The results are in: Tom Derzypolski will almost certainly be advancing to the November runoff for Tallahassee City Commission Seat 3.
The Leon County Supervisor of Elections Office announced Aug. 23 that the machine recount confirmed the top two vote-getters who were crowned on Election Night, meaning Derzypolski would go head-to-head with P.J. Perez on Nov. 3.
The recount was originally triggered by a 24-vote difference between Derzypolski and Talethia Edwards, who were neck-and-neck for the second highest vote getter.
That already narrow margin only got thinner after the Leon County Canvassing Board reviewed vote-by-mail ballots, ballots cast by voters whose eligibility couldn’t be immediately verified and poorly marked ballots.
The process decreased his lead to 14 votes, leaving Derzypolski with 26.32% (10,532) and Edwards with 26.27% (10,518). Perez’s votes increased slightly, securing 29.06% (11,632 votes), according to the local elections office.
After the machine recount Sunday, there was “nothing substantial” that changed the outcome, according to supervisor Mark Earley.
The 14 gap got a vote tighter, but that was only because the machine couldn’t pick up a Derzypolski vote that was cast by a voter who filled in the bubble very lightly. Earley said there is also an overvote that will be credited to Derzypolski in which a voter drew a big X through the oval next to Talethia Edwards.
He said both campaigns had reviewed the ballots in question.
The process should be completed Monday, when the office conducts a manual recount of 2,021 undervote and overvote ballots.
“It will probably be a 15 vote spread,” he said, when all is said and done.
Earley expects to be able to certify results for the state the same day.
In a statement to the Democrat, Derzypolski didn’t speak to the outcome of the recount.
“I’m impressed with the professionalism of the Supervisor of Elections team and transparency throughout this entire process,” he said. “Seeing Democracy in action up close and personal has been a great experience.”
The Democrat has also reached out to Edwards for comment.
The state of the race
The race, which has already been racked by political subterfuge and a fake ad, is non-partisan, but could become a hyper-partisan affair as it pits Derzypolski, a former Republican and never-Trumper turned NPA, against Perez, who shifted from NPA to Democrat the day before he filed to run a campaign aligned with the progressive wing led by Commissioner Jeremy Matlow, who is running for mayor.
Ryan Ray, chair of the Leon County Democratic Executive Committee and Matlow’s aide, said the party will not remain neutral in the race.
“If the election holds for Seat 3, you have a lifelong Republican that’s not a Democrat versus a Democrat,” he said. “In that situation of course all of our resources will be heavily marshaled toward supporting the Democrat.”
Derzypolski said people are focused on issues like affordability, crime, economic development and responsible growth over party politics.
Derzypolski was a Republican for more than 20 years before switching to no party affiliation in August 2025 and filing to run in February. Perez spent a few years as a Democrat before switching to NPA in 2008 and then switching back to Democrat on Aug. 11, 2025.
While he entered the race late, Derzypolski has raised $121,869 while Perez has brought in $73,733.
Perez has emphasized his 15-year career as a high school teacher and focuses on grassroots engagement. He has highlighted his campaign’s large volunteer base and small-dollar contributions, positioning himself as a candidate looking to break from the status quo.
Derzypolski has focused on his experience as a small business owner for nearly 20 years. He has made economic development the core of his campaign while maintaining voters are tired of factions and have had enough of the division on the City Commission.
Editor William Hatfield contributed to this story. Elena Barrera can be reached at ebarrera@tallahassee.com. Follow her on X: @elenabarreraaa.
This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Machine recount results are in for razor-thin City Commission race
Reporting by Elena Barrera, Tallahassee Democrat / Tallahassee Democrat
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By Elena Barrera, Tallahassee Democrat | USA TODAY Network
