It's Election Day in Alachua County. Who has the edge and who is heading into a runoff?

Candidates in Alachua County are making last-ditch efforts in hope of urging voters to go to the polls and pick them for elected office Tuesday.

For some, it has been a six-to-eight-month journey finally coming to a head, while others hope to upset the leading contenders after a month or two of campaigning.

In Alachua County, nearly 29,000 people — or 16% of registered voters — have already voted in several key races that are up for grabs on the primary ballot, which could significantly reshape elected bodies in local government.

In 2018, the last gubernatorial primary, 28.6% of Alachua County voters hit the polls.

Election 2022: Alachua County voter's guide to the 2022 primary election

Four of the seven Gainesville City Commission seats, including mayor, and four of the five Alachua County School Board seats will be decided. Several are expected to be closely contended races. A Democratic primary is also being held for each of the County Commission and state House primaries, which will be decided in November.

In races with three of more people, candidates must obtain more than 50% to claim victory, or they will head into a run-off election in November.

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Heading to the polls

Voting precincts around the county will be open until 7 p.m. for anyone who wishes to cast a ballot.

Data shows that roughly 17,900 Democrats have voted, topping the near 8,000 Republican and 2,900 non-party ballots that have been submitted. Approximately 18,000 ballots were mailed in, while about 10,900 people voted early in person.

Voters who wish to cast a ballot Tuesday must show up to their assigned precinct, based on their residency and voter registration. Due to redistricting, nearly 20 locations have been updated. There are 64 precincts total.

To find out which location, voters can check their new registration card or visit VoteAlachua.gov and click on the "my registration status" tab or call the main elections office before 5 p.m. at 352-374-5252.

Voters must present a valid photo and signature identification to vote in person. To find a full list of acceptable photo and signature ID, visit the county's voter website or call its main number.

City commission candidates

Mayor's race

The leading candidates for mayor include City Commissioner Harvey Ward, former Gainesville Regional Utilities general manager Ed Bielarski, City Commissioner David Arreola, former city commissioner Gary Gordon and activist July Thomas.

Ansaun Fisher, Donald Shepherd, Adam Rosenthal and Gabriel Hillel will also appear on the ballot.

Ward outraised his field with $43,300. Bielarski has received almost $35,200, while Arreola has about $30,500. Gordon has raised more than $18,400 and Thomas has seen nearly $8,300. The other candidates have no outside donations.

District 2

Santa Fe College Police Chief Ed Book, electricians' union president James Ingle, local activist Jo Beatty and pastor Michael Raburn are competing for the District 2 seat being vacated by Ward, who is term-limited.

Book has outraised his opponents with nearly $40,000, while Ingle has seen $28,000 in donations. Beatty has collected $8,000, while Raburn trails behind with a little over $4,000.

District 3

Another mayoral candidate, Arreola, who is term-limited on the commission leaves a field of three seeking his seat.

DeJeon Cain, who has raised more than $15,000, faces off against Casey Willets and Patrick Ingle. Willets has almost $10,000 in campaign contributions, while Ingle has accumulated almost $1,500.

District 4

Bryan Eastman and Christian Newman hope to claim the city's District 4 seat, being vacated by Adrian Hayes-Santos, who is not seeking any local office.

Newman has more than $57,000 in campaign contributions to Eastman's $35,600.

Alachua County School Board

Arguably some of the most contentious races on the local ballots this year are the seats on the School Board. In what is intended to be a non-partisan board, candidates have touted endorsements from their political parties, some even receiving PAC money from Republican operatives.

District 1

Incumbent Tina Certain, who has raised about $41,300, faces off against Levy County teacher Daniel Fisher, who has raised almost $21,000.

District 2

Mildred Russell, who was appointed by Gov. Ron DeSantis, hopes to retain the seat over her opponent Diyonne McGraw, who the governor removed from office.

Russell holds the edge on fundraising, receiving $40,600 over McGraw's near $29,000.

District 3

Former teacher Sarah Rockwell and Ray Holt, a former Jacksonville city councilman, face off for a seat being vacated by Gunnar Paulson.

Rockwell has raised more than anyone seeking local office with $61,600, while Holt has pulled in $42,700.

District 5

School district employee Prescott Cowles is taking on former Boulware Springs Charter School director Kay Abbitt. Cowles has raised $25,500 to Abbitt's $14,100.

County Commission

The county commission has multiple seats up for election this year, but just one one primary race.

Incumbent Merihelen Wheeler, a retired school teacher, is being challenged by the county's former facilities director, Charlie Jackson.

Jackson has raised more money with $18,200, though a third of that was from himself. Wheeler has raised $13,100, with about $4,000 also coming from herself.

Other regional races

Congress, District 3

Democrats will vote on a primary race between Danielle Hawk and Tom Wells, while Republicans will choose between incumbent Kat Cammack and challengers Justin Waters and Manuel Asensio.

State House

Democrats will have a primary race between Olysha Magruder and Brandon Peters, while Incumbent Chuck Clemons will face off with challenger Ty Appiah.

Eighth Judicial Circuit 

Nonpartisan candidates Sean Brewer, AuBroncee Martin, Nathan Skop and Dan Weisman will compete for the seat.

This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: Alachua County elections underway to decide Gainesville mayor, others