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Miami Beach Mayor Steven Meiner secured a second two-year term Tuesday, narrowly defeating Commissioner Kristen Rosen Gonzalez in the city’s mayoral race.
Meiner won by 357 votes, earning 51.2% of the vote to Gonzalez’s 48.8%
“It’s the most satisfying job in the world, and there’s more to do,” said Meiner. “Though it’s never-ending. I always say – and I mean this from my heart – I want Miami Beach to be the best and safest city in America.”
A former attorney, Meiner was first elected to the Miami Beach City Commission in 2019 and won his first mayoral race in 2023, defeating then-Commissioner Michael Góngora by by 765 votes.
Rosen Gonzalez, a Miami Beach native, was elected to the city commission in 2015 and 2021. Tuesday marks her second loss to Meiner, the first being when Meiner beat her in a 2019 runoff for City Commission. She also ran an unsuccessful bid for Congress in 2018.
On the campaign trail, Meiner and Gonzalez advocated for similar priorities, such as alleviating traffic congestion, preventing overdevelopment and voicing support for Israel.
Meiner’s tenure has been defined by a focus on public safety, including strict spring break measures such as parking restrictions and increased non-resident fees.
He also recently made national news for his attempt to evict South Beach art house theater O Cinema after they refused to stop screening the Oscar-winning documentary “No Other Land,” which explores the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. He later withdrew the proposal after national criticism.
And in 2023, allegations of sexual misconduct resurfaced after three former female colleagues of Meiner at the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission told the Miami Herald the mayor made unwanted advancements towards them. Meiner has denied the allegations.
Despite his recent controversy, some residents are happy with the work he’s done in Miami Beach.
“We’ve seen a lot of changes over the years, you know, positive changes because we have an amazing mayor,” said Miami Beach resident Eric Rosado, who casted his ballot at Miami Beach City Hall early Tuesday morning.
Story by Sofia Baltodano, video by Valeria De Souza.
