne and Palm Bay elections are for controlling majorities on the boards, though many incumbents are currently unchallenged. Contested elections so far include all the Palm Bay races; Melbourne mayor and City Council District 3; Titusville City Council District 2; and West Melbourne mayor.

Other races

With State Attorney Phil Archer stepping down after this year, only Assistant State Attorney Will Scheiner — currently Archer's chief trial attorney — remains in the race for Brevard and Seminole counties' top prosecutor. Blaise Trettis currently is once again unopposed for Brevard and Seminole public defender.

This year's elections include a slate of judicial races, including six circuit judgeships and four County Court seats with announced candidates.

There are also two races for Port Canaveral commissioner and three for the Viera East Community Development District. All incumbents in the port and Viera races are running unopposed at this point.

More on other races:

State Attorney candidate drops out, leaving Scheiner unopposed as Archer plans retirement

Important Dates

• March 19: Florida Republican presidential primary

• July 22: Voter registration deadline for August primary

• Aug. 8: Last day to request mail ballot for primary election

• Aug. 10-17: Early voting for August primary

• Aug. 20: Primary election

• Oct. 7: Voter registration deadline for November general election

• Oct. 24: Last day to request mail ballot for general election

• Oct. 21-Nov. 2: Early voting for general election

• Nov. 5: General election

Eric Rogers is a watchdog reporter for FLORDIA TODAY. Contact Rogers at 321-242-3717 or [email protected].

This article originally appeared on Florida Today: 2024 Elections: Brevard's Big Election Year and the races to watch