The2019 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]
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]
TheOrlando 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]
.jpg)
