Nesta wins Apopka mayoral runoff in landslide

Longtime city council member defeats opponent by 24 points in high-turnout election

Apr. 15, 2026 at 2:44am

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A realistic oil painting of the Apopka City Hall building, with warm sunlight casting long shadows across the facade and surrounding trees. The scene has a quiet, contemplative mood that evokes the changing of political leadership in the city.Apopka's City Hall stands as a symbol of the city's transition to new leadership, with the election of Kyle Nesta as mayor.Apopka Today

Longtime Apopka City Council member Kyle Nesta won a decisive victory in the city's mayoral runoff election, defeating opponent Janice Moore by a margin of 24 percentage points. The election saw strong voter turnout in the Central Florida city.

Why it matters

Nesta's victory marks a changing of the guard in Apopka, as the city transitions to new leadership after the retirement of the previous long-serving mayor. The election results suggest Nesta's policy platform and vision for the city resonated with a majority of Apopka residents.

The details

Nesta, who has served on the Apopka City Council for the past 12 years, campaigned on a platform of economic development, infrastructure improvements, and community engagement. He secured 62% of the vote compared to 38% for Moore, a political newcomer. Turnout for the runoff election was significantly higher than the initial mayoral primary, indicating strong voter enthusiasm.

  • The mayoral runoff election was held on April 14, 2026.
  • Nesta has served on the Apopka City Council since 2014.

The players

Kyle Nesta

A longtime member of the Apopka City Council who won the city's mayoral runoff election in a landslide.

Janice Moore

Nesta's opponent in the Apopka mayoral runoff election, a political newcomer who received 38% of the vote.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“I'm honored that the residents of Apopka have placed their trust in me to lead our city forward. My focus will be on bringing people together and delivering results that improve the quality of life for all our citizens.”

— Kyle Nesta, Mayor-Elect, City of Apopka

What’s next

Nesta will be sworn in as Apopka's new mayor on May 1, 2026, succeeding the retiring previous office holder.

The takeaway

Nesta's decisive victory in the Apopka mayoral runoff suggests residents are ready for a new generation of leadership focused on economic growth, infrastructure, and community engagement. His win marks a significant transition for the city as it looks to the future.