{"id":230735,"date":"2026-04-14T04:18:41","date_gmt":"2026-04-14T04:18:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/230735\/"},"modified":"2026-04-14T04:18:41","modified_gmt":"2026-04-14T04:18:41","slug":"bob-buckhorn-launches-tampas-next-chapter-officially-files-for-mayors-race","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/230735\/","title":{"rendered":"Bob Buckhorn launches ‘Tampa’s next chapter,’ officially files for Mayor’s race"},"content":{"rendered":"

Bob\u00a0Buckhorn is officially seeking to get his old job back. The former Tampa Mayor filed to run on Monday morning, promising to connect with every voter during his campaign.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m excited,\u201d Buckhorn beamed as he discussed his official entrance into the race.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think today starts the beginning of Tampa\u2019s next chapter,\u201d he told Florida Politics. \u201cWe\u2019ve been looking forward to this for months.\u201d<\/p>\n

Buckhorn coordinated his filing with his overall campaign launch, including a new website<\/a> and launch video. The video features about two and a half minutes of testimonials from Tampa residents, business owners and first responders praising Buckhorn\u2019s leadership, and Buckhorn pledging continued support for all communities. The messaging is strategic \u2014 it centers on Buckhorn\u2019s main campaign theme of lifting all areas of the city, a somewhat subtle nod to critiques he had faced in his first terms that progress was isolated to downtown Tampa, surrounding neighborhoods and the Hillsborough River.<\/p>\n

Among those singing Buckhorn\u2019s praises in the video are first responders, including Jace Kohan, a retired Tampa firefighter.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cWe had a major fire on Seventh Avenue in Ybor City, one in the morning, two in the morning, Bob Buckhorn is still there,\u201d Kohan said, with another retired firefighter, Tony Perez, adding that in \u201c27 years on the job\u201d he had \u201cnever done that with any Mayor.\u201d<\/p>\n

Others in the video praised Buckhorn as \u201cthe people\u2019s Mayor\u201d and someone who \u201cis not scared of rolling up his sleeves.\u201d Another praised Buckhorn for leading \u201cnot always in the ivory tower.\u201d<\/p>\n

The video also includes a touch of humor, with Buckhorn cracking a joke about aging since his first two terms in office.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a city that went through a lot. So yeah, it turned my hair white, but I\u2019m OK with that,\u201d he quipped.<\/p>\n

The election will take place in just under a year, on March 2, 2027. If no candidate gets more than 50% of the vote, a runoff will be held on April 27, 2027.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Buckhorn\u2019s campaign will emphasize his proven leadership \u2014 Buckhorn previously served two terms as Mayor, from 2011 until 2019 \u2014 dedication to delivering real results for residents and stakeholders and commitment to ensuring Tampa\u2019s bright future reaches every neighborhood.<\/p>\n

He preceded Mayor\u00a0Jane\u00a0Castor, and now Buckhorn hopes to follow her in office. Tampa\u2019s municipal code limits Mayors to two terms, but since Buckhorn has been out of office for two terms, he is allowed to run again.<\/p>\n

Buckhorn faces a crowded field of candidates. Tampa City Council member\u00a0Lynn\u00a0Hurtak\u00a0has already filed to run, and her colleague\u00a0Bill\u00a0Carlson is also expected to join the race.<\/p>\n

Other candidates in the race are Ryan Edwards, Anthony Gilbert Jr., Gary Hartfield, Alan Henderson, Julie Magill, Tres Rodmon, Taryn Sabia, and Reginald Strachan.<\/p>\n

He enters the race as the clear frontrunner. He already raised $1.8 million<\/a>\u00a0through his political committee,\u00a0Friends of Bob Buckhorn,<\/a> and still has almost all of it available.<\/p>\n

Before Buckhorn entered the race, the top-funded candidate was Sabia, who raised just over $21,000. Hurtak raised less than $15,000. Carlson has not officially entered the race, but a supporting committee, Friends of Bill Carlson<\/a>, has raised just over $35,000.\u00a0Another organization<\/a> formed in March could also support Carlson.<\/p>\n

And candidates (not named Buckhorn) will need to work hard to boost name recognition, especially considering Buckhorn\u2019s name is literally staring residents in the face every day \u2014 the Tampa River Center was renamed to honor Buckhorn in mid-2025<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Since the election is still more than 10 months away, there has not been much polling. However,\u00a0a poll from last May<\/a>\u00a0showed Buckhorn as the clear frontrunner with 49% support. The poll included Carlson, Hurtak, then-state Sen.\u00a0Jay\u00a0Collins,\u00a0and House Democratic Leader\u00a0Fentrice\u00a0Driskell. Carlson had 22% support, and Hurtak had 8%. Collins and Driskell have since ruled out running.<\/p>\n

Voter opinions may have changed since then, and the poll included some people who will not be on the ballot. Still, it shows Buckhorn close to the 50% needed to avoid a runoff. If he does face a runoff, likely against Carlson, the poll suggests Buckhorn would win easily, with Buckhorn at 39% and Carlson at 17%.<\/p>\n

Still, Buckhorn is not taking anything for granted.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m going to start talking to the people about what lies ahead,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Voters can expect him to continue the progress made in the city under both his and Castor\u2019s leadership. Buckhorn told Florida Politics he wants to physically connect major waterfront amenities, many of which were started or finished while he was Mayor, such as Water Street, the Channel District, Gasworx, and Tampa Heights. He has already left his mark on Tampa by completing the city\u2019s iconic Riverwalk.<\/p>\n

His vision for a third nonconsecutive term goes further, as he promises to support historically underserved neighborhoods. In December, he told Florida Politics,<\/a> \u201cThere aren\u2019t guaranteed outcomes, but there ought to be guaranteed opportunities.\u201d<\/p>\n

Buckhorn is a well-known local Democrat, which is important in Tampa politics. The city has more than 79,000 registered Democrats and just over 62,000 Republicans. While voters often think about party affiliation in city elections, these races are nonpartisan, so a candidate\u2019s party will not appear on the ballot.<\/p>\n

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