Andy Thomson has been confirmed as the new mayor of Boca Raton, Florida, winning by a narrow margin of just five votes following a recount of the ballots. The recount, conducted on November 10, 2023, revealed that Thomson received 7,572 votes while his challenger, Mike Liebelson, secured 7,567 votes.
The recount process awarded Thomson an additional four votes, which emerged from a manual review of specific ballots categorized as “undervotes” and “overvotes.” An “overvote” occurs when voters select more candidates than permitted, while an “undervote” indicates no selection was made. According to election officials, these ballots are flagged during the machine recount and are examined during the manual recount.
Potential Legal Challenge Looms
Liebelson has expressed dissatisfaction with the recount results and has indicated plans to challenge the findings. He is particularly focused on a batch of mail-in ballots that were counted late, raising concerns about their distribution compared to other mail-in votes. In a letter to the Supervisor of Elections, Liebelson declared his intention to contest the recount outcomes.
Wendy Sartory Link, the Palm Beach County Supervisor of Elections, reassured voters that the late count of mail-in ballots is a routine occurrence, as these ballots are often dropped off at polling locations or collected from post offices just before the deadline.
When asked about potential legal action, Liebelson declined to comment further at this time. The election has drawn considerable attention due to its close nature, with the outcome highlighting the competitive political landscape in Boca Raton.
Other Election Results and Recounts
In addition to the mayoral race, the canvassing board conducted recounts for the South Palm Beach Town Council election and the Lake Worth Beach charter referendum question No. 5. The latter saw a manual recount yielding 1,640 “No” votes compared to 1,638 “Yes” votes. In the South Palm Beach Town Council elections, Francesca Attardi led the vote tally with 262 votes, followed by Adrian J. Burcet with 237 votes.
Florida law mandates machine recounts when unofficial results show candidates or ballot questions separated by a margin of 0.5% or less. Furthermore, a manual recount is required if subsequent unofficial results indicate a difference of 0.25% or less.
In response to Thomson’s victory, Nikki Fried, Chair of the Florida Democratic Party, issued a statement congratulating him on his win, emphasizing its significance given the slim margin. Fried noted that this victory is a testament to the effectiveness of grassroots organizing and voter engagement, stating, “Andy’s election marks the first time in decades that a Democrat has held the seat.”
Ken Martin, Chair of the Democratic National Committee, also commented on the election, highlighting the importance of addressing local issues such as the rising cost of living. He stated, “When you organize everywhere, you can win anywhere,” underscoring the implications of Thomson’s victory for the broader political landscape in Florida.
Thomson’s win not only signifies a shift in political representation for Boca Raton but also reflects a growing trend among voters seeking change in local governance.
