Republican incumbent Jennifer Bradley is seeking re-election in District 6, which consists of Baker, Bradford, Clay, Columbia, Gilchrist, Union counties and part of Alachua County. She faces no primary challengers. Jason Bellamy-Fults is the sole Democratic candidate in the race, and there is also a candidate from the American Solidarity Party, Joseph Thornton. All three candidates will appear on the general election ballot in November.
News4JAX sent a questionnaire to each candidate asking about their background and their views on several issues. Scroll down to read the responses of those seeking your vote -- in their own words.
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Note: Responses are sorted alphabetically by party and are published exactly as submitted, with no editing by News4JAX staff.
| DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE |
Jason Bellamy-Fults
Occupation: Academic Technology, University of Florida
Age: 51
Family: Wife: Shernee Bellamy-Fults
Education: Bachelor of Arts from Berea College, Magna Cum Laude
Major: Biology.
Master of Arts in Education (Concentration - Educational Technology) from the University of Florida.
Political experience: No prior elected office.
Served as Vice Chair of Gainesville City Commissions’ Utility Advisory Board, February 2020-September 2023.
Board Chair, Community Weatherization Coalition.
Recording Secretary, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, Local 1205.
Delegate to the North Central Florida Central Labor Council on behalf of IBEW local 1205.
Multi-year participant in the Florida AFL-CIO Working Family Lobby Corps in our state capitol.
What do you see as the top three issues in this race, and how do you plan to address them?
Affordability/Cost of Living
-accepting our federal tax dollars to expand Medicaid eligibility in FL
-better regulating utilities in the best interests of ratepayers
-supporting workers’ rights to collective organizing, better wages
Local control
-stop the endless overreach by Tallahassee and allow greater community control over decisions that affect us
-roll back unnecessary preemptions that have already passed and empower local communities
Anti-corruption
-I am not accepting donations from big business interests and seek to be accountable to the constituents that I hope to serve
-stopping monopoly utilities from making political contributions
-calling out and pushing back against the pay-to-play politics that current run Tallahassee
How can you help voters in a way that others running for this office cannot?
I’m not just running on promises. I have a proven track record in my community of fighting for working people’s rights: stopping wage theft, improving wages, access to healthcare, and union protections. I’ve also helped hundreds of people throughout my community lower their utility bills. I’ve been an adult educator and trained apprentice electricians. And, unlike my opponent, I have not collected millions of dollars in checks from special interests. I will be beholden only to the voters of my district and will fight for them.
What would you hope to be remembered for accomplishing after serving in this office?
More people having access to healthcare, and collective bargaining rights, higher wages, lower utility bills. A rollback of unnecessary preemptions on our communities and attacks on our union families. More spending for education in our state. And better protection of our precious natural resources, particularly our fresh water.
Campaign website: www.takingbackflorida.org
Campaign social media: Facebook | Instagram | BlueSky
| REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE |
Jennifer Bradley
Campaign website: votejenniferbradley.com
Campaign social media: Facebook
The incumbent Republican, first elected in 2020, has not responded to email and telephone invitations to complete the News4JAX candidate questionnaire. If responses are received, they will be promptly posted in this space.
| AMERICAN SOLIDARITY CANDIDATE |
Joseph Thornton
Occupation: I am a retired academic psychiatrist (most recently 15 years with the University of Florida College of Medicine).
The early part of my career was in academic research; then I served in the National Health Service Corps for 4 years at Union Correction Institution in Raiford. I also worked 12 years with the Veterans Administration and 7 years as Clinical Director of a maximum-security forensic treatment facility.
Age: 72
Family: Married, blended family, raised 5 children, all now adults
I am a Catholic convert (1990’s)
Education: BA from the University of Texas at Austin;
MD from the University of Texas Medical School at San Antonio
Psychiatry Residency, Stanford University Medical Center
Political experience: None
What do you see as the top three issues in this race, and how do you plan to address them?
One core issue shapes every other challenge in this race: the protection and promotion of human dignity. As Pope Leo XIV teaches in Magnifica Humanitas (“Magnificent Humanity”), every human life possesses innate worth—value that is not earned through education, income, productivity, or social status. This principle guides my approach to the top issues facing our district and our state.
First, human life must never be treated as expendable. I have written proposed legislation to abolish the death penalty in Florida, ensuring that our justice system reflects the dignity of every person, including those who have committed serious crimes. State violence is not justice.
Second, human dignity must be upheld for those in government custody. I have written proposed legislation to strengthen oversight and protections for immigration detainees, ensuring humane treatment, transparency, and accountability.
Third, Floridians must be protected from the emerging threats posed by artificial intelligence. Human labor is not a commodity to be replaced by machines or exploited through global economic pressures. People must never become subservient to algorithms or virtual slaves to corporations. I will advance legislation that safeguards individuals from AI-driven abuses of power, wealth concentration, and surveillance. An essential part of this effort is to strengthen democracy and self-government by reforms such as limits on corporate campaign money, term limits, open primaries, ranked choice voting. I believe that USA citizens should vote and all USA citizens must have equal access to voting.
Across all three issues, my commitment is the same: to defend the inherent dignity of every person and to build a Florida where technology, government, and the economy serve humanity—not the other way around.
How can you help voters in a way that others running for this office cannot?
I bring a deep, professional understanding of how emerging technologies and economic pressures can dehumanize people — and the experience to stop it.
My background in psychiatry, ethics, and AI risk gives me a unique ability to recognize when systems, corporations, or technologies begin exploiting human beings. I’ve spent my career working with multi‑stakeholder groups — clinicians, educators, technologists, faith leaders, and policymakers — to solve complex problems that no single sector can fix alone.
That combination matters. It means I can see dangers others overlook, build coalitions others can’t, and craft legislation that protects people before harm occurs.
In short: I can help voters by defending human dignity in an age when it is increasingly threatened — and by bringing together the diverse voices needed to do it effectively.
What would you hope to be remembered for accomplishing after serving in this office?
That I helped people feel the love of Jesus Christ and a sense of optimism for their lives.
Campaign website: thorntonforhumandignity.com
Campaign social media: X