Democratic state Rep. ANNA ESKAMANI hopes to become mayor of a city that remains one of the state’s ever-shrinking Democratic strongholds, telling Playbook she wants to prioritize the needs of residents and not just visitors in tourism hot spot Orlando.

The mayoral campaign for Florida Rep. Anna V. Eskamani kicked off with a celebration event on Monday night with speeches from many leaders who have endorsed her and Eskamani delivering a message of hope for the city of Orlando. Eskamani announced in December that she is running to become the next mayor of Orlando.

Launching her campaign for Orlando Mayor Monday, Rep. Anna Eskamani said her priorities are expanding SunRail rail service to weekends and nights, pushing for more affordable housing, and re-evaluating how Orange County’s hotel tax is spent.

A rainy evening didn't deter over 650 folks from packing into downtown Orlando's Beacham for the launch of Rep. Anna Eskamani's 2027 campaign for Orlando mayor.

Anna Eskamani officially kicked off her nearly three-year campaign for Mayor of Orlando.

State Representative Anna Eskamani will officially launch her campaign for Mayor of Orlando on Monday, February 24, at 6 p.m., at the Beacham, in downtown Orlando.

Florida Rep. Anna V. Eskamani, who currently represents the state’s 42nd District, has been garnering support from public officials since she announced her run to become Orlando’s next mayor last month, with three more endorsements coming in this week.

It’s been less than one month since Florida Rep. Anna Eskamani, D-Orlando, publicly announced her new campaign for Orlando mayor, and already the 34-year-old progressive says she has raised roughly $200,000 in contributions to support her campaign. Eskamani, who was recently reelected to the Florida House, is term-limited from seeking reelection to the Republican-controlled state House in 2026. The next election for mayor (a nonpartisan position) isn’t until 2027.

This isn’t just about numbers — it’s about the movement we’re building together.'

State Rep. Anna Eskamani says she has raised $200,000 since announcing less than three weeks ago that she is running for Orlando Mayor in 2027.

“I’m so grateful for the generosity, energy, and belief in what we can achieve together. With your continued support, we’ll make Orlando a city that works for everyone,” Eskamani said in a post on X.

“I want to thank Mayor Dyer for what will be 25 years of service. He’s overseen The City Beautiful through tremendous growth,” she said. “I’m excited for the future.”

“I want to thank Mayor Dyer for nearly 25 years of service to The City Beautiful,” she posted on X. “He has guided our city through significant growth, challenges, and achievements. Orlando’s future is bright, and I’m grateful for his contributions to getting us here.”

This past week, the seeds of major political change were planted in Orlando when State Rep. Anna Eskamani, D-Orlando, announced she was running to be the city’s next mayor with a slew of high-profile supporters cheering her on.

“We know that this is a pivotal moment in Orlando’s history, and we need a leader that is people-focused, that is strategic and creative to finding solutions to our toughest problems,” she said at the event.

State representative Anna Eskamani files the official paperwork for her campaign to be the next mayor of Orlando, Monday, Dec. 16, 2024. Eskamani currently represents Central Florida’s District 42 in the Florida House. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel)

Term-limited Rep. Anna Eskamani, a popular Orlando Democrat, announced she is turning her sights on her next political office: Orlando Mayor. Eskamani filed to run for the job in 2027 after current Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer said he wasn’t planning to seek another term. Eskamani immediately started collecting endorsements and support from her fans and allies. 

State Rep. Anna Eskamani intends to run for Orlando Mayor. She filed her paperwork on Monday.

State Rep. Anna Eskamani will run for Orlando Mayor in 2027. The Orlando Democrat, one of the most outspoken progressives in the Legislature, announced her run on Bluesky.

Democratic Florida Rep. Anna Eskamani announced that she will be running for mayor in Orlando in 2027. She spoke Monday outside of Orlando City Hall, with supporters alongside her.

"Orlando, this morning, I will be filing to run as your next Mayor. I am honored for the opportunity to lead our incredible City Beautiful into the future!"

“We’re gonna be at a pivotal moment in 2027 with an empty seat, which is the first time in 20 some years that we’re gonna have an opportunity to write a next chapter for Orlando," Eskamani said. "My track record of kind sacrifice, ironclad values while delivering results and being accessible to the people of Orlando, make me the perfect leader for the job."

State Rep. Anna Eskamani, D-Orlando, announced plans Monday to run for Orlando mayor in 2027. Eskamani, who is in her fourth and final term in the House, made the announcement on the social media platforms X and Bluesky before holding a media event outside Orlando City Hall.

State Representative Anna Eskamani has filed paperwork to run for Mayor of Orlando in 2027.

Already boasting a number of early endorsements from local, state and federal elected officials, Dr. Eskamani said Monday she intends to bring a “people-centered approach” to city leadership if elected.

Description goeState Representative Anna V. Eskamani has officially thrown her hat into the ring for the mayoral race in Orlando, declaring her intentions on X, with a post radiating her excitement to lead the city, she stated, "Orlando, this morning, I will be filing to run as your next Mayor. I am honored for the opportunity to lead our incredible City Beautiful into the future!" as reported by WESH.s here

Orlando Democratic state Rep. Anna Eskamani announced her candidacy for mayor of Orlando in 2027 on Monday morning. The progressive lawmaker has been in the Florida House since 2018 and, under legislative term limits, won reelection to her last term in the lower chamber this year with 58.9% of the vote.

“Running for Mayor of my hometown is the honor of a lifetime,” said Eskamani in a press release. “Orlando is where I grew up, went to school, and started my first job. It’s where my working-class immigrant parents saw an opportunity for their children and where I discovered my purpose after losing my mom to cancer at just 13 years old.

A year after Mayor Buddy Dyer was elected for his final term in office, a well-known Central Florida politician has announced her bid to replace him. Florida Rep. Anna Eskamani on Monday announced that she has filed to run for Orlando mayor in the 2027 election.

State Rep. Anna V. Eskamani announced Monday that she'll be running for Orlando mayor in 2027. The 34-year-old progressive Democrat was flanked by other local Democratic leaders as she announced her candidacy in front of City Hall. Then she went inside to file the initial paperwork.

State legislator Anna Eskamani announced on Monday that she'd be running for Mayor of Orlando in the 2027 election, an attempt to become the first new mayor the city has had in over two decades. Her announcement coincides with a decision by Buddy Dyer not to run when his current term ends at the next election.

In a bold move that could reshape Orlando’s political future, Florida State Representative Anna Eskamani has officially filed to run for Mayor of Orlando in the 2027 election. Eskamani, 34, has been a prominent figure in local politics since her first campaign in 2018, earning a reputation as a fierce advocate for progressive causes.