Sam Kaufman elected Mayor of Key West

Sam Kaufman has been elected as the new mayor of Key West, defeating incumbent Dee Dee Henriquez. Kaufman secured 58% of the vote, receiving 3,848 out of 6,680 total votes cast, while Henriquez received 42%.

The election cycle was marked by a contentious campaign and significant political division. While city elections are officially nonpartisan, Democrats won three of the four city races. Mark Rossi, a bar owner and former commissioner, was the sole Republican victor, winning the District II seat.

In District IV, candidates Sarah Compton and Wayne Garcia are headed to a November runoff after neither secured the required 50% plus one vote. In District V, Chris Massicotte defeated Greg Sullivan. The campaign for the mayoralty included significant spending from a political action committee that supported Henriquez through mailers and commercials.