Florida House of Representatives candidate Diana Jordan-Baldwin says she was attacked this week at a polling place in World Golf Village. | Photo courtesy of Diana Jordan-Baldwin
Published on August 12, 2026 at 1:25 pm
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Florida House of Representatives District 18 candidate Diana Jordan-Baldwin says she was attacked this week at a polling place in St. Johns County.
The retired military logistics officer is running for the Republican nomination to represent St. Johns County n Tallahassee.
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Jordan-Baldwin took to social media Tuesday to share her experience after she said she was assaulted outside a polling place at World Golf Village.
The candidate says the man who assaulted her was at the polling place to campaign for individuals endorsed by the St. Johns County Republican Assembly. That organization, which is not affiliated with the local Republican Party, endorsed a slate of candidates that includes Jordan-Baldwin’s opponent in the Republican primary, incumbent Rep. Kim Kendall.
According to a statement from Jordan-Baldwin’s campaign spokeswoman, the candidate “was punched in the face, her husband was also struck, and Diana was later pushed to the ground during the confrontation. Law enforcement responded, and the individual accused in the attack is now in custody.”
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The St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office confirmed Tuesday that deputies arrested a suspect, Charles Hunt.
The arrest report for Hunt states that he “knowingly and intentionally engaged in a verbal altercation with the victims, which subsequently escalated into a physical confrontation.”
Hunt is charged with two counts of simple battery.
Jordan-Baldwin said the incident left her left bruised and sore. Speaking on social media, Jordan-Baldwin said she intends to press charges “to the maximum extent.”
Candidates condemn attack
After Jordan-Baldwin’s posts on social mediat, a number of local candidates condemned the incident and political violence more broadly.
Speaking with News4Jax, Kim Kendall said neither she nor any of her campaign staffers were near the polling place during the incident.
“I want to be absolutely clear: This is completely unacceptable. This is a horrible act, and we condemn such behavior,” Kendall said. “Our thoughts and prayers are with Diana Jordan-Baldwin.”
St. Johns County Commission candidate Will McMullan issued a statement on social media that the community should be looking to “lower the temperature” of political discourse, not resort to violence.
“We can disagree passionately without treating one another as enemies,” he wrote. “St. Johns County deserves a political culture built on respect, civility, and the understanding that there is far more that unites us than divides us.”
The reported assault is not the first time Jordan-Baldwin has said supporters of her opponent have targeted her or her campaign.
The Republican candidate has also said her campaign signs have repeatedly been removed or destroyed, while nearby signs for Kendall have been left intact.
