2018–19 Phoenix mayoral special election
The 2018–19 Phoenix mayoral special election was held on November 6, 2018, to elect the new Mayor of Phoenix, Arizona. The election was officially nonpartisan; candidates ran on the same ballot. In the initial round of the election, since no candidate reached 50 percent plus one vote, a runoff election was held on March 12, 2019, between the top two finishers.
In October 2017, then incumbent mayor Greg Stanton announced that he was running for the United States Congress in, which includes much of Phoenix. Stanton resigned effective May 29, 2018, triggering a special election. The top two candidates from that election, Kate Gallego and Daniel Valenzuela, both fell short of the required 50 percent of the vote, therefore the mayoral race was decided by a final runoff election, which Gallego won.
Phoenix councilwoman Thelda Williams served as temporary mayor until Gallego took office.
Candidates
Declared
- Kate Gallego, former Phoenix City Councilwoman, District 8
- Moses Sanchez, Navy veteran, businessman, former local high school board member
- Nicholas Sarwark, attorney and chair of the Libertarian National Committee
- Daniel Valenzuela, former Phoenix City Councilman, District 5
Not qualified for ballot
- Tim Seay, freemason and businessman
Withdrew
- Michael Lafferty, businessman
Declined
- Sal DiCiccio, Phoenix City councilman, District 6
- Michael Nowakowski, Phoenix City Councilman, District 7
- Laura Pastor, Phoenix City councilman, District 4
- Tom Simplot, former Phoenix City Councilman
Polling
* Denotes candidates who did not enter the race.