Stephanie Murphy (D) declares candidacy for Orange County mayor
Former U.S. Rep. Stephanie Murphy, a Democrat who forged a reputation for bipartisanship during her tenure in Congress, declared her candidacy today to succeed Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings, likely becoming the front-runner to lead Florida’s fifth-largest county.
Murphy, 46, said she has the experience and leadership skills to navigate a bitterly divided political landscape.
“One of the important reasons to have strong leadership at the local level is because of what is happening at the federal and state level,” she said. “I think you need leaders who have demonstrated the ability to work with anybody who’s willing to work with them.”
Her declared opponents include Orange County Clerk of Courts Tiffany Moore Russell and Orange County Commissioner Mayra Uribe, both Democrats, and tech entrepreneur Chris Messina, a Republican.
https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2025/07/09/stephanie-murphy-declares-candidacy-for-orange-county-mayor/?clearUserState=true