Democrats Flip Red State Stronghold in Humiliation for Donald Trump

A deeply red city in the president's own backyard has turned blue following a narrow race.

Mar. 14, 2026 at 4:20am

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Andy Thomson was declared the winner of the mayoral race in Boca Raton, Florida, on Friday after early results indicated he won by just a single vote. Thomson's victory makes him the first Democrat to lead the city in more than 30 years. The election, which was held on Tuesday, had to be recounted twice due to the extremely narrow margin.

Why it matters

Boca Raton is just half an hour from Mar-a-Lago, Trump's residence and golf club in Palm Beach. The win notches another instance of a growing trend in which Democrats continue to flip formerly Republican offices, many of which had previously been deeply red.

The details

Thomson, with 7,572 votes, beat his two rivals: Republicans Mike Liebelson and Fran Nachlas, who won 7,567 and 3,967 votes, respectively. Voters in Florida were seen to reject major redevelopment in the area and the power of wealthy developers, particularly the Terra and Frisbie Group's proposed megaproject for the downtown government campus, which became the subject of the Save Boca campaign.

  • The election was held on Tuesday.
  • The results were declared on Friday.

The players

Andy Thomson

The new Democratic mayor of Boca Raton, Florida.

Mike Liebelson

One of Thomson's Republican rivals in the mayoral race.

Fran Nachlas

One of Thomson's Republican rivals in the mayoral race.

Nikki Fried

The Florida Democratic Party Chair.

Donald Trump

The former president whose Mar-a-Lago resort is located just half an hour from Boca Raton.

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What they’re saying

“I'm thrilled to congratulate Mayor-elect Andy Thomson on this monumental victory. Winning by a margin of just 5 votes, this race is proof that organizing everywhere and talking to every voter will make all the difference in 2026.”

— Nikki Fried, Florida Democratic Party Chair

“This victory reiterates an undeniable trend in Florida: Democrats can run and win anywhere—including Donald Trump's backyard. Floridians are tired of the chaos, corruption, and sky-high prices on everything from groceries to gas and healthcare.”

— Nikki Fried, Florida Democratic Party Chair

“This is a reminder EVERY vote matters. Your vote is your voice. USE IT! Let's keep the wave going.”

— Jennifer Jenkins, Florida Senate candidate (Social media)

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

This case highlights growing concerns in the community about repeat offenders released on bail, raising questions about bail reform, public safety on SF streets, and if any special laws to govern autonomous vehicles in residential and commercial areas.