2019 Orlando mayoral election

2019 Orlando mayoral election

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Candidate Buddy Dyer Sam Ings Aretha Simons Party Nonpartisan Nonpartisan Nonpartisan Popular vote 15,957 3,883 2,387 Percentage 71.79% 17.47% 10.74%

Mayor before election Buddy Dyer Nonpartisan Elected mayor Buddy Dyer Nonpartisan

The 2019 Orlando mayoral election took place on November 5, 2019. Incumbent Mayor Buddy Dyer ran for re-election to a fifth full term. He was challenged by City Councilman Sam Ings and nonprofit businesswoman Aretha Simons. Dyer was a favorite to win re-election, winning the endorsements of prominent local politicians ^[1] and significantly outraising his opponents. ^[2] He ultimately won re-election in a landslide, receiving 72 percent of the vote to Ings's 17 percent and Simons's 11 percent. ^[3]

General election

Candidates

• Buddy Dyer, incumbent Mayor ^[4]
• Sam Ings, City Councilman, 2004 candidate for Mayor ^[5]
• Aretha Simons, nonprofit businesswoman, U.S. Navy veteran ^[6]

Dropped out

• Shantel Bennett ^[7]

Campaign

Dyer, the longest-serving Mayor in city history, sought a fifth term as Mayor, citing his accomplishments in establishing Orlando as "one of the top job-growth markets and tourism destinations in the country." ^[8] City Councilman Sam Ings, a consistent opponent of Dyer's initiatives on the council, announced that he would run against Dyer, whom he argued had "been there long enough already" and had "become[] very complacent." ^[5] Simons similarly argued that "[p]eople are tired of career politicians" and suggested that Dyer "thinks he's untouchable." ^[6]

The Orlando Sentinel endorsed Dyer for re-election, noting that while "Dyer has continued to do a solid job of running a city that's on the move," neither Ings nor Simons "presents a compelling case for unseating" him. ^[9]

Polling

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size [a]	Margin of error	Shantele Bennett	Buddy Dyer	Sam Ings	Aretha Simons	Undecided
St. Pete Polls [10]	July 20–22, 2019	325 (RV)	± 4.0%	10%	52%	11%	4%	23%

Results

2019 Orlando mayoral election results ^[11]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Nonpartisan	Buddy Dyer (inc.)	15,957	71.79%
	Nonpartisan	Sam Ings	3,883	17.47%
	Nonpartisan	Aretha Simons	2,387	10.74%
Total votes			22,227	100.00%

Notes

1. Key:
   A – all adults
   RV – registered voters
   LV – likely voters
   V – unclear

References

1. Powers, Scott (September 12, 2019). "Buddy Dyer campaign touts bipartisan group of mayors' endorsements". Florida Politics. Retrieved July 24, 2025.
2. Powers, Scott (August 21, 2019). "Buddy Dyer continues to dominate money chase in Orlando mayoral race". Florida Politics. Retrieved July 24, 2025.
3. Gillespie, Ryan (November 6, 2019). "Dyer reelected to fifth term". Orlando Sentinel . Orlando, Florida. p. A1. Retrieved July 24, 2025.
4. Powers, Scott (March 25, 2019). "Buddy Dyer to kick off 2019 re-election campaign". Florida Politics. Retrieved July 24, 2025.
5. Powers, Scott (June 24, 2019). "Sam Ings challenges what he says has become Buddy Dyer's complacent reign". Florida Politics. Retrieved July 24, 2025.
6. Powers, Scott (February 5, 2019). "Aretha Simons counting on waves to carry her against Buddy Dyer". Florida Politics. Retrieved July 24, 2025.
7. Powers, Scott (September 12, 2019). "Buddy Dyer campaign touts bipartisan group of mayors' endorsements". Florida Politics. Retrieved July 24, 2025.
8. Powers, Scott (September 12, 2019). "Buddy Dyer files for another term as Orlando's mayor". Florida Politics. Retrieved July 24, 2025.
9. "Dyer for mayor; Burns in District 6". Orlando Sentinel . Orlando, Florida. October 24, 2019. p. A22. Retrieved July 24, 2025.
10. "City of Orlando Survey conducted for StPetePolls.org" (PDF). St. Pete Polls. July 22, 2019. Retrieved July 24, 2025.
11. "2019 City of Orlando - Official Results" (PDF). Orange County Supervisor of Elections. November 8, 2019. Retrieved July 23, 2025.