Anti-establishment candidates win big in Manatee County Commission Republican primary

The Manatee County Commission will look different next year following Tuesday's Republican primary election.

Voters favored anti-establishment candidates running for the commission seats. Commissioner George Kruse earned the Republican nomination for District 7, Carol Felts won in District 1, Tal Siddique won in District 3, and Robert McCann won in District 5.

Primary election results: Manatee County

Primary election results: Sarasota County

Kruse earns Republican nomination for Manatee County District 7

Incumbent commissioner Kruse defeated District 3 Commissioner Kevin Van Ostenbridge in his bid for the District 7 seat.

Van Ostenbridge was initially running for re-election to his District 3 seat on the board, but changed his candidacy to challenge Kruse for the at-large position in a county-wide race instead.

Kruse won about 58% of the vote, according to results posted by the Manatee County Supervisor of Elections. All results are unofficial until canvassed.

Kruse will face Democrat Sari Lindroos-Valimaki during the November general election.

Siddique earns Republican nomination for Manatee County District 3

Siddique won the Republican nomination for the District 3 seat over opponent April Culbreath.

Culbreath was initially running for re-election to his District 7 seat on the board, but changed her candidacy to challenge Siddique for District 3 after Van Ostenbridge moved to the District 7 race.

Siddique garnered about 61% of the vote.

The winner will face Democrat Diana Shoemaker during the November general election.

McCann earns Republican nomination for Manatee County District 5

McCann has earned the Republican nomination for the District 3 seat over incumbent District 5 Commissioner Raymond Turner.

Turner was appointed to the board by Gov. Ron DeSantis in July 2023 to serve out the term vacated by former Commissioner Vanessa Baugh.

McCann won about 54% of the vote.

Felts earns Republican nomination for Manatee County District 1

Felts earned the Republican nomination bid for the District 3 seat over opponent Steve Metallo.

Felts had about 54% of the vote.

This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Voters favor underdogs in Manatee County commission primary