FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – Unofficial preliminary Tuesday election results showed Wednesday that Broward County voters elected two School Board newcomers to replace Gov. Ron DeSantis’s appointees.
On Tuesday, voters elected Maura McCarthy Bulman to represent the School Board’s District 1, including areas in Dania Beach, Hallandale Beach, Hollywood, Miramar, Pembroke Park, and West Park.
“I think that we are really going to be able to make some great inroads and positive change going forward,” said McCarthy Bulman, an attorney familiar with a private practice in Hollywood.
With over 51% of the voters, McCarthy Bulman beat John Canter and Daniel Foganholi, the incumbent DeSantis last appointed on Dec. 22, 2022.
“I don’t think everyone should be on the same page and agreeing on every single thing, but pushback is important,” Foganholi said.
Voters also elected Rebecca Thompson to represent the School Board’s District 2, including Cooper City, Southwest Ranches, and portions of Davie, Miramar, and Pembroke Pines
“You can’t just come in here and take away our rights — take away our ability to be represented, and that when given the chance, we will fight back,” said Thompson, a social worker.
With over 66% of the voters, Thompson beat Torey Alston, the incumbent DeSantis appointed on Aug. 26, 2022. The incumbents’ terms end on Nov. 19.
For School Board’s District 3, over 70% of voters chose Sarah Leonardi over Jason Lee Loring. For School Board’s District 5, over 75% of voters chose Jeff Holness over Windsor D. Ferguson Jr. For School Board’s Seat 9, over 71% of voters chose Debbie Hixon over Tom Vasquez.
“I think voters were loud and clear,” said Hixon, the School Board’s vice chair, adding, “They believe in public education and they want people that are going to fight for public education.”
In Miami-Dade County, DeSantis endorsed Mary Blanco for School Board District 7. After over 44.7% of the voters chose Blanco, and over 31% chose Maxeme “Max” Tuchman, the two will go on to a runoff election.
Foganholi, Alston, and Blanco were among the 23 school board candidates DeSantis endorsed this cycle in Florida.
Related story: ‘The fever is breaking’: DeSantis-backed school board candidates fall short in Florida