Case study / City commission campaign
Marlon Bolton: three elections in Tamarac
Vice Mayor and District 1 Commissioner, City of Tamarac
Three contested races for Tamarac City Commission, District 1, in 2016, 2020, and 2024. Every figure below comes from the Broward County Supervisor of Elections, and each row links to its source.
He ran as the sitting commissioner in 2020 and 2024.
- Elections won
- 3
- Largest margin, in points
- 48.94
- Races with every precinct won
- 2
Results for Tamarac City Commission, District 1, by election
Certified results published by the Broward County Supervisor of Elections. Percentages are the office’s own.
| Election | Marlon D. Bolton | Opponents | Margin | Precincts won | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| November 8, 2016 General election | 3,547 votes 58.86% | Pamela Bushnell 2,479, 41.14%, incumbent | 1,068 votes, 17.72 pts | 5 of 6 , Precinct results, General Election, November 8, 2016 | Source , Summary results, General Election, November 8, 2016 |
| November 3, 2020 General election | 6,504 votes 74.47%, incumbent | Michelle "Chef" Jones 2,230, 25.53% | 4,274 votes, 48.94 pts | 6 of 6 , Precinct results, General Election, November 3, 2020 | Source , Summary results, General Election, November 3, 2020 |
| November 5, 2024 General election | 5,474 votes 67.80%, incumbent | Viola H. Watson 2,175, 26.94% Horatio Bryan 425, 5.26% | 3,299 votes, 40.86 pts | 4 of 4 , Precinct results, General Election, November 5, 2024 | Source , Summary results, General Election, November 5, 2024 |
In his words
“Their team helped us connect with the community in a way that really made a difference. The strategy was sharp, and their support helped us win our election by a landslide.”
Commissioner Marlon Bolton City of Tamarac Our role
Advocacy Aces worked all three campaigns.
What we took from it
Unseating an incumbent takes a message before it takes money.
In 2016 a first-time candidate beat a two-term incumbent. A win like that starts with a clear reason to change, put in front of voters early, before the budget conversation begins.
Consistency across three cycles.
Same name, same district, three contested races, three wins. Voters reward a record they recognize, and a campaign that stays present between elections does not have to start over each time.
Winning every precinct comes from showing up everywhere.
In 2020 and 2024 he carried every precinct in the district. That does not come from working the friendliest neighborhoods. It comes from treating every street as one the campaign intends to win.
Certified results published by the Broward County Supervisor of Elections. Percentages are the office’s own.
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