Here are the candidates and races South Florida will vote on for the general election
With Election Day fast approaching, South Florida voters are beginning to identify their preferred candidates and their positions on ballot questions in an election where selecting the next president is only the first of many choices.
On their ballots, voters in Miami-Dade and Broward counties will see races for the U.S. Senate and U.S. House, the Florida Legislature, sheriff and local school boards and city commissions. There will also be constitutional amendments on issues like recreational marijuana and abortion, and proposed changes to municipal charters governing things like term limits and residency requirements for elected officials.
Election Day is Nov. 5, but elections offices plan to send out vote-by-mail ballots this week. Voters in both counties can begin casting ballots in-person at early voting centers starting on Oct. 21.
HELP WITH YOUR BALLOT
▪ When can you vote by mail in South Florida? How do you get a ballot? Here are the steps
▪ Last chance to register to vote in Florida before elections. Here’s how to do it
▪ Want to vote before Election Day in South Florida? Here’s where — and tips to follow
▪ Can you take a selfie where you vote? Bring your notes? What’s allowed at Florida polls
▪ Made a mistake on your Florida ballot? Here’s how to fix it before Election Day
▪ What you need to know about the six constitutional amendments on Florida’s 2024 ballot
Below are the major candidates, races and referendums in Miami-Dade and Broward counties, along with links to our coverage of some of the races and issues:
For recommendations from the Miami Herald Editorial Board, click here.
UNITED STATES
U.S. PRESIDENT
▪ Donald J. Trump / JD Vance
▪ Kamala D. Harris / Tim Walz
▪ Chase Oliver / Mike ter Maat
▪ Claudia De la Cruz / Karina Garcia
▪ Randall Terry / Stephen Broden
▪ Peter Sonski / Lauren Onak
▪ Jill Stein / Rudolph Ware
UNITED STATES SENATOR
▪ Feena Bonoan
▪ Tuan TQ Nguyen
▪ Ben Everidge
Read the Editorial Board’s endorsement
REPRESENTATIVE IN CONGRESS, DISTRICT 23
▪ Joe Kaufman
▪ Jared Moskowitz
REPRESENTATIVE IN CONGRESS, DISTRICT 24
▪ Jesus Gabriel Navarro
▪ Frederica Wilson
Read the Editorial Board’s endorsement
REPRESENTATIVE IN CONGRESS, DISTRICT 25
▪ Chris Eddy
▪ Debbie Wasserman Schultz
REPRESENTATIVE IN CONGRESS, DISTRICT 26
▪ Mario Diaz-Balart
▪ Joey Atkins
Read the Editorial Board’s endorsement
REPRESENTATIVE IN CONGRESS, DISTRICT 27
Read the Editorial Board’s endorsement
REPRESENTATIVE IN CONGRESS, DISTRICT 28
▪ Carlos A. Gimenez
▪ Phil Ehr
Read the Editorial Board’s endorsement
FLORIDA
STATE SENATOR, DISTRICT 35
▪ Vincent Parlatore
▪ Barbara Sharief
STATE SENATOR, DISTRICT 37
▪ Imtiaz Mohammad
▪ Jason Pizzo
Read the Editorial Board’s endorsement
STATE SENATOR, DISTRICT 39
▪ Bryan Avila
▪ Charles A. Lewis I
Read the Editorial Board’s endorsement
STATE REPRESENTATIVE, DISTRICT 100
▪ Chip LaMarca
▪ James Brenner
STATE REPRESENTATIVE, DISTRICT 102
▪ Mery Lopez-Palma
▪ Michael Gottlieb
STATE REPRESENTATIVE, DISTRICT 103
▪ Robin Bartleman
▪ George Navarini
STATE REPRESENTATIVE, DISTRICT 105
▪ Marie Woodson
▪ Joshua Hlavka
STATE REPRESENTATIVE, DISTRICT 106
▪ Fabián Basabe
▪ Joe Saunders
▪ Mo Saunders Scott
Read the Editorial Board’s endorsement
READ MORE: Embattled state legislator Basabe has a challenger coming for him in ’24
READ MORE: No more Joe Saunders vs. Moe Saunders: Candidate’s aunt can run, but under new name
STATE REPRESENTATIVE, DISTRICT 110
▪ Tom Fabricio
▪ Stanley “J.P.” Jean-Poix
Read the Editorial Board’s endorsement
STATE REPRESENTATIVE, DISTRICT 111
▪ David Borrero
▪ Laura F. Kelley
Read the Editorial Board’s endorsement
STATE REPRESENTATIVE, DISTRICT 112
▪ Alex Rizo
▪ Jacqueline “Jackie” Gil-Abarzua
Read the Editorial Board’s endorsement
STATE REPRESENTATIVE, DISTRICT 113
▪ Vicki Lopez
▪ Jacqueline “Jackie” Gross-Kellogg
Read the Editorial Board’s endorsement
STATE REPRESENTATIVE, DISTRICT 114
▪ Demi Busatta Cabrera
▪ Matthew John Bornstein
Read the Editorial Board’s endorsement
STATE REPRESENTATIVE, DISTRICT 115
▪ Omar Blanco
▪ Norma Perez Schwartz
Read the Editorial Board’s endorsement
STATE REPRESENTATIVE, DISTRICT 116
▪ Daniel A. Perez
▪ Nicolas Ramos
Read the Editorial Board’s endorsement
STATE REPRESENTATIVE, DISTRICT 117
▪ Beatrice Slawson
▪ Kevin Chambliss
Read the Editorial Board’s endorsement
STATE REPRESENTATIVE, DISTRICT 118
▪ Mike Redondo
▪ Joel Vodola
Read the Editorial Board’s endorsement
STATE REPRESENTATIVE, DISTRICT 119
▪ Juan Carlos Porras
▪ Marcos Reyes
Read the Editorial Board’s endorsement
STATE REPRESENTATIVE, DISTRICT 120
▪ James “Jim” Vernon Mooney Jr.
