The Democratic primary is set for Aug. 24, and early voting begins Aug. 19.

Absentee voting began on July 12.

The winner of this primary will face eight other candidates — the Republican nominee, Libertarian and Independence Party candidates and five with no party affiliation — in the Nov. 2 general election. The candidates:

Brian P. Moore

• Personal: 67, of Spring Hill; married, one child.
• Education: Bachelor's degree, philosophy, Mission San Luis Rey College, a Franciscan seminary; master's, public administration, Arizona State University.
• Professional: President and owner, BPM International, an HMO consulting firm, 1998-present; vice president, Inmed, 1993-97; health care management consultant, 1984-93; three years in Peace Corps in Peru and Panama.
• Political: Unsuccessfully ran for U.S. Representative as independent in 2002 and 2004; unsuccessfully ran for U.S. Senate as independent in 2006; unsuccessfully ran for president as Socialist in 2008.
• Issues: Supports single-payer, government-backed health care program; elimination of all oil drilling in the Gulf of Mexico; proposes having the state run banks.

Alex Sink  

• Personal: 62, of Thonotosassa; married, two children.
• Education: Bachelor's degree, mathematics, Wake Forest University.
• Professional: President of Florida Operations, Bank of America, 1998-2000; president of NationsBank Florida, 1993-1997; banker, NationsBank Corp., 1974-1997.
• Political: Chief Financial Officer of Florida, 2007-present.
• Issues: Supports tying tax incentives for businesses to job creation; cutting government spending; ethics reforms for elected officials; state-supported alternative energy research and development; opposes off-shore and near-beach oil drilling and moratorium on all Gulf of Mexico oil drilling.