Janelle Irwin Taylor
Bruce Bartlett has been re-elected State Attorney for the 6th Judicial Circuit after Friday’s qualifying deadline came and went without a challenger.
Bartlett has served in the role since early January when Gov. Ron DeSantis appointed him to fill the remaining term of his predecessor, Bernie McCabe, who passed away that same month. He was subsequently elected to the post in 2022, winning with 59% of the vote over Democrat Allison Miller.
Judge Anthony Rondolino appointed Bartlett to serve as the Acting State Attorney for the 6th Circuit after McCabe’s death.
Bartlett previously served as Chief Assistant State Attorney and was McCabe’s longtime No. 2.
Bartlett may have suspected he’d sail to an unopposed victory — he hasn’t raised funds since January 2023, when he brought in just over $19,000. Of that, he spent just $460, on postage and legal services.
Bartlett has served more than 40 years with the State Attorney’s Office, including as a lead trial attorney, a division director, and for 28 years as McCabe’s Chief Assistant.
A lifelong Floridian born and raised in St. Petersburg, he received his undergraduate degree from the University of South Florida and his law degree from Stetson University College of Law. He began working for the State Attorney’s Office immediately after graduation from Stetson.
