The CoastTV election guide is designed to help viewers learn more about the candidates they may see on their ballots in upcoming federal, state and local elections. The guide is intended as a nonpartisan voter resource, with a particular focus on helping viewers find information about local and county-level races, where important decisions are made but candidate information can sometimes be harder to find. The goal of this tool is to provide a fair, useful and accessible resource that helps viewers become more informed and engaged voters.
Candidate lists were gathered using publicly available filing information from the State Board of Elections. CoastTV used that information to identify candidates who filed for races within our coverage area ahead of the upcoming election.
Candidates were invited to complete a survey with biographical information, campaign links, photos and responses to questions intended to help voters learn more about their background, priorities and reasons for running. All candidates were asked the same questions and were given the same opportunity to participate.
Survey responses are published as submitted, with limited editing only for formatting, clarity or technical consistency when needed. Candidate responses do not represent the views of our news station, Draper Media or staff.
This guide also includes links to candidate campaign websites and social media pages when available. These links are provided to help voters find additional information directly from candidates and their campaigns.
For some current or former state and federal legislators, the guide includes information about selected legislation. CoastTV chose legislation based on issues and topics relevant to the communities we cover, including agriculture, waterways, immigration, energy and infrastructure. This legislation is not intended to represent every vote, bill or policy position associated with a candidate. Instead, it is included as a starting point to help voters better understand candidates’ public records on issues affecting the region.
A variety of AI tools were used during the creation of this guide to assist with data organization, formatting, coding and other technical tasks. Human members of the CoastTV team reviewed and verified information throughout the development process. Because election information can change, viewers are encouraged to consult official election sources, candidate campaigns and government records for the most current information before voting.