Tallahassee Voters Pick New Mayor Election Day
Incumbent John Dailey is retiring after serving as mayor since 2018, leaving the seat open on Election Day.
Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Elections
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Voters in Tallahassee are preparing to select a new mayor as incumbent John Dailey retires. Election Day falls on November 3, 2026, when Florida voters will also choose a new governor for the first time since 2018.
Why it matters
The open seat ends Dailey's tenure and gives Tallahassee residents a direct choice in local leadership. The statewide governor race on the same ballot brings additional attention to Florida's voting process this cycle.
Dailey, who has held the Tallahassee mayor's office since 2018, is retiring, so the seat is open for the first time in eight years. The source does not identify the candidates on the ballot.
The players
John Dailey
John Dailey is the Tallahassee mayor who is retiring after serving since 2018.
The details
Tallahassee voters are heading to the polls to choose a successor to Mayor John Dailey, who is stepping away from the post. Florida's broader Election Day ballot also includes a new governor selection, the first since 2018.
Timeline
2018: John Dailey began serving as Tallahassee mayor.
November 3, 2026: Election Day, with voters casting ballots in Tallahassee and across Florida.
Season Trajectory
Dailey's 2018 election launched an eight-year tenure that now ends with a retirement and an open contest for Tallahassee's top office. The 2026 vote closes that chapter and resets city leadership on the same ballot as Florida's first gubernatorial selection since 2018.
Tallahassee residents will select a new mayor on Election Day, November 3, 2026, deciding who leads city government after Dailey's departure. Florida voters will also choose a governor on the same date, so local and statewide ballots are both in play.
The takeaway
Check your voter registration and polling location before November 3 so you can weigh in on both the Tallahassee mayoral race and the statewide governor contest.
Further reading
For more on how local races like this one fit into the broader picture, explore Elections coverage.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The FAMUAN.
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