Russell Wins Orange County Mayoral Race

Tiffany Moore Russell has won the open race for Orange County mayor. She defeated businessman Chris Messina in the general election held this year. The race was nonpartisan, though the candidates represented different political parties.

As of publication, Moore Russell had captured just under 60 percent of the vote. Messina received 35 percent. Voter turnout across the county stood at roughly 55 percent. These figures determine the outcome of the contest for the top executive position in the county government.

Moore Russell currently serves as the Orange County clerk of courts. She is a Democrat with a history in elected public office. Messina is a Republican who had never previously held an elected position. The winner will succeed Jerry Demings, who is leaving office after serving as mayor since 2018. Demings, a former sheriff and police chief, is term-limited under the county charter. The position carries an annual salary of $261,209.

The mayor oversees a budget of nearly $9 billion for the coming year. The role also involves guiding policy decisions on the board of county commissioners. The board has expanded to nine members. Moore Russell campaigned on her experience balancing budgets and her desire to streamline permitting for affordable housing. She also supported expanding transportation infrastructure.

In a previous interview, Moore Russell described herself as a fighter who would defend the interests of Orange County residents. She told the Orlando Weekly that she would be creative, intentional, and strategic in delivering services. She had previously won the August primary election against Messina. In that four-way race, she secured roughly 32 percent of the vote to his 27 percent, a margin of nearly 9,000 votes. The primary also included former U.S. House Rep. Stephanie Murphy and Orange County commissioner Mayra Uribe.

Several changes are occurring on the county commission alongside the mayoral transition. Incumbent District 6 commissioner Mike Scott remains in office. Two new districts were created in 2024 to accommodate population growth. Patricia Rumph won the seat for the newly created District 7. Former State Sen. Vic Torres is the frontrunner for the District 8 seat.

Democratic Florida House Rep. Johanna Lopez is leading in the District 4 race to replace outgoing commissioner Maribel Gomez Cordero. Former State Rep. Kamia Brown will take over the District 2 seat from Mike Crabbe. Crabbe, a sheriff’s lieutenant, had been appointed to that seat in July after Christine Moore resigned to run for Apopka mayor. Orange County is home to nearly 1.4 million residents and hosts major tourist attractions including Walt Disney World and Universal Orlando.