2026 Elections: Amy Lockhart stoic in losing commission seat to Charline Santos: 'Serving the citizens of Seminole County has been the honor of a lifetime!'

Party Lines Political Notebook: Don Dempsey endorsed / Headline Surfer

By HENRY FREDERICK / Headline Surfer 

SANFORD, Fla. -- Republican District 4 Seminole County Commissioner Amy Lockhart was stoic in her loss by 5,500-plus votes to Democrat Charline Lorraine Santos in the Nov. 3 elections.

Santos garnered 98,953 votes or 51.43 percent to 93,447 votes for Lockhart or 48.57 percent, according to unofficial results from the office of Seminole County Supervisor of Elections Amy Pennock, CFE.

Lockhart posted her concession in social media Tuesday night:  "Serving the citizens of Seminole County has been the honor of a lifetime!"

Lockhart, 51, married with two children in Sanford, continued: "While last night's results were not what we had hoped for, my heart is full of gratitude. Thank you to my family, friends, and wonderful volunteers who gave their time, energy, prayers, and support throughout this campaign. To the incredible team delivering an exceptional quality of life for our citizens: I am so proud of what we accomplished together and am grateful for every one of you."

Lockhart thanked loved ones for their support in the campaign: "To my family who have regained their First Amendment rights: I am so proud of you and grateful for each and every moment of this wild ride together. No one will ever understand the sacrifice you were never asked to make. I stand firm in believing that God's plans are always better than our own!"

Amy Lockhart loses seat on Seminole County Commission / Headline SurferDistrict 4 Seminole County Commissioner Amy Lockhart posted her concession in social media on Tuesday night:   "Serving the citizens of Seminole County has been the honor of a lifetime!"

Lockhart, 51, married with two children in Sanford, continued: "While last night's results were not what we had hoped for, my heart is full of gratitude. Thank you to my family, friends, and wonderful volunteers who gave their time, energy, prayers, and support throughout this campaign. To the incredible team delivering an exceptional quality of life for our citizens: I am so proud of what we accomplished together and am grateful for every one of you."

Lockhart thanked loved ones for their support in the campaign: "To my family who have regained their First Amendment rights: I am so proud of you and grateful for each and every moment of this wild ride together. No one will ever understand the sacrifice you were never asked to make. I stand firm in believing that God's plans are always better than our own!"

Dis 4 Seminole County Commission Results / Headline SurferSantos, 45, a freelance brand strategist and Realtor in Sanford, is a newcomer to elected politics, who said after winning her main priority is to "put people first," and that “I am ready to work, and I am ready to bring everyone with me.” 

Lockhart served on the Seminole County Board of County Commissioners for eight years, elected in 2018 and re-elected in 2022 before losing her re-election bid Tuesday to Santos.

NOW YOU KNOW: Seminole County commissioners earn approximately $105,000. Unlike Florida counties where salaries are calculated strictly by a state population formula, Seminole County operates under a local voter-approved tracking system adjusted based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI) and local wage conditions.

Henry Frederick press card / Headline SurferAbout the Byline Writer: 
Henry Frederick is an award-winning journalist who launched Headline Surfer in 2008. The site serves the greater Daytona Beach, Sanford, and Orlando areas along the I-4 corridor and beyond via HeadlineSurfer.com in Lake Mary, Florida. Frederick earned his Master of Arts in New Media Journalism from Full Sail University in Orlando in 2019. He was a breaking news reporter (metro cops & courts beat) for the Daytona Beach News-Journal for nearly a decade, and before that, the same beat with The Journal-News/Gannett Suburban Newspapers in Rockland/Westchester counties, NY, dating back to 1989. He's also worked as a city editor and city hall reporter for two dailies. Having witnessed the execution of serial killer Aileen Wuornos in Florida's death chamber and covering other high-profile cases, Frederick has appeared on national crime documentary shows on Discovery ID, Reelz & the Oxygen Network series "Snapped" for his analysis. Assisting Henry Frederick with Headline Surfer is Sera King, who writes about the weather and feature stories, takes photos, shoots video, and occasionally draws editorial cartoons. •  Bio: https://henryfrederick.com/.