▪ Michael Travis
Read the Editorial Board’s endorsement
SUPREME COURT JUSTICES
▪ Shall Justice Renatha Francis of the Supreme Court be retained in office?
▪ Shall Justice Meredith Sasso of the Supreme Court be retained in office?
Read the Editorial Board’s endorsement
READ MORE: Abortion access is on the ballot in Florida. So are two justices who voted against it
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS
▪ No. 1: Partisan Election of Members of District School Boards
Read the Editorial Board’s endorsement
▪ No. 2: Right to Fish and Hunt
Read the Editorial Board’s endorsement
▪ No. 3: Adult Personal Use of Marijuana
Read the Editorial Board’s endorsement
▪ No. 4: Amendment to Limit Government Interference with Abortion
Read the Editorial Board’s endorsement
▪ No. 5: Annual Adjustments to the Value of Certain Homestead Exemptions
Read the Editorial Board’s endorsement
▪ No. 6: Repeal of Public Campaign Financing Requirement
Read the Editorial Board’s endorsement
MIAMI-DADE COUNTYWIDE RACES
CLERK OF THE CIRCUIT COURT AND COMPTROLLER
▪ Juan Fernandez-Barquin
▪ Annette Taddeo
Read the Editorial Board’s endorsement
SHERIFF
▪ Rosanna “Rosie” Cordero-Stutz
▪ James Reyes
Read the Editorial Board’s endorsement
READ MORE: ’Misleading’ ads create friction in the weeks leading to Miami-Dade sheriff’s contest
READ MORE: Donald Trump picks a favorite in the crowded race for Miami-Dade County sheriff
READ MORE: Miami-Dade’s two sheriff candidates both criticize officer conduct in Tyreek Hill video
PROPERTY APPRAISER
▪ Tomas Regalado
▪ Marisol Zenteno
Read the Editorial Board’s endorsement
TAX COLLECTOR
▪ Dariel Fernandez
▪ David Richardson
Read the Editorial Board’s endorsement
SUPERVISOR OF ELECTIONS
▪ Alina Garcia
▪ Juan-Carlos “J.C.” Planas
Read the Editorial Board’s endorsement
3RD DISTRICT COURT OF APPEAL
▪ Shall Judge Kevin M. Emas of the 3rd District Court of Appeal be retained in office?
▪ Shall Judge Ivan F. Fernandez of the 3rd District Court of Appeal be retained in office?
▪ Shall Judge Norma Shepard Lindsey of the 3rd District Court of Appeal be retained in office?
