The 2024 Primary Election in Okaloosa County concluded Tuesday with a voter turnout of 24.44%, as 35,708 ballots were cast out of 146,124 registered voters. The election, held on August 20, 2024, featured several key local races, including contests for sheriff, county commissioners, and school board.

According to results posted at 8:58 p.m. on election night, the primary for Sheriff saw a clear front-runner:

• Eric Scott Aden: 23,078 votes
• Ron Livingston: 8,033 votes
• Edward Eddie Perillo: 3,553 votes

In the race for Board of County Commissioners District 1, the results showed:

• Paul Mixon: 24,127 votes
• De’Carlo Garcia: 8,452 votes

The primary for Board of County Commissioners District 3 proved to be a tight contest, particularly between the top two candidates…just a 13 vote difference:

• Sherri Cox: 7,597 votes
• Keri Pitzer: 7,584 votes
• Andrew Rencich: 7,371 votes
• Wade Albert Merritt: 4,500 votes
• Heath Rominger: 5,206 votes

The race for Board of County Commissioners District 5 was closely contested:

• Drew Palmer: 16,673 votes
• Mary Anne Windes: 15,834 votes

In the non-partisan School Board Member District 2 race, the results were:

• Dewey Parker Destin: 18,752 votes
• David Schmidt: 14,730 votes

The close margins in several races, particularly in the District 3 County Commissioner contest where only 13 votes separated the top two candidates, highlight the importance of each vote.

With Sherri Cox receiving 7,597 votes and Keri Pitzer garnering 7,584 votes, the difference falls well within Florida’s 0.5% threshold for a mandatory recount. As provisional ballots are yet to be counted, we should hear the officials results by Thursday.

• If the official results still fall with the 0.5% threshold, we would see a recount. There is no runoff for this seat. It’s winner-take-all.