Escalona wins Miami District 3 runoff, upending Carollo political dynasty
Political newcomer Rolando Escalona has defeated Frank Carollo in Miami’s District 3 runoff, a stunning upset that deals another blow to the Carollo political dynasty following older brother Joe Carollo’s fourth-place finish in the mayoral race last month.
Frank Carollo previously held the District 3 seat for two terms, from 2009 to 2017. He was running to succeed Joe Carollo, who has occupied the seat since 2017 and is now termed out after two back-to-back terms.
Carollo led in the November general election with nearly 38% of the vote. Escalona was a distant second in the eight-candidate race last month, securing just over 17%.
But in the five-week window between the Nov. 4 general election and the Dec. 9 runoff, Escalona was able to overcome that gap, netting over 53% of the vote, according to preliminary results.
Escalona’s win over Carollo was all but assured when the first batch of counted votes displayed on televisions at Little Havana’s Tower Hotel at his watch party Tuesday night.
Just over a dozen die-hard supporters surrounded Escalona, crowded inside the establishment owned by Bill Fuller, who has successfully waged several legal battles against Joe Carollo during his tenure as the District 3 commissioner.
Even as a majority of votes were counted for Escalona, and many supporters were quietly telling each other “Congrats!” Escalona dared not celebrate as he fixated on the televisions, silently wiping joyful tears from his eyes.
When the last voting precinct was finally counted, the room exploded with pent-up excitement, throwing confetti, chanting “Escalona!” and embarrassing the soon-to-be commissioner.
“I’m very grateful for the residents of District 3 because now we’re going to have a commissioner that’s going to work to get our district and our city in better shape,” he told the crowd in his victory speech.
The 34-year old political newcomer will represent the district that includes Little Havana, East Shenandoah and The Roads. His victory means four out of five Miami commissioners are serving their first term in any elected office, making District 5 Commissioner Christine King, who was reelected last month, the most tenured on the City Commission, with four full years under her belt.
Speaking at an election night watch party for Eileen Higgins, the city’s new mayor, District 4 Commissioner Ralph Rosado, who was just elected in a special election in June, said with a laugh that “I’m no longer the youngest person on the commission.”
“I think the city is ready for some fresh faces and folks that are very positive, that are ready to work really, really hard, and we’re all gonna get along really well,” Rosado said. “There’s no baggage, as far as I’m concerned.”
Escalona noted to the Miami Herald that his win marks what he sees as the end of the Carollo family’s reign in Miami politics. He specifically chose one of Fuller’s businesses as a testament to a new chapter beginning.
Fuller and Little Havana businessman Martin Pinilla, who also own the Ball & Chain nightclub, allege that Joe Carollo carried out a years-long campaign to put them out of business. They filed a lawsuit and won a $63.5 million verdict against him in 2023. In another related lawsuit, the city agreed to pay out a $12.5 million settlement last year.
Fuller was ecstatic that the Carollo family’s run of political leadership in Miami appears over.
“This feels like the ultimate chapter in redemption,” he said.
Despite his personal stake in this election, he said District 3 residents needed a man like Escalona to address crises that have gone unanswered, such as affordable housing.
“I don’t think we are just getting somebody who beat the Carollos, but somebody that’s really going to be a freedom and real addition to the city of Miami,” Fuller said.
Victor Milanes was among the first of Escalona’s supporters to hug and congratulate him on his victory. He was one of three Miami voters who sued and argued that Frank Carollo should be removed from the ballot following a referendum that passed in November limiting city officials to two terms as both mayor and commissioner.
He’d only met Escalona a few months prior to the election but knew instantly he was the man to bring change to his neighborhood. He said he was sick of paying thousands in property taxes and not having access to simple city services.
“We are tired of it. We did everything we could to make sure the system changes,” said Milanes, adding that he had been ready to challenge Carollo’s victory had he won. “We need new ideas and new voices.”
Escalona is the general manager of Sexy Fish, the opulent under-the-sea-themed restaurant in Brickell. He previously told the Herald he would step away from that position if elected to dedicate himself full-time to being a city commissioner.
READ MORE: Manager of Miami’s Sexy Fish restaurant is running to topple the Carollo dynasty
Escalona moved to Miami from Cuba 11 years ago and landed a job bussing tables at a Peruvian restaurant downtown. He then worked his way up in the restaurant scene, from food runner to waiter to floor manager, then assistant general manager and, most recently, general manager. In 2023, he graduated from Florida International University with a degree in political science.
“Nothing has been given to me,” Escalona told the Herald in an interview last month. “Nothing.”
Rosado, the city’s District 4 commissioner, made it to Tower Hotel on Tuesday night to congratulate Escalona on his win, as did District 1 Commissioner Miguel Angel Gabela and District 2 Commissioner Damian Pardo.
“This is a new era in Miami. The old guard is gone,” Gabela told the Herald. “I hope to work with [Escalona], the commissioners and the new mayor for the betterment of all the city of Miami. ... It’s just a win for the citizens at the end of the day.”
This story was originally published December 9, 2025 at 7:31 PM.
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