Clerk of Court Tiffany Moore Russell and tech entrepreneur Chris Messina earned spots in a November runoff for Orange County’s next mayor, beating out former Congresswoman Stephanie Murphy, whose third-place finish came despite a steep spending edge.
Moore Russell, elected 20 years ago as the youngest ever county commissioner, won nearly 32% of the vote. Messina, the lone Republican in the contest, received about 28%. The two were the lowest spenders in the race.
Murphy, who spent close to $1.9 million on the primary, collected about 26%, falling roughly 2,500 votes shy of a spot in the run-off. County Commissioner Mayra Uribe finished fourth, with about 15%.
Moore Russell celebrated with supporters Tuesday evening on the shores of Lake Orlando, declaring that the result showed this election couldn’t be bought.
“Yes, we were up against millions of dollars that kept people quiet … but the people of Orange County continued to back us every step of the way,” she said. “That money didn’t stop you … you didn’t stay on the sideline to support me.”
“Money didn’t win tonight. People did.”
Orange County mayoral candidate Tiffany Moore Russell speaks to family, friends and supporters following the projected election results during an election night watch party at Orlando Lakeside Reception Hall in Orlando on Tuesday, Aug. 18 2026. (Rich Pope/Orlando Sentinel)
Messina could not immediately be reached for comment.
Murphy had roped in six-figure contributions from Walt Disney World, Avalon Park Developer Beat Kahli, and billionaires Michael Bloomberg and J. Hyatt Brown.
Her fundraising haul on its own is more than any mayoral race in county history – incumbent Jerry Demings and his two opponents in 2018 had the previous high watermark with a collective $1.47 million.
Uribe spent about $688,000, Moore Russell spent $377,000 and Messina spent about $137,000. Collectively they poured more than $3 million into the contest which drew a turnout of about 22%.
The job oversees more than 8,000 employees and a budget of about $9 billion. Beyond the responsibilities as the chief executive and administrator for Florida’s fifth largest county, the county mayor also has a seat on some of the region’s most powerful boards, including those overseeing Orlando International Airport, Lynx, SunRail, and the Central Florida Expressway Authority.
The mayor is paid $261,209, and serves a four year term. The incumbent, Jerry Demings, is term-limited and couldn’t run again. He cut short a gubernatorial bid earlier this year after a cancer diagnosis.
Orange County mayoral candidate Chris Messina gets a hug from his son while celebrating with his wife, Julie, family, friends and supporters following the projected election result during an election night watch party at Gills Lakeside in Orlando on Tuesday, August 18 2026. (Rich Pope/Orlando Sentinel)
While the race is non-partisan, the two top vote getters went out of their way to inform voters of their party affiliation.
Messina pitched himself as the conservative choice, while all of his opponents were Democrats. He argued the county should press to be a national leader in space technology and proposed pursuing the creation of a service academy for the United States Space Force in Orange County. He also vowed to conduct a forensic audit of county spending in an effort to reduce its budget.
Moore Russell’s advertisements tout some of the local Democrats who have endorsed her, including county Property Appraiser Amy Mercado and Public Defender Melissa Vickers. She has pushed for programs to expand housing affordability and wants to expand rapid bus routes on some of the countiest busiest thoroughfares.
In Orange County, one of Florida’s few Democratic bastions, its strongest elected leaders mostly didn’t pick sides in the primary.
But with a clear partisan divide, that began to change soon after votes were tallied.
Anna Eskamani, the popular state representative running for Orlando Mayor, swiftly backed Moore Russell.
“Officially throwing my support behind the one and only Tiffany Moore Russell for Orange County Mayor!” Eskamani wrote on Facebook. “As someone who is running for City of Orlando Mayor, she will be an incredible partner at the county level to get things done for the people of Central Florida!”
Moore Russell and Messina will face off Nov. 2, with winner taking over the mayor’s office.
This is a developing story, please check for updates.
This is a developing story, please check for updates.