Sorensen ousts Sturman in Fort Lauderdale City Commission District 4

Fort Lauderdale's District 4, which takes in Downtown and the intercostal, has a new commissioner. Ben Sorensen is back. He defeated Warren Sturman, who won a 2022 special election to replace him. It wasn't close either. Sturman came in third place, trailing Kevin Cochrane, who was the second place finisher. Sorensen, a U.S. Navy reserve Lieutenant Commander, was first elected to the seat in 2018. He was re-elected in 2020. In 2022, he opted to run for Congress. Jared Moskowitz won that primary.

There were two additional candidates other than Sturman. Ted Inserra, a River Oaks resident, and businessman Kevin Cochrane. Sorensen's opponents ran on an anti-development platform that criticized the city's response to flooding, infrastructure issues, and perceived overdevelopment in the city's Downtown. Sorensen campaigned on smart development, public safety, and infrastructure. Sorensen's landslide victory will give Trantalis a majority on the commission.

“I’m honored to be part of where our city is heading, putting neighbors first" Sorensen told the South Florida Sun Sentinel Tuesday night shortly after his victory. The ousted incumbent, Sturman, finished in third place and will have only served two years as a commissioner. He lost to Sorensen in 2018, and again Tuesday night. This was a referendum on overdevelopment in this district, and it appears that District 4 voters aren't too concerned with it.