1983 Tampa mayoral election

The 1983 Tampa mayoral election took place on March 1, 1983. Incumbent Mayor Bob Martinez ran for re-election to a second term. He was opposed by jeweler Armando Valdes, who had previously run for mayor several times. Martinez, who was personally popular and had significantly outraised Valdes, spent most of the campaign advocating and campaigning for a referendum to create district seats on the City Council. Martinez ultimately defeated Valdes in a landslide, winning 80 percent of the vote to Valdes's 20 percent.

Martinez would not end up serving a full term. He switched to the Republican Party to successfully run for Governor in 1986, and resigned from office on July 16, 1986, to focus on his campaign. City Councilmember Sandra Freedman served out the remainder of Martinez's term.