Shannon Martin and Steven Giordano Advance to Mayoral Runoff

Incumbent Mayor Shannon Martin and challenger Steven Giordano will compete in a general election runoff on November 3 after neither candidate reached the 50% threshold required to win the August 18 nonpartisan primary. Martin led the primary with approximately 48% of the vote, followed by Giordano with roughly 35%. Third-place candidate Eric Strazzeri was eliminated from the race with nearly 17% of the vote.

The campaign centered on Port St. Lucie's rapid growth, traffic congestion, and infrastructure funding. Martin campaigned on her record of lowering tax rates and her support for a minor league soccer stadium as a downtown anchor. Giordano and Strazzeri both argued for slowing development and increasing the financial burden on developers for infrastructure. Giordano specifically opposed the soccer stadium, stating he would stop it if possible.

Both remaining candidates suggested that a controversy involving campaign signs may have influenced the primary results. The incident led to three police officers, including Martin's husband, being placed on administrative leave. As they prepare for the November runoff to determine the city's leader for a four-year term, Martin intends to focus on her experience and results-driven leadership, while Giordano is prioritizing support for local businesses and youth programs.