2008 Orlando mayoral election

2008 Orlando mayoral election

←  2004 January 29, 2008 2012  →

Candidate Buddy Dyer Ken Mulvaney Party Nonpartisan Nonpartisan Popular vote 24,181 15,863 Percentage 60.39% 39.61%

Mayor before election Buddy Dyer Nonpartisan Elected mayor Buddy Dyer Nonpartisan

The 2008 Orlando mayoral election took place on January 29, 2008. Incumbent Mayor Buddy Dyer ran for re-election to a second full term. Dyer was challenged by businessman Ken Mulvaney, his main opponent in the 2004 election. Mulvaney challenged his loss in the election, alleging that Dyer illegally paid a consultant to collect absentee ballots, which culminated in Dyer's indictment and suspension from office, and a special election. However, the charges were ultimately dropped against Dyer, he was restored to office, and the special election was cancelled. ^[1]

The race between Dyer and Mulvaney attracted less attention their 2004 campaign, ^[2] and ultimately saw Dyer win re-election in a landslide, receiving 60 percent of the vote to Mulvaney's 40 percent. ^[3]

General election

Candidates

• Buddy Dyer, incumbent Mayor ^[4]
• Ken Mulvaney, businessman, 2004 candidate for Mayor ^[5]

Disqualified

• Tim Adams, former board member of the Orange County Soil and Water Conservation District ^[6]

Results

2008 Orlando mayoral election results ^[7]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Nonpartisan	Buddy Dyer (inc.)	24,181	60.39%
	Nonpartisan	Ken Mulvaney	15,863	39.61%
Total votes			40,044	100.00%

References

1. Schlueb, Mark (April 21, 2005). "Dyer cleared: Absentee-ballot case against all 4 people dropped". Orlando Sentinel . Orlando, Florida. p. A1. Retrieved July 24, 2025.
2. Schlueb, Mark (January 7, 2008). "Families foes face off in mayoral race". Orlando Sentinel . Orlando, Florida. p. A1. Retrieved July 24, 2025.
3. Schlueb, Mark (January 30, 2008). "Dyer cruises to easy victory". Orlando Sentinel . Orlando, Florida. p. B1. Retrieved July 24, 2025.
4. Maxwell, Scott (May 6, 2007). "Dyer's election bid: VIPs and tight T's". Orlando Sentinel . Orlando, Florida. p. B2. Retrieved July 24, 2025.
5. Schlueb, Mark (November 16, 2007). "2004 foe enters race against Dyer". Orlando Sentinel . Orlando, Florida. p. B3. Retrieved July 24, 2025.
6. Schlueb, Mark (January 5, 2008). "Judge keeps Adams off Orlando mayoral ballot". Orlando Sentinel . Orlando, Florida. p. B2. Retrieved July 24, 2025.
7. "Election Results 2000-2008" (PDF). Orlando City Clerk. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 15, 2015. Retrieved July 23, 2025.