Weekly Dispatch - July 20, 2026
The Florida Democratic Party TAKE BACK FLORIDA – Leadership Blue took place this past weekend where we learned a lot and heard from many of the Democratic candidates running for office in 2026! Join us at our Keys Dems meeting where we will tell you all about it!
Thank you to all of the volunteers in Monroe County who are willing to serve as poll watchers! Please keep an eye on your inbox for training information so that you can be issued your credentials and you'll know what to do to keep our elections running smoothly in the Keys on August 18th!
Important 2026 Election Dates
Last day to register to vote in the Aug 18th election is TODAY!!! July 20th Register Here--- Monroe County FL Supervisor of Elections > Voter Information > Voter Registration
Early Voting Begins
Monday, August 3, 2026
Daily 8:30 am - 5:00 pm at the Supervisor of Elections Offices
Monroe County Elections Office - 5200 College Rd. Key West
Monroe County Elections Office Branch – 10015 Overseas Hwy. (MM 52.5), Marathon
Monroe County Elections Office Branch - Murray Nelson Government Center, 102050 Overseas Hwy. #137 (MM 102), Key Largo
Big Pine Key Community Park - 31009 Atlantis Dr. - End of Sands Road (MM 31), Big Pine Key
Plantation Key Community Center (old courthouse) - 88820 Overseas Hwy., Plantation Key
LAST day to register to Vote-By-Mail
Thursday, August 6
Election Day at your Precinct Any voter in line by 7:00pm will be permitted to vote. Find your Precinct here --- Monroe County FL Supervisor of Elections > Voting > Three Ways to Vote > Election Day Voting
Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2026
7:00 am - 7:00 pm
LOCAL CANDIDATE EVENTS
If you missed the HOMETOWN FORUM in Key West last week - you can watch it here! There are two links COUNTY RACES VIDEO LINK and
LOWER KEYS & KEY WEST UTILITY & CITY RACES
VIDEO LINK In my opinion, they are worth watching!
Wednesday – July 22nd
We are encouraging everyone to attend the Marathon Chamber of Commerce Forum and Keys Weekly Candidate Forum on Wednesday, July 22nd. Candidates in critical Florida Keys races will have another chance to make their case to voters at the forum from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Marathon Government Center BOCC room (2798 Overseas Hwy, Marathon). The July 22 forum will feature four races: Monroe County Board of County Commissioners, District 2 (Michelle Lincoln vs. George Lopez), Monroe County School Board Districts 1 and 5 (Darren Horan vs. Teri Axford and Sue Woltanski vs. Chelyn Shaw), and the Florida Keys Mosquito Control Board District 2 (Phil Goodman vs. Alex Osborne).
Thursday - Jul 23
The Lower Keys League of Women Voters will be holding a Forum at the Harvey Government Center 1200 Truman Avenue, Key West. Doors Open at 5:30pm. Forum begins at 6:00. Please attend!
July 2026 Keys Dems Meetings - Please join us!
NOTE: This is a change to what was previously shared. Middle Keys Dems will meet on Wednesday, July 29 at 5:30pm in the Marathon Public Library. Please share this date change with everyone who usually attends the Middle Keys Meetings! If you were unable to attend the Keys Dems Meeting in your area of the Keys – the Middle Keys Meeting is always on Zoom! Be On the Lookout for a Zoom link coming from our Treasurer, Bert Sise. I am currently out of town and Bert has agreed to step in and cover my absence. Thank you Bert!!!
Local Meetings to attend in the Keys This Week (July 20 – July 26)
City of Key West: http://keywest.legistar.com/Calendar.aspx
Mon – Jul 20
City Commission Workshop begins at 9:00 am in City Hall 1300 White Street where the Commission will hold a Budget Workshop for Fiscal Year 2026/2027
Tues – Jul 21
City Commission Workshop begins at 9:00 am in City Hall 1300 White Street where the Commission will hold a Budget Workshop for Fiscal Year 2026/2027
City of Marathon https://www.ci.marathon.fl.us/meetings
Tues - Jul 21
City of Marathon Council Special Call Meeting 9805 Overseas Hwy., Marathon @ 5:30 pm where the General Fund Budget will be discussed
Monroe County Board of County Commissioners https://www.monroecounty-fl.gov/
Tues – Jul 21
Contractor's Examining Board Hearing at 9:30 am
@ the Marathon Government Center – BOCC 2798 Overseas Hwy. 2nd Floor, Marathon
Tues – Jul 21
The Monroe County Development Review Committee will conduct a virtual meeting via Communications Media Technology (CMT), beginning at 1:00 PM.
https://mcbocc.zoom.us/j/82338576254
Wed – Jul 22
Planning Commission Hearing – Hybrid @ 10:00 am Marathon Govt Center – BOCC 2798 Overseas Hwy. 2nd Floor Marathon
https://monroecountyfl.primegov.com/Portal/Meeting?meetingTemplateId=242
Village of Islamorada Council https://www.islamorada.fl.us/Calendar.aspx
Tues – Jul 21
SPECIAL CALL VILLAGE COUNCIL WORKSHOP
JOINT WORKSHOP WITH THE MONROE COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD
MARATHON HIGH SCHOOL MEDIA CENTER, 350 SOMBRERO BEACH RD, MARATHON @ 1:30 pm
Tues – Jul 21
FOUNDERS PARK BOAT RAMP CONCEPTUAL DESIGN
PUBLIC STAKEHOLDER MEETING @ 3:00 pm in the Islamorada Administrative Center and Public Safety Headquarters, 86800 Overseas Hwy, 3rd Floor Conference Room, Islamorada or via Teams Join: https://teams.microsoft.com/meet/21179938470089?p=sqepsJtYsHU19ZiZEr
Meeting ID: 211 799 384 700 89
Passcode: Ju2ks7kc
Tues – Jul 21
NEAR SHORE WATER REGULATION CITIZENS’
ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETING @ 5:15 pm in the Islamorada Administrative Center and Public Safety Headquarters, 86800 Overseas Hwy, 3rd Floor Conference Room, Islamorada or via Zoom: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/84448640780 and follow the prompts to join the webinar.
Wed – Jul 22
EVALUATION COMMITTEE MEETING
RFP 26-06 CANAL 145 ORGANIC REMOVAL & BACKFILL
RESTORATION PROJECT @ 3:00 pm in the Islamorada Administrative Center and Public Safety Headquarters, 86800 Overseas Hwy, 3rd Floor Conference Room, Islamorada
Monroe County School Board: https://monroe-k12.granicus.com/ViewPublisher.php?view_id=1
Tues – Jul 21
Monroe County School Board will meet in Marathon High School 350 SOMBRERO BEACH RD, MARATHON @ 1:30 pm with the Islamorada Village Council in a Joint Special Meeting
Tues – Jul 21
Monroe County School Board will meet in Marathon High School 350 SOMBRERO BEACH RD, MARATHON @ 5:00 pm
Big Pine Key has a weekly protest every Thursday @4:30 pm at First Horizon Bank Big Pine.
MARATHON's ICE protests continue! Sombrero Road and Overseas Hwy @ 4:30pm today - See you there!