Voters in Fort Pierce’s District 2 will head to the polls on November 4, 2025, for a special primary election to fill the vacancy left by former Commissioner James Taylor.
Fort Pierce will hold a special election for District 2 following the arrest and resignation of former Commissioner James Taylor, who stepped down after being arrested in July on 24 felony charges related to child exploitation.
Taylor’s resignation, after being elected in November 2022, forced the city to schedule a special election to ensure District 2 residents have representation on the city commission.
Authorities allege that Taylor, 52, used a social media platform to send explicit material to a 12-year-old girl in Illinois. He was arrested on July 24, 2025, and subsequently resigned from his position.
The qualification period for candidates interested in running for the District 2 seat took place from August 18 to 22, 2025. The following candidates qualified to appear on the ballot:
- Donna Benton
- Chris Dzadovsky
- Jaimebeth Galinis
Michael Champagnie and Jean Leroy did not qualify for the race.
The special primary election will be held on Tuesday, November 4, 2025. If no candidate receives more than 50 percent of the vote, a runoff election will be held on January 13, 2026.
Official election information, including polling locations and mail-in voting details, is available on the St. Lucie County Supervisor of Elections website and the City of Fort Pierce website.
