Cape Coral Mayor
August 18, 2026 · Cape Coral city, Florida · City · primary
How do we calculate vote impact?
Vote impact = representation (how much weight one vote carries here, the smaller the district's population, the higher the representation) + decisiveness (how likely this race is to be close, based on past results and number of candidates).
Representation: Low · 13 out of 100
This district is large for its type, so each vote is a smaller slice of the outcome. About 215,536 people live here.
score = 100 × ln(largest population ÷ this district's) ÷ ln(largest ÷ smallest), rounded to 2 decimals = 100 × ln(977,670 ÷ 215,536) ÷ ln(977,670 ÷ 13) = 13.47, comparing cities and towns in FL (grades: 66+ high, 33+ average, otherwise low)
Decisiveness: Unknown
No past results for this contest yet.
Low representation + unknown decisiveness → Below average vote impact.
Some data is missing, so this rating is based on partial information and capped at "High".
Mayor is responsible for:
- Serving as the city's top elected leader and its public face
- Setting policy priorities and helping shape the city budget
- Running city government day to day in some cities; in others, a hired city manager runs daily operations
- Signing or vetoing council laws and appointing department heads, such as the police chief, in many cities
Affected Areas: Environment and Public Health, Government Efficiency, Government Spending Reduction, Public Safety and Crime Control, Housing Affordability, Social Programs and Welfare, Civil Rights, Public Infrastructure
Candidates
Dan Sheppard
Nonpartisan · declared
Dan Sheppard is a nonpartisan candidate for Cape Coral Mayor in the 2026 City of Cape Coral municipal election.
John Gunter
Nonpartisan · Incumbent · declared
John Gunter is the incumbent Cape Coral Mayor, seeking re-election in the 2026 City of Cape Coral municipal election.
Kara Rogers
Nonpartisan · declared
Kara Rogers is a nonpartisan candidate for Cape Coral Mayor in the 2026 City of Cape Coral municipal election.
Lisa Cohen-Adkinson
Nonpartisan · declared
Lisa Cohen-Adkinson is a nonpartisan candidate for Cape Coral Mayor in the 2026 City of Cape Coral municipal election.
Richard Andrew Leon
Nonpartisan · declared
Richard Andrew Leon is a nonpartisan candidate for Cape Coral Mayor in the 2026 City of Cape Coral municipal election.
Richard Erickson
Nonpartisan · declared
Richard Erickson is a nonpartisan candidate for Cape Coral Mayor in the 2026 City of Cape Coral municipal election.
Election sources
Source: capecoral.gov