COUNTY JUDGE, GROUP 29
▪ Christopher Benjamin
▪ Alina Salcines Restrepo
Read the Editorial Board’s endorsement
COUNTY COMMISSIONER, DISTRICT 7
▪ Cindy Lerner
▪ Raquel A. Regalado
READ MORE: It’s Regalado vs. Lerner in November as one Miami-Dade commissioner falls short on votes
Read the Editorial Board’s endorsement
SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER, DISTRICT 3
▪ Joseph “Joe” Geller
▪ Martin Karp
Read the Editorial Board’s endorsement
SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER, DISTRICT 7
▪ Mary Blanco
▪ Maxeme “Max” Tuchman
Read the Editorial Board’s endorsement
COUNTY STRAW BALLOT QUESTION
▪ Non-Binding Straw Ballot on Countywide Public Wi-Fi Access
MIAMI-DADE MUNICIPAL RACES AND BALLOT MEASURES
AVENTURA CITY COMMISSION - SEAT 1
▪ Gustavo F. Blachman
▪ Michael Isaac Jacobs
▪ Alberto Zaltzberg
Read what the candidates have to say about key issues
AVENTURA CITY COMMISSION - SEAT 2
▪ Cindy Orlinsky
▪ Gary Pyott
Read what the candidates have to say about key issues
BAL HARBOUR REFERENDUM
▪ Referendum to Levy Homeless and Domestic Abuse Tax in the Village of Bal Harbour
Read the Editorial Board’s endorsement
BISCAYNE PARK COMMISSIONER
(vote for up to 3)
▪ Ryan Huntington
▪ MacDonald Kennedy
▪ Daniel R. Samaria
CUTLER BAY COUNCILMEMBER - SEAT 2
▪ Brook De Melo Gomes
▪ Suzy Lord
Read what the candidates have to say about key issues
CUTLER BAY REFERENDUMS
▪ Referendum 1: Public Engagement Through Multi-Channel Modes Of Communication
▪ Referendum 2: Periodic Review Of Town Laws To Promote Environmental Stewardship
DORAL MAYOR
▪ Christi Fraga
▪ Roxanna Garay
Read what the candidates have to say about key issues
READ MORE: Doral’s mayoral race: Voters will decide on leadership for deeply divided government
DORAL COUNCILMEMBER - SEAT 1
▪ Ivette Gonzalez Petkovich
▪ Rafael Pineyro
Read what the candidates have to say about key issues
READ MORE: A longtime advocate vs. an incumbent. Meet the candidates for Doral City Council Seat 1
DORAL COUNCILMEMBER - SEAT 3
▪ Juan Carlos Esquivel
▪ Nicole Reinoso
▪ Irina Vilariño
Read what the candidates have to say about key issues
READ MORE: Three Doral council candidates are promising to end the polarization. Who are they?
READ MORE: Doral candidate caught up in residency dispute is qualified to run, judge determines
DORAL REFERENDUMS
▪ Referendum 1: Clarify Form of Government
▪ Referendum 2: Revised Process for Creating Standing, Special, and Ad Hoc Committees, and Appointment of Members
▪ Referendum 3: Council Authorization Required When Mayor Dealing with Other Governmental Entities
▪ Referendum 4: Requirement for Break in Service for Mayor Seeking Position of Councilmember
▪ Referendum 5: Mayor and Councilmember Compensation
▪ Referendum 6: Revised Process for Appointment of City Manager
▪ Referendum 7: Revised Process for Appointment of Members to City Boards and Agencies (“Boards”)
▪ Referendum 8: Elimination of Run-off Elections
▪ Referendum 9: Time Frame for Appointment of Charter Revision Commission; Revised Requirements for Members
▪ Referendum 10: Replace Office of Charter Enforcement with an Office of Inspector General
READ MORE: The impact of 10 proposed charter amendments
EL PORTAL COUNCILMEMBER - SEAT 4
▪ Luis M. Pirela
▪ Charles Winter
KEY BISCAYNE VILLAGE COUNCIL
(vote for up to 3)
▪ Michael F. Bracken
▪ Franklin H. Caplan
▪ Charles Hyatt Collins
▪ Mark E. Fried
▪ Nicolas Lopez-Jenkins
▪ Nancy Stoner
Read what the candidates have to say about key issues
MEDLEY MAYOR
▪ Roberto Martell
▪ Lily Stefano
MEDLEY COUNCILMEMBER
(vote for up to 2)
▪ Ernesto Fuster
▪ Arturo “Artie” Jinete
▪ Ivan Pacheco
▪ Karina Pacheco
▪ Lourdes Rodriguez
MIAMI REFERENDUMS
▪ Referendum 1: Charter Amendment to Require Continuous Residency Immediately Preceding Qualifying for Mayor and City Commissioner
▪ Referendum 2: Charter Amendment: Partial Conveyance for Revised Development at 1111 Parrot Jungle Trail on Watson Island
▪ Referendum 3: Charter Amendment to Revise Mixed-Use Leases on Watson Island
▪ Referendum 4: Charter Amendment to Change Runoff Date to Allow More Time Between General and Runoff Election
Read the Editorial Board’s endorsements
MIAMI BEACH REFERENDUMS
▪ Referendum 1: Amending Existing Rights, Incorporating County Ethics Commission’s Enforcement
▪ Referendum 2: Amending Circuit Court Forfeiture Remedy
▪ Referendum 3: Sale/Lease of City property; right-of-way vacations;management/concession agreements
▪ Referendum 4: Moving City’s Runoff Election Date, Installation/Term Commencement, Conforming Office Terms
▪ Referendum 5: Public Hearings and Public Notice for Ordinances
▪ Referendum 6: “Vacancies in City Commission”
▪ Referendum 7: Clarifying and Conforming Certain Charter Language to Applicable Laws and/or Current Usage
▪ Referendum 8: Approve 1% Tax on Food and Beverage Sales for Homeless Assistance / Domestic Violence Centers
Read the Editorial Board’s endorsements
MIAMI GARDENS AT-LARGE COUNCILMEMBER - SEAT 5
▪ Karen Hunter-Jackson
▪ Linda Julien
Read what the candidates have to say about key issues
MIAMI GARDENS REFERENDUM
▪ Waiver Of City Manager Residency Requirement And Defining Distance Beyond City Boundaries Upon Good Cause
MIAMI LAKES MAYOR
▪ Josh Dieguez
▪ Tony Fernandez
▪ Yuniett Gonzalez
Read what the candidates have to say about key issues
MIAMI LAKES COUNCILMEMBER - SEAT 1
▪ Angelo Cuadra Garcia
▪ Mario O. Pinera Jr.
