ORLANDO, Fla. – Another Orange County politico is throwing their hat in the ring for county mayor.
Stephanie Murphy, the former congresswoman from Winter Park, announced she would run in the race to replace Mayor Jerry Demings in 2026.
In a video on X.com, Murphy promised to use her experience in Congress and with businesses to solve problems.
“We need smart growth that doesn’t mean more traffic, housing that’s actually affordable for working families, safe communities, strong schools and better businesses,” Murphy said in the video.
I’m Stephanie Murphy—and I’m running for Mayor of Orange County, Florida.
— Stephanie Murphy (@Murphy4OCMayor) July 9, 2025
I was honored to represent parts of Orange County in Congress. I’m ready to bring my results-driven approach to our community so we can grow smarter, make life more affordable, and build a better future. pic.twitter.com/DcWTKZlYJs
Murphy, a Democrat, won a swing Congressional District in 2016 and served until 2022 when she left as her district was redrawn to include more Republican voters.
During that time, she was chair of the Blue Dog Democrats, a group of moderate Dems.
She also served on the committee investigating the Jan. 6, 2021 riot at the U.S. Capitol, the House Ways and Means Committee and the House Armed Services Committee.
Before that, Murphy worked as a national security specialist and a business consultant.
Murphy also comes from an immigrant family. Her parents fled Vietnam when she was a baby.
Murphy joins a field of candidates for mayor that also includes Orange County Clerk of Courts Tiffany Moore Russell, District 3 County Commissioner Mayra Uribe, and tech businessman Chris Messina.
The Orange County mayoral race is a nonpartisan race.
News 6’s Justin Warmoth interviewed Murphy before she retired in 2022. You can watch the video below.