2014 Orange County, Florida mayoral election

none January 2025 September 2023 2014 Orange County, Florida mayoral election Florida Flag of Orange County, FL.png presidential no August 26, 2014 2010 Orange County, Florida mayoral election 2010 2018 Orange County, Florida mayoral election 2018 x155px Teresa Jacobs Nonpartisan candidate Unopposed 100.00% Mayor Teresa Jacobs Nonpartisan Teresa Jacobs Nonpartisan The 2014 Orange County, Florida mayoral election was held on August 26, 2014, to select the Mayor of Orange County, Florida. Incumbent Mayor Teresa Jacobs ran for re-election to a second term. Though she was originally set to face former Orlando Police Department Police Chief Val Demings, Demings dropped out of the race, and Jacobs was elected unopposed. General election Candidates Teresa Jacobs, incumbent County MayorDamron David Teresa Jacobs files papers to run again Orlando Sentinel April 24, 2013 Orlando, Florida B2 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-orlando-sentinel/177838912/ July 30, 2025 Dropped out Val Demings, former Chief of the Orlando Police Department, 2012 Democratic nominee for Congress Jeffrey Clyde Tepper (write-in)Orange County Mayor Teresa Jacobs now running unopposed July 25, 2014 https://www.wesh.com/article/orange-county-mayor-teresa-jacobs-now-running-unopposed/4435325 WESH July 30, 2025 Disqualified Dunel A. Cadely, private driver, nonprofit executiveDamron David Jacobs' re-election foe off the ballot after check for qualifying fee bounces Orlando Sentinel June 27, 2014 Orlando, Florida B1 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-orlando-sentinel/177840573/ July 30, 2025 Campaign Jacobs was elected in 2010 in a landslide, but anticipated a difficult campaign for re-election against Demings.Damron David Will Demings battle Jacobs for Orange mayor? Orlando Sentinel March 18, 2013 Orlando, Florida A1 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-orlando-sentinel/177839145/ July 30, 2025 In Jacobs' first term, she weathered controversy over "textgate," a scandal in which Jacobs and members of the County Commission deleted text message exchanges with lobbyists while considering a proposed sick leave proposal. State Attorney Jeff Ashton requested that the Florida Department of Law Enforcement investigate whether members of the County Commission violated the state's public records laws.Damron David Ashton: FDLE to probe 'textgate' Orlando Sentinel January 30, 2013 Orlando, Florida A1 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-orlando-sentinel/177839485/ July 30, 2025 On August 28, 2013, Ashton announced that Jacobs and four county commissioners illegally deleted text messages,Ashton: Orange Co. leaders broke law in 'textgate' scandal August 28, 2013 https://www.wftv.com/news/local/ashton-orange-co-leaders-broke-law-textgate-scanda/271610431/ WFTV July 30, 2025 which resulted the imposition of $500 fines against Jacobs and the county commissioners,Damron David Orange leaders face $500 fines in 'textgate' scandal Orlando Sentinel August 29, 2013 Orlando, Florida A1 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-orlando-sentinel/177839374/ July 30, 2025 and a $90,000 settlement to a voter group advocating for sick leave.Orange County to pay group $90K over 'textgate' scandal January 13, 2014 https://www.wftv.com/news/local/orange-county-pay-group-90k-over-textgate-scandal/106904657/ WFTV July 30, 2025 Despite the scandal, as Jacobs began her re-election campaign, she remained popular with county voters.Damron David Voter poll shows strong favorable view of Jacobs -- and Val Demings Orlando Sentinel June 4, 2013 Orlando, Florida B3 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-orlando-sentinel/177839193/ July 30, 2025 After months of speculation as to whether Demigns would run, she announced her candidacy on January 9, 2014. Demings argued that her experience as Chief of Police, in which she "manage[d] over 1,000 law-enforcement employees and cut crime and corruption," would help her "make Orange County . . . the place every single one of us envisions and can be proud of."Damron David Val Demings formally kicks off campaign for Orange mayor Orlando Sentinel January 10, 2014 Orlando, Florida B2 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-orlando-sentinel/177838995/ July 30, 2025 Demings was endorsed by EMILY's List and prominent local Democrats,Damron David Demings gets backing from Dems, Emily's List in Orange mayor's race Orlando Sentinel February 20, 2014 Orlando, Florida B3 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-orlando-sentinel/177840052/ July 30, 2025 but entered the race after Jacobs had raised several hundred thousand dollars and struggled to raise money.Damron David Demings trailing early in mayoral money race Orlando Sentinel January 27, 2014 Orlando, Florida A1 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-orlando-sentinel/177839943/ July 30, 2025 Though the race was formally nonpartisan, both candidates faced opposition from within their own parties. Former Orange County Chairman Linda Chapin, a Democrat, endorsed Jacobs for re-election and hosted a fundraiser for her,Damron David Democrat Linda Chapin organizes fundraiser for Teresa Jacobs Orlando Sentinel April 2, 2014 Orlando, Florida B3 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-orlando-sentinel/177840474/ July 30, 2025 while former Republican State Representative Chris Dorworth sought to recruit a Republican opponent to Jacobs.Damron David Dorworth hunts for Jacobs challenger Orlando Sentinel February 1, 2014 Orlando, Florida B2 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-orlando-sentinel/177839998/ July 30, 2025 Demings unexpectedly announced on May 20, that she was exiting the race, leaving Jacobs as the favorite for re-election.Damron David Demings' exit likely to ease Jacobs' re-election Orlando Sentinel May 21, 2014 Orlando, Florida A1 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-orlando-sentinel/177840522/ July 30, 2025 After Demings' exit, Dunel A. Cadely, a vehicle for hire driver and nonprofit executive, and write-in candidate Jeffrey Clyde Tepper filed to run against Jacobs. But Cadely was disqualified when the check he used to pay his filing fee bounced, leaving Tepper as Jacobs's only challenger.Candidate for Orange County mayor disqualified over bounced check June 26, 2014 https://www.wesh.com/article/candidate-for-orange-county-mayor-disqualified-over-bounced-check/4434740 WESH July 30, 2025 In July, Tepper dropped out of the race, leaving Jacobs unopposed and removing the race from the ballot. Polling Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesizekey Key:A – all adultsRV – registered votersLV – likely votersCV – certain votersV – unclear Marginof error TeresaJacobs ValDemings Other /UndecidedSGSDamron David Realtor poll has good news for Demings, better news for Jacobs Orlando Sentinel March 7, 2014 Orlando, Florida B3 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-orlando-sentinel/177840104/ July 30, 2025 February/March 2014 400 (LV) ± 4.9%48% 33% 19% Results Jacobs was re-elected unopposed, and the race did not appear on the ballot. Notes References Category:2014 United States county executive elections Orange County Category:Mayoral elections in Orange County, Florida Category:Single-candidate elections in the United States