Candidates with significant support who were defeated nonetheless in the August primary announced their endorsements of City Commission candidates Loranne Ausley and Tom Derzypolski while a dozen current and former elected officials came out in support of City Commissioner Jeremy Matlow, with many of them appearing in his new ad.
Rep. Angie Nixon, the Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate, was the big headliner in the Matlow commercial, showing up toward the end next to City Commissioner Jack Porter and County Commissioner Bill Proctor.
“From Washington, D.C., to Tallahassee City Hall, change can’t wait,” said Nixon, whose surprise dominant victory over moderate Democrat Alex Vindman electrified progressives and drew fire from conservatives for her Democratic Socialists of America membership.
See the candidates, their supporters at election night watch parties
1 of 63
Democratic candidate for Congressional District 2 Amanda Marie Green shares what she is most proud of about her campaign Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2026. (Alicia Devine/Tallahassee Democrat)
Meanwhile, Talethia Edwards, who narrowly missed the runoff in a six-person race for City Commission Seat 3, finishing just 14 votes behind Tom Derzypolski, announced she is now supporting him. Derzypolski, who came in second place behind P.J. Perez, posted the endorsement on Facebook.
‘Talethia and I know that together — as one community — we can build a Tallahassee where everyone has a genuine opportunity to thrive — and where our words are matched by meaningful action,” said Derzypolski, who after the primary took out a full page ad in the Capital Outlook paying tribute to Edwards’ community service.
Edwards noted on Facebook that Derzypolski has committed “to focus on affordable housing, jobs that pay a living wage, neighborhood investment, safety, access, opportunity and a serious commitment to our children, along with a City Hall that listens and delivers.”
“I did not run to build a platform for myself. I ran to move these priorities forward for the people who live with the consequences of City Hall’s decisions,” she wrote. “That is why my endorsement comes with a great expectation that Tom will stay committed to the values and priorities.”
Daryl Parks, who finished in third place in a four-person contest for mayor, also threw his support behind Derzypolski.
Parks, in a Facebook post, wrote that as a longtime member of the community, he’s watched Derzypolski show up “not just for his own neighborhood but for every neighborhood.”
“Tom understands that good leadership on the commission means representing our city’s most vulnerable, and I believe he’ll follow through on that commitment.”
Edwards also endorsed Loranne Ausley, who’s locked in a close battle with Matlow in the mayor’s race.
She referenced a political bomb that fell on her late in the primary in the form a Facebook video posted by a faux “Tallahassee Conservatives” group. The video included Orlando police body-cam footage of an incident in which Edwards was cited for parking illegally in a disabled spot.
Soon after its release, Matlow’s campaign manager, Kristellys Estanga, a paid consultant for Perez, issued a public apology and resigned from Matlow’s campaign. She, however, remains in Matlow’s close orbit.
“As you know, our campaign experienced firsthand the ugliness of personal attacks, misinformation and divisive politics,” Edwards said. “That cannot become the future of our community. It’s time to turn the page. We need a mayor who will reject the politics of division, that will bring people together and that will lead with both strength and decency.”
Parks, who also endorsed Ausley, held a “Huddle Up” fundraiser for City Commissioner Dianne Williams-Cox on Sept. 19 before the Florida A&M University football game. Williams-Cox is running for re-election against former City Commissioner Dot Inman-Johnson, who’s part of a progressive slate along with Perez and Matlow.
Mayoral candidate Loranne Ausley talks with Daryl Parks at Earley’s Kitchen on Friday, Aug. 28, 2026.
Which former and current officials appear in Matlow’s new campaign commercial
Matlow’s campaign announced the endorsements of a dozen current and former officials and rolled out the new commercial featuring most of them on Sept. 24. In a room full of other Matlow supporters, they spoke sequentially to dramatic effect.
“We all love Tallahassee,” said Leon County Commissioner David O’Keefe. “That doesn’t mean we think everything is fine.”
“It isn’t,” Leon County Property Appraiser Akin Akinyemi chimed in.
“But pretending otherwise won’t fix it,” said former County Commissioner Mary Ann Lindley.
“It doesn’t have to be that way,” Proctor said.
Also appearing in the ad were Inman-Johnson, former City Commissioner Debbie Lightsey and former Supervisor of Elections Ion Sancho. Those endorsing Matlow but not appearing in the ad were former City Commissioner Kent Spriggs, former County Commissioner Cliff Thaell and Gainesville Mayor Harvey Ward.
In a campaign release, Matlow said he was grateful for “the trust these effective public officials” placed in him.
“It sends an additional signal of our strength all across Tallahassee in our campaign for positive change at City Hall to reflect the will of the residents and taxpayers, not developer-funded elite status quo,” he said.
Contact Jeff Burlew at jburlew@tallahassee.com or 850-599-2180.
This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Key endorsement alert in Tallahassee mayor, city commission races