2022 Gainesville mayoral election

Last updated

2022 Gainesville mayoral election
Flag of Florida.svg
  2019 August 23, 2022
November 8, 2022
2026 
  Ward-web 1 (cropped).jpg Ed Bielarski large (cropped).jpg Commissioner-arreola (cropped).jpg
Candidate Harvey Ward Ed BielarskiDavid Arreola
First round5,889
27.94%
5,570
26.43%
3,242
15.38%
Runoff 20,420
57.60%
15,030
42.40%
Eliminated

  3x4.svg 3x4.svg
CandidateGary GordonJuly Thomas
First round3,044
14.44%
2,119
10.06%
Runoff EliminatedEliminated

Gainesville mayoral election 2022 by precinct.svg
Gainesville mayoral primary by precinct 2022.svg
Ward:     <30%     30–40%     50–60%     60–70%     70–80%
Bielarski:     <30%     30–40%     40–50%     50–60%     70–80%
Arreola:     <30%     30–40%     40–50%
Thomas:     <30%
No votes:     

Mayor before election

Lauren Poe
Nonpartisan

Elected Mayor

Harvey Ward
Nonpartisan

The 2022 Gainesville, Florida mayoral election took place on November 8, 2022, following a primary election on August 23, 2022. Incumbent Mayor Lauren Poe was term-limited and could not seek a third consecutive term. A crowded field emerged to succeed him. City Commissioner Harvey Ward and Ed Bielarski, the former general manager of the Gainesville Regional Utilities, placed first and second in the primary election with 28 and 26 percent, respectively. [1] In the general election, Ward defeated Bielarski in a landslide, winning 58 percent of the vote to Bielarski's 42 percent. [2]

Contents

Following an amendment to the city charter, this was the first election to take place on a consolidated schedule with statewide elections and Ward was the first Mayor elected to a four-year term. [3]

Primary election

Candidates

Results

Primary election results [9]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Nonpartisan Harvey Ward 5,889 27.94%
Nonpartisan Ed Bielarski 5,570 26.43%
Nonpartisan David Arreola3,24215.38%
Nonpartisan Gary Gordon3,04414.44%
Nonpartisan July Thomas2,11910.06%
Nonpartisan Ansaun J. Fisher4492.13%
Nonpartisan Gabriel Hillel2731.30%
Nonpartisan Donald E. Shepherd Sr.2521.20%
Nonpartisan Adam Rosenthal2361.12%
Total votes21,074 100.00%

Runoff election

Results

Primary election results [10]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Nonpartisan Harvey Ward 20,420 57.60%
Nonpartisan Ed Bielarski15,03042.40%
Total votes35,450 100.00%

References

  1. Caplan, Andrew (August 24, 2022). "Gainesville mayor: Ward, Bielarski top field of 9 candidates to succeed Lauren Poe". The Gainesville Sun . Gainesville, Florida . Retrieved July 16, 2025.
  2. Harris, Javon L. (November 8, 2022). "Harvey Ward defeats Ed Bielarski for Gainesville mayor after a contentious battle". The Gainesville Sun . Gainesville, Florida . Retrieved July 16, 2025.
  3. Hyson, Katie (November 9, 2022). "Harvey Ward wins Gainesville's 2022 election for mayor". WUFT-FM . Gainesville, Florida . Retrieved July 16, 2025.
  4. Henderson, John (February 1, 2022). "Commissioner Harvey Ward files to run for Gainesville mayor". The Gainesville Sun . Gainesville, Florida . Retrieved July 16, 2025.
  5. Henderson, John (January 31, 2022). "Fired GRU general manager Ed Bielarski files to run for Gainesville mayor". The Gainesville Sun . Gainesville, Florida . Retrieved July 16, 2025.
  6. Henderson, John (December 16, 2021). "Gainesville Commissioner David Arreola actively campaigning to become city's next mayor". The Gainesville Sun . Gainesville, Florida . Retrieved July 16, 2025.
  7. Amaya, Julianne (June 14, 2022). "Gary Gordon making his run for Gainesville Mayor". WGFL . Gainesville, Florida . Retrieved July 16, 2025.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 Henderson, John (June 17, 2022). "Crowded, diverse field of 9 hope to become Gainesville's next mayor". The Gainesville Sun . Gainesville, Florida . Retrieved July 16, 2025.
  9. "2022 Primary and Gainesville Election - August 23, 2022 Alachua County Florida - Official Results" (PDF). Alachua County Supervisor of Elections. September 14, 2022. Retrieved July 16, 2025.
  10. "Election Summary Report - General Election - Alachua County, FL - November 08, 2022" (PDF). Alachua County Supervisor of Elections. November 18, 2022. Retrieved July 16, 2025.