1959 Tampa mayoral election

1959 Tampa mayoral election

September 8, 1959
September 22, 1959
 
Candidate Julian Lane Nick Nuccio J. L. Young, Jr.
First round 25,917
38.53%
25,917
40.55%
12,347
18.36%
Runoff 37,823
53.47%
32,910
46.53%
Eliminated

Mayor before election

Nick Nuccio
Nonpartisan

Elected mayor

Julian Lane
Nonpartisan

The 1959 Tampa mayoral election was held on September 22, 1959, following a primary election on September 8, 1959. Incumbent Mayor Nick Nuccio, who was first elected in a 1956 special election, ran for re-election to a full term. Despite Nuccio's prediction that he would not "have any opposition," he was challenged by former Mayor J. L. Young, Jr., whom he had defeated in 1956, and dairy executive Julian Lane. Nuccio placed first in the primary election, winning 41 percent of the vote, and Lane placed second with 39 percent. In the ensuing general election, Lane narrowly defeated Nuccio, 53–47 percent.