If former Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn launches a comeback bid, it would have seven figures at the ready according to new political committee finance reports.
Buckhorn’s political committee, Friends of Bob Buckhorn, raised more than $1 million during the third quarter. The Q3 numbers are the first reported by the committee since its founding in March. Spending was light over the same span, leaving the committee with slightly over $1 million in the bank heading into October
“This is about the future — about ensuring Tampa remains a city of opportunity, resilience, and innovation,” Buckhorn said in a news release announcing the haul. “We’ve come so far, but our best days are still ahead of us. Together, we can build a city where every neighborhood thrives, where our economy grows stronger, and where Tampa continues to be a place people are proud to call home.”
The fundraising figure places Buckhorn in a strong early position should he formally enter the 2027 mayoral race. The two-term Democrat, who led the city from 2011 to 2019, left office with high approval ratings. A 2027 bid appears to have support from Hillsborough elected leaders on both sides of the aisle.
“Mayor Buckhorn has always understood that public safety is the foundation of a strong future. His leadership will ensure that as Tampa grows, our families remain safe and our community stays united,” said Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister, a Republican, in the news release.
Former Democratic state Sen. Arthenia Joyner added, “There is nobody who knows our neighborhoods and the people who live in them better than Bob Buckhorn. He is committed to making sure that our growth benefits every neighborhood.”
Buckhorn has not officially declared for the race. If he were to enter, he would join a field that currently includes 24-year-old entrepreneur Alan Henderson and real estate broker Julie Magill, neither of whom have reported much in the way of fundraising.
