Tammie McClafferty won the St. Johns County School Board District 4 seat on Tuesday, Nov. 3, beating Jillian Tozer by more than 6,200 votes.The nonpartisan District 4 race drew disputes over religion and transgender policies, as reported by St. Johns Citizen. Unofficial results from St. Johns County Supervisor of Elections, updated Nov. 6, show McClafferty received 17,599 votes (60.82%) to Tozer's 11,338 (39.18%). All nine participating District 4 precincts had reported. As we reported election night, McClafferty held a commanding lead as returns came in.

District 4 includes Allen D. Nease High School, where all three of McClafferty's children graduated, according to St. Johns Citizen.

How the votes broke downMcClafferty carried early voting 9,244 to 5,791 and Election Day voting 6,143 to 3,020, according to the unofficial county results. Tozer led among vote-by-mail voters, 2,527 to 2,212.

Culture-war flashpoints

The formally nonpartisan race echoed ideological battles that have roiled school boards across the country in recent years, St. Johns Citizen reported.

Tozer labeled McClafferty a "culture-war candidate" in campaign advertising that highlighted McClafferty's statements about Christ-centered values. McClafferty cast Tozer as a far-left activist.

Transgender issues became a central flashpoint. McClafferty amplified a questionnaire response in which Tozer agreed that transgender women should be allowed to participate in women's sports and access women's spaces, including bathrooms and locker rooms. Tozer said in an accompanying explanation that her duty would be to ensure the district complied with Florida laws governing athletics and student facilities. She later said she did not support males in girls' sports, bathrooms or locker rooms and would adhere to state law.

The candidates drew endorsements along partisan lines. Tozer's campaign publicized backing from the Democratic Public Education Caucus of Florida and Democratic Municipal Officials. McClafferty drew support from Republican U.S. Rep. John Rutherford and outgoing board member Kelly Barrera.

Two newcomers reshape the board

McClafferty will succeed Barrera, who did not seek reelection. She is one of two newcomers joining the five-member board.Kevin Allen defeated incumbent Beverly Slough in the Aug. 18 primary with 5,663 votes (52.22%) to Slough's 5,182 (47.78%). The two-candidate primary decided the seat after Allen received a majority, under Florida law. District 3 incumbent Jennifer Collins won another term unopposed. Anthony Coleman in District 2 and Linda Thomson in District 5 round out the board; their seats were not up for election this year.

What McClafferty has said she'll prioritize

McClafferty holds a doctorate in organizational leadership. She has worked as a principal, professor and school founder, according to her campaign website.

During her campaign, she told St. Johns Citizen the district needs to shift its focus from managing growth to educational excellence. She said she supports an external audit of the district's budget. Earlier this year, district officials projected a $23 million shortfall for the 2026-27 school year. She also said she wants to strengthen the district's lobbying efforts in Tallahassee on issues including vouchers and charter schools.