2022 Gainesville mayoral election

The 2022 Gainesville mayoral election took place on November 8, 2022, electing the new Mayor of Gainesville, Florida. Incumbent mayor Lauren Poe was term-limited and could not seek re-election.^[1] Gainesville City Commissioner Harvey Ward, after narrowly leading in the first round, defeated former Gainesville Regional Utilities Manager Ed Bielarski by just over 15 points.^[2]

2022 Gainesville mayoral election

← 2019 November 8, 2022 (2022-11-08) Officially nonpartisan 2025 →

Candidate Harvey Ward Ed Bielarski David Arreola Party Democratic Independent Democratic First round 5,889 27.94% 5,570 26.43% 3,242 15.38% Runoff 20,415 57.60% 15,026 42.40% Eliminated   Candidate Gary Gordon July Thomas Party Democratic Independent First round 3,044 14.44% 2,119 10.06% Runoff Eliminated Eliminated

General election Primary election Ward:      <30%      30–40%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80% Bielarski:      <30%     30–40%      40–50%      50–60%      70–80% Arreola:      <30%      30–40%      40–50% Thomas:      <30% No votes:

Mayor before election Lauren Poe Nonpartisan Elected Mayor Harvey Ward Nonpartisan

Candidates

Declared

• David Arreola, city commissioner^[1][3][4][5]
• Ed Bielarski, former Gainesville Regional Utilities manager^[1][3][4][5]
• Ansaun Fisher, sports management executive^[1][3][5]
• Gary Gordon, former mayor^[1][3][5]
• Gabriel Hillel, slavery reparations activist^[6]
• Adam Rosenthal, tech worker^[1]
• Donald Shepherd, retired University of Florida groundskeeper and perennial candidate^[1][4][5]
• July Thomas, astrophysicist^[1][3][5]
• Harvey Ward, city commissioner and former mayor pro temp^[1][3][4][5]

Primary election

2022 Gainesville mayoral primary election^[7]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Nonpartisan	Harvey Ward	5,889	27.9
	Nonpartisan	Ed Bielarski	5,570	26.4
	Nonpartisan	David Arreola	3,242	15.4
	Nonpartisan	Gary Gordon	3,044	14.4
	Nonpartisan	July Thomas	2,119	10.1
	Nonpartisan	Ansaun Fisher	449	2.1
	Nonpartisan	Gabriel Hillel	273	1.3
	Nonpartisan	Donald Shepherd	252	1.2
	Nonpartisan	Adam Rosenthal	236	1.1
Total votes			21,074	100.00

General election

2022 Gainesville mayoral general election

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Nonpartisan	Harvey Ward	20,415	57.60%
	Nonpartisan	Ed Bielarski	15,026	42.40%
Total votes			35,441	100.00

References

1. Henderson, John. "Crowded, diverse field of 9 hope to become Gainesville's next mayor". Gainesville Sun. Retrieved July 4, 2022.
2. "Summary Results - Election Night Reporting". enr.electionsfl.org. Retrieved November 14, 2022.
3. WCJB Staff (June 14, 2022). "New candidate enters the race for Gainesville mayor". wcjb.com. Retrieved July 4, 2022.
4. "Two new candidates join the race for Gainesville mayor". The Independent Florida Alligator. Retrieved July 4, 2022.
5. "Former mayor jumps into GNV mayoral race". June 14, 2022. Retrieved July 4, 2022.
6. "Gabriel Hillel: Address consequences of slavery, racism in Gainesville".
7. "Summary Results - Election Night Reporting".