Only about one in five voters showed up at the polls for Tuesday’s primaries in Miami-Dade County, but they made some big decisions.
Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava easily won reelection, while a Trump-backed sheriff candidate qualified for the November 5 general election, as did Republican incumbent U.S. Sen. Rick Scott and his most seasoned opponent, Debbie Mucarsel-Powell.
Republican sheriff candidate Joe Martinez, who has been accused of corruption, was eliminated. Voters supported better transit. Two newcomers won school board races in Broward, defeating members who were previously appointed by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis
“You’ve got to come out and vote, especially in the local elections,” said Ana Perez, a voter at Coral Reef Branch Library in Palmetto Bay. “This is our community. This is where our county commissioners, our local senators [and] our local representatives have the power to impact Miami-Dade County.”
The mayoral race was decided after incumbent Daniella Levine Cava was elected to a second term with 57% of the vote. The runner-up, Miami Lakes Mayor Manny Cid, only won 23%. Because Levine Cava garnered more than 50% of the vote, no further campaigning is needed.
“We knew from day one, we were going to be a people-powered campaign once again, committed to vision, integrity and a continued promise to deliver results,” said Levine Cava in a statement. “With your energy and passion for good government, I knew we would be unstoppable.”
Shannon Roldan, 25, is a paralegal and Democrat who voted for Levine Cava at the Coral Reef Branch Library in Palmetto Bay. She cited the incumbent’s track record and transparency as a reason for voting.
“I voted for her in the last election, and I feel like she’s been doing pretty good,” said Roldan. “I like that she’s transparent with what she does. I know that the reaction has been pretty positive [towards her].”
Scott, who has served the last six years in Washington, D.C. after time in the governor’s mansion in Tallahassee, has a second chance at a Senate seat after winning the Republican primary against challengers Keith Gross and John Columbus. He will face Mucarsel-Powell, a former U.S. representative who won the Democratic primary comfortably against three other candidates, in the November general election.
In a statement shortly after receiving the results, Mucarsel-Powell said, “This victory isn’t just mine — it belongs to so many people who have stepped up to say that we deserve better here in Florida.”
Beekeeper William John Shaw, 57, is a Democrat who chose Mucarsel-Powell because of her work as a U.S. representative.
“I’ve liked what she’d done in the past and I think she can accomplish great things in the future,” said Shaw.
Miami-Dade County Public Safety Chief James Reyes won the Democratic primary for the sheriff race, qualifying for the general election ballot.
His opponent in November will be Rosanna Cordero-Stutz, who finished first in the Republican primary for Miami-Dade sheriff against 10 other opponents.
“I am deeply grateful to the Miami-Dade voters who exercised their right to vote, whether for me or another candidate,” said Cordero-Stutz in a statement. “It is now time to unite and work together for the county.”
Joe Martinez, a notable name who confidently headed into the Republican primary, received only 9% of the vote. Martinez is a suspended Miami-Dade commissioner who was arrested in 2022 for unlawful compensation charges and announced his candidacy for sheriff after he attended a court hearing in June.
Ana Perez, 50, is a teacher’s assistant and Republican who chose Cordero-Stutz after former President Donald Trump endorsed her on social media back in April, highlighting the candidate’s support of law enforcement and cracking down on crime.
“[Apart] from all the other candidates, I know she was endorsed by Trump,” Perez said. “That’s why I’m [voting for] her.”
Republican U.S. Reps. Maria Elvira Salazar and Mario Diaz Balart, and Democratic U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman-Schulz, have won their primaries and will be on the ballot in November.
The race to become the District 7 Miami-Dade County commissioner is headed for a runoff election in November between former state Rep. Cindy Lerner and incumbent Raquel Regalado, both of whom received less than 50% of the vote. This is not the first runoff election between the two; in 2020, Lerner and Regalado faced a similar primary result. Regalado ultimately won.
Meanwhile, a straw ballot question about expanding transit in Miami-Dade County received a resounding “yes” in the polls. While there is no specific time-frame as to when the measure would be implemented, nearly 80% of Miami-Dade voters were in favor.
“This is such a congested city, so any sort of public transit upgrade or addition would be great,” commented Roldan, the Palmetto Bay voter.
In Broward, two school board member seats were filled by newcomers who ousted candidates appointed by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis. Appointees Daniel Foganholi in District 1 and Torey Alston in District 2 lost the bid to be elected outright to their seats. Instead, Maura Bulman and Rebecca Thompson won in their respective districts.
To view the full results of the Miami-Dade party primaries in the Miami Herald, click here. To view the full results of the Broward party primaries in the Palm Beach Post, click here.
