On 27 November 2018, the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) announced their metropolitan mayoral candidate to be Nihat Zeybekci, the former mayor of Denizli and former Minister of the Economy.

[1] Due to the People's Alliance agreement, Zeybekci had the support of the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP).

With incumbent mayor Aziz Kocaoğlu announcing his intention to step down, the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) began considering new nominees.

Tunç Soyer, the serving Mayor of Seferihisar, was seen as the frontrunner and was selected on 27 January 2019 despite Kocaoğlu re-entering the race shortly before the announcement.

[2] Soyer had the support of the İYİ Party and ran as the joint candidate of the Nation Alliance.