TAMPA, Fla. — It's Castor vs. Straz for the Tampa mayoral seat.

  • Jane Castor collected 48.1 percent of vote
  • David Straz collected 15.5 percent of vote
  • Runoff scheduled for April 23
  • Click HERE for other Tampa Election Results

The race has been whittled down from seven candidates to former Tampa Police Chief Jane Castor and billionaire philanthropist David Straz. 

Castor and Straz will head to the April 23 runoff in the race to be next mayor.

Castor, the front runner going into Election Day, earned 48.1 percent of the vote, which was just shy of the 50 percent threshold necessary to avoid a runoff. Castor won all but two of the city's precincts. 

Coming in second was Straz, who collected 15.5 percent of the vote. 

Harry Cohen placed third with 12.2 percent of the vote, followed by Ed Turanchik (8.9 percent), Dick Greco, Jr. (8.6 percent), Mike Suarez (5.1 percent) and Topher Morrison (1.7 percent). 

 

Straz promised supporters that, if he's elected, he'd perform a full audit of the City of Tampa budget, create higher paying jobs and deliver a world class transit system.

Despite not being the favorite, Straz says he is confident he can compete. 

"I have lived the American dream," Straz said Tuesday night. "And I want to help every man, woman and child in Tampa do the same thing. 

"And It starts by taking my broom to City Hall."

Castor, meanwhile, is touting her experience as police chief to her supporters. 

She said she wants Tampa to be a national innovation leader, while at the same time growing local, home-bred businesses.

"Tampa's continued success requires an effective leader who can get things done," Castor said Tuesday night with celebrating constituents. "And I am the individual with that knowledge, that skill and that experience to take Tampa successfully into the future."

Castor kicked off the second round of campaigning Wednesday with an endorsement from the current mayor of Tampa. Bob Buckhorn said she was the only one in the race who was equipped to lead the city.

 

Castor and Straz will have a full six weeks of campaigning to deliver their messages to voters. Castor has about three times the support but Straz has deep pockets to push his message.

Outside of the mayoral race, voters also chose made their voices heard on incoming members of Tampa's City Council and 18 amendments to the city's charter. 

All 18 of the proposed amendments passed. Meanwhile, three city council races will also head to runoffs next month. For a complete breakdown of tonight's results, head to our Decision 2019 Election Results page.