Andy Thomson, 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.
Newsweek reached out to the Palm Beach County Supervisor of Elections Office via email late Friday night for comment.
Why It Matters
The seat flipped in a state Trump won by double digits in 2024. Palm Beach County, however, went blue for former Vice President Kamala Harris by 0.8 percent, according to CNN.
Boca Raton sits roughly 30 minutes south of Palm Beach, home to Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort.
What To Know
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. The ultra-close finish drew scrutiny and potential legal challenges from Thomson’s opponent, The Palm Beach Post reports.
The Palm Beach County Supervisor of Elections certified Thomson as mayor on Friday following a 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 Post reports.
When asked if he plans to challenge the results legally, Liebelson said he would “sleep on it,” the news outlet added.
According to Florida Politics, the seat has not been held by a Democrat-aligned candidate in more than 30 years.
What People Are Saying
Florida Democratic Party Chair Nikki Fried, in a statement Friday: “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. Andy has led as a Councilman with integrity, care, and with the community’s best interest in mind. I have no doubt he will serve as Mayor with just as much heart and passionate service.
“Andy’s election marks the first time in decades that a Democrat has held the seat. 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. They are voting for trusted leaders like Andy to steady the ship and return common sense, people-centered solutions back to our communities.
“We’re proud of Andy and his involvement with our Take Back Local program. By providing candidates with resources and on the ground support, the Florida Democratic Party continues to swing the pendulum in our direction.”
City of Boca Raton, on X Friday: “The Palm Beach County Supervisor of Elections has completed the recount for the Mayor’s race. Following that process, Andy Thomson has been confirmed as Boca Raton’s newly elected Mayor. In addition to the mayoral race, Boca Raton voters elected three members to the City Council during the municipal election, as previously announced. Mayor and City Council Seats · Mayor: Andy Thomson · Seat A: Michelle Grau · Seat B: Jon Pearlman · Seat D: Stacy Sipple The City’s new Mayor and Council Members will be sworn in at an Organizational Meeting on Tuesday, March 31, 2026.”
