Following the arrest of mayor Frank Gilliam in 2019, then-Councilman Marty Small became the acting mayor of Atlantic City in a 8–0 vote by the City Council.[2]
Small would face competition in the Democratic primary against Tom Foley, a former freeholder and member of the New Jersey general assembly.[3] Both candidates would put forward their picks for city council, with Small selecting incumbent George Tibbitt, his treasurer Stephanie Marshal, and his aide Bruce Weekes while Foley picked Aaron Carrington, Suhel Ahmed and Shameeka Harvey running as self-described "true democrats."[4] Foley and his slate would win to face off against Republican Tom Forkin.[4]
The 2021 election was held to determine the next mayor of Atlantic City. Small ran against a largely divided opposition and won a majority of the 6,248 ballots cast in the election. Tom Forkin won the 6th Ward, which includes the Lower Chelsea and Chelsea Heights neighborhoods.