Read what the candidates have to say about key issues
MIAMI SPRINGS REFERENDUM
▪ Four-Year Staggered Terms of Office and November Elections
NORTH BAY VILLAGE NORTH BAY ISLAND COMMISSIONER
▪ Jose R. Alvarez
▪ Richard Chervony
NORTH BAY VILLAGE TREASURE ISLAND COMMISSIONER
▪ Doris Acosta
▪ Jose R. Parada Jr.
NORTH BAY VILLAGE REFERENDUMS
▪ Referendum 1: Public Notice Requirements
▪ Referendum 2: Employees Of The Village Clerk’s Office
▪ Referendum 3: Continuous Residency Requirement
▪ Referendum 4: Qualifying Period
▪ Referendum 5: Single Family Property
▪ Referendum 6: Limit On Village Debt
▪ Referendum 7: Charter Non-Substantive And Technical Updates
NORTH MIAMI MAYOR
▪ Naomi Esther Blemur
▪ Daphne Campbell
▪ Alix Desulme
▪ Héctor Medina
Read what the candidates have to say about key issues
NORTH MIAMI COUNCILPERSON - DISTRICT 1
▪ Kevin A. Burns
▪ Vanessa Pierre
▪ Evan A. Shields
▪ Jessica Wolland
Read what the candidates have to say about key issues
NORTH MIAMI COUNCILPERSON - DISTRICT 4
▪ Daniel Calixte
▪ Charlie Nacivre Charles
▪ Pierre Frantz Charles
▪ Beverly Hilton
▪ Bethynel “Betty” Vega
Read what the candidates have to say about key issues
NORTH MIAMI BEACH MAYOR - GROUP 1
▪ Michael Joseph
▪ Evan S. Piper
Read what the candidates have to say about key issues
NORTH MIAMI BEACH COMMISSIONER - GROUP 3
▪ Hubert Dubé
▪ Daniela Jean
▪ Margaret Mary “Margie” Love
Read what the candidates have to say about key issues
NORTH MIAMI BEACH COMMISSIONER - GROUP 5
▪ McKenzie Fleurimond
▪ Ketley Joachim
Read what the candidates have to say about key issues
NORTH MIAMI BEACH COMMISSIONER - GROUP 7
▪ Eunice Flowers
▪ Ellis Keeter
▪ Maggy Belizaire Lopez
▪ Lynn Su
▪ Paule Villard
Read what the candidates have to say about key issues
OPA-LOCKA COMMISSIONERS
(vote for up to 2)
▪ Retevea Bain-Walden
▪ Chris Davis
▪ Brian Dennis
▪ Audrey Dominguez
▪ Joseph L. Kelley
▪ Luis Santiago
PALMETTO BAY VICE MAYOR
▪ Mark Merwitzer
▪ Leanne Tellam
Read what the candidates have to say about key issues
PALMETTO BAY COUNCILMEMBER - SEAT 2
▪ Steve Cody
▪ David M. Singer
Read what the candidates have to say about key issues
PINECREST COUNCILMEMBER - SEAT 3
▪ Shannon del Prado
▪ Ralph Sanchez
Read what the candidates have to say about key issues
PINECREST REFERENDUMS
▪ Referendum 1: Separate Consecutive Term Limits for Mayor and Councilmember
▪ Referendum