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SPLC Action Fund Endorses 10 Candidates in Florida School Board Races

July 11, 2024

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Today, the SPLC Action Fund endorsed 10 local candidates for school board in Broward, Duval, Hillsborough, Leon, Miami-Dade, Orange and Seminole counties. These endorsements come as Florida has enacted extremist-backed legislation and policies seeking to control public education through book bans and limits on the teaching of accurate American history.

Endorsed candidates include:

  • Rebecca Thompson, running for Broward School Board District 2, is focused on prioritizing fiscal responsibility and tailoring academic support to meet the needs of individual schools and students. Thompson is a school social worker in Broward County.
  • Nadine Ebri, running for Duval County School Board District 1, is committed to reducing the STEM divide for Black students. Ebri is a teacher and a first-time candidate.
  • Sarah Mannion, running for Duval School Board District 7, is determined to protect the future of public education and navigate each school board decision with equity in mind. Mannion is an attorney and a mom of students in the DCPS system.
  • Nadia Combs, running for Hillsborough County School Board District 1, is focused on continuing her work to ensure inclusive and safe schools for all students. Combs was an educator for 14 years. She is an incumbent.
  • Jessica Vaughn, running for Hillsborough County School Board District 3, is focused on continuing her work to provide quality education for all students. Vaughn is an educator and served on the Palms Community Development District. She is an incumbent.
  • Jeremy Rogers, running for Leon County School Board District 4, is committed to working with parents and teachers to refocus on student well-being and development. Rogers is a father, a firefighter and a first-time candidate.
  • Luisa Santos, running for Miami-Dade County School Board District 9, is focused on stopping far-right extremism in Florida schools. Santos is an immigrant and an entrepreneur. She is an incumbent.
  • Max Tuchman, running for Miami-Dade County School Board District 7, is committed to fostering innovation and collaboration in Florida’s public schools. Tuchman is a first generation Cuban-American woman and a former educator.
  • Stephanie Vanos, running for Orange County School Board District 6, is dedicated to ensuring the education system is not overtaken by right-wing nationalists. Vanos is an attorney and former board member for Pace Center for Girls.
  • Stephanie Arguello, running for Seminole County School Board District 3, is dedicated to stopping book bans and other extremist measures in schools. Arguello is a first-time candidate.

“Florida is leading the nation in dismantling the public education system — against the will of the majority of its residents — but there’s an opportunity to change course in this election,” said Madison Hollon, program manager of political campaigns for the SPLC Action Fund. “We are proud to endorse a slate of candidates across the state, who believe public education is the cornerstone of our democracy and that our schools should be a place where all students feel safe, seen and supported with the tools they need to succeed. Inclusive education is our children’s best hope for the future.”

The SPLC Action Fund is focused on lifting up communities of color, particularly in the Deep South, who face systemic oppression, poverty and structural racism. To overcome these injustices, the organization is committed to reimagining the political, economic and social systems that sustain them to create a world where all people can thrive.  In pursuit of this bold agenda, the SPLC Action Fund supports candidates who share its commitment to addressing the deep inequities that plague our nation.    

Statewide elections will be held on August 20.