2018 Fort Lauderdale mayoral election

2018 Fort Lauderdale mayoral election

←  2015 March 13, 2018 2020  →

Candidate Dean Trantalis Bruce Roberts Charlotte Rodstrom First round 7,805 46.28% 5,270 31.25% 3,789 22.47% Runoff 12,908 64.57% 7,084 35.43% Eliminated

Mayor before election Jack Seiler Nonpartisan Elected Mayor Dean Trantalis Nonpartisan

The 2018 Fort Lauderdale mayoral election took place on March 13, 2018, following a primary election on January 16, 2018. Incumbent Mayor Jack Seiler was term-limited and could not seek a fourth term. ^[1] Three candidates ran to succeed him: City Commissioner Dean Trantalis, who ran against Seiler for Mayor in 2009; City Commissioner Bruce Roberts, who also served as the city's former police chief; and former City Commissioner Charlotte Rodstrom.

Trantalis placed first in the primary election with 46 percent of the vote, but did not receive a majority, so he proceeded to a runoff election with Roberts, who received 31 percent. In the runoff election, Trantalis defeated Roberts by a wide margin, winning 65 percent of the vote, becoming the city's first openly gay mayor. ^[2]

Primary election

Candidates

• Dean Trantalis, City Commissioner, 2009 candidate for Mayor ^[3]
• Bruce Roberts, City Commissioner, former Police Chief ^[4]
• Charlotte Rodstrom, former City Commissioner ^[5]

Results

Primary election results ^[6]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Nonpartisan	Dean Trantalis	7,805	46.28%
	Nonpartisan	Bruce Roberts	5,270	31.25%
	Nonpartisan	Charlotte Rodstrom	3,789	22.47%
Total votes			16,864	100.00%

Runoff election

Results

2018 Fort Lauderdale mayoral election results ^[7]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Nonpartisan	Dean Trantalis	12,908	64.57%
	Nonpartisan	Bruce Roberts	7,084	35.43%
Total votes			19,992	100.00%

References

1. Wallman, Brittany (March 11, 2018). "Fort Lauderdale says goodbye to Mayor Seiler". Sun Sentinel . Fort Lauderdale, Florida. p. 1B. Retrieved July 17, 2025.
2. Burke, Peter (March 13, 2018). "Dean Trantalis makes history as first openly gay mayor of Fort Lauderdale". WPLG . Miami, Florida . Retrieved July 17, 2025.
3. Wallman, Brittany (October 17, 2017). "Lauderdale mayor race heats up". Sun Sentinel . Fort Lauderdale, Florida. p. 5B. Retrieved July 17, 2025.
4. Barszewski, Larry (March 21, 2016). "One-time police chief now wants to be mayor". Sun Sentinel . Fort Lauderdale, Florida. p. 1B. Retrieved July 17, 2025.
5. Barszewski, Larry (March 14, 2016). "Charlotte Rodstrom's running again -- this time to be mayor". Sun Sentinel . Fort Lauderdale, Florida. p. 1B. Retrieved July 17, 2025.
6. "Official Municipal Primary Election". Broward County Supervisor of Elections. May 18, 2023. Retrieved July 16, 2025.
7. "Official Results Municipal General Election". Broward County Supervisor of Elections. May 18, 2023. Retrieved July 16, 2025.