For the first time in two decades, next year’s elections for constitutional officers in Polk County will be partisan races.

Joseph S. Van de Bogart, general counsel for Florida’s Department of State, sent a letter Friday to Polk County Supervisor of Elections Lori Edwards directing her to administer the relevant elections as partisan.

Van de Bogart’s order applies to the contests for supervisor of elections and property appraiser, along with three others up for election in 2024: Polk County sheriff, clerk of the circuit court and tax collector.

Edwards responded Friday with a one-sentence letter to Van de Bogart, saying she would conduct Polk County’s constitutional officer elections as partisan races.

The exchange settled a question that has been simmering for months. Polk County Commissioner Neil Combee filed in February to run for Polk County property appraiser. Both Combee and the other current candidate, Gow Fields, are registered Republicans, and both initially appeared as nonpartisan candidates in a listing on the Supervisor of Elections’ website.