UPDATE: Lawsuit Filed in Boca Mayor Race as Thomson Wins by Five Votes
BOCA RATON, FL (Boca Post) (Copyright © 2026) — A recount of the 2026 Boca Raton mayoral race has confirmed Andy Thomson as the city’s next mayor, finalizing one of the closest municipal elections in recent years.
The Palm Beach County Supervisor of Elections completed both a machine recount and a manual recount of the race following the March 10 municipal election. The final certified results show Thomson with 7,572 votes, narrowly ahead of challenger Mike Liebleson, who received 7,567 votes. Candidate Fran Nachlas finished third with 3,967 votes.
The margin separating Thomson and Liebleson was five votes after the recount process concluded.
Under Florida election law, an automatic recount is triggered when the margin between candidates falls within one-half of one percent of the total vote. The initial count placed the Boca Raton mayoral race within that threshold, prompting the Palm Beach County Supervisor of Elections to conduct the recount procedures.
According to official results released by the elections office, the machine recount recorded Thomson with 7,568 votes and Liebleson with 7,567 votes. After the subsequent manual recount, Thomson’s total was adjusted to 7,572 votes, while Liebleson remained at 7,567 votes. The updated tally confirmed Thomson as the winner.
Boca Raton, which has a population of approximately 104,232 residents as of 2026, elects its mayor through citywide voting during municipal elections. The mayor serves as a voting member of the City Council and presides over council meetings, helping set the agenda and guiding discussion on policy decisions affecting the city.
In addition to selecting a mayor, voters also elected three members to the Boca Raton City Council during the March municipal election.
The council seats decided in the election were:
• Seat A: Michelle Grau
• Seat B: Jon Pearlman
• Seat D: Stacy Sipple
The Boca Raton City Council operates under a council-manager form of government. Council members and the mayor establish policy and legislative direction, while the city manager oversees daily operations and administration of municipal departments.
With the recount completed and results confirmed, the election process for the mayoral race is now finalized.
The newly elected mayor and council members will formally take office during Boca Raton’s Organizational Meeting scheduled for Tuesday, March 31, 2026. During that meeting, the incoming officials will be sworn in and the council will begin its new term.
Municipal elections in Boca Raton occur every two years and determine leadership positions responsible for guiding decisions on development, infrastructure, budgeting, public safety coordination, and long-term planning across the city.
The confirmed recount closes the final step in the election process for Boca Raton’s 2026 municipal races, allowing the incoming mayor and council members to prepare for the transition ahead of the March 31 swearing-in.
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