Democrat Flips South Florida Mayor's Seat Held for Decades

Andy Thomson defeats Republican candidates in razor-thin Boca Raton mayoral race

Mar. 14, 2026 at 4:08am

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Andy Thomson, the Democratic candidate for mayor of Boca Raton, Florida, defeated Republican candidates Mike Liebelson and Fran Nachlas this week, flipping a seat that has not been held by Democrats for more than 30 years. The razor-thin outcome triggered an automatic machine recount that narrowed the margin to one vote, and a subsequent manual review of over and undervotes then expanded Thomson's edge to five votes.

Why it matters

The seat flipped in a state Trump won by double digits in 2024, though Palm Beach County, where Boca Raton is located, went blue for former Vice President Kamala Harris by 0.8 percent. Boca Raton sits roughly 30 minutes south of Palm Beach, home to Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort.

The details

The Palm Beach County Supervisor of Elections certified Thomson as mayor on Friday following the recount that set the final tally at 7,572 votes for Thomson to 7,567 for Liebelson. Liebelson objected to certain ballots judged for Thomson during the manual review and indicated he might challenge the result, while Supervisor Wendy Link defended the process as accurate and transparent.

  • The election took place on March 12, 2026.
  • The recount was completed on March 14, 2026.
  • The Palm Beach County Supervisor of Elections certified Thomson as mayor on March 14, 2026.

The players

Andy Thomson

The Democratic candidate who won the Boca Raton mayoral election.

Mike Liebelson

One of the Republican candidates who lost the Boca Raton mayoral election.

Fran Nachlas

One of the Republican candidates who lost the Boca Raton mayoral election.

Wendy Link

The Palm Beach County Supervisor of Elections who defended the recount process as accurate and transparent.

Nikki Fried

The Florida Democratic Party Chair who congratulated Andy Thomson on his victory.

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What’s next

Liebelson objected to certain ballots judged for Thomson during the manual review and indicated he might challenge the result legally, though he said he would "sleep on it" before deciding.

The takeaway

This election result in a traditionally Republican-held mayoral seat in Boca Raton, Florida, a suburb of Palm Beach, highlights the shifting political landscape in the state and the potential for Democrats to make inroads even in Trump-friendly areas through strong local organizing and engagement with voters.