Gov. Ron DeSantis on Thursday signed an executive order setting the dates for a special election to fill the Okaloosa County School Board District 1 seat, after both candidates in the race did not meet all qualifying requirements for the August primary ballot.
- Executive Order 26-162 sets a special primary election for Nov. 3, 2026, the same day as the general election. A special election would follow on Jan. 19, 2027, “if necessary,” according to the order.
The order cites the Okaloosa County Supervisor of Elections’ June 17 declaration that no candidates qualified for the District 1 seat under section 99.061(7) of Florida Statutes. Under section 100.101(1), a special election must be held when no person is elected at a general election to fill an office required to be filled at that election.
The order directs the Secretary of State to work to implement the other scheduling requirements for the special election.
JD Peacock and Jerry Buckman, the two candidates in the race, had both said after the June qualifying issue that they hoped the special election could be held alongside the Nov. 3 general election.
Both, still actively on the campaign trail, indicated at the time that they would qualify again once a new date was set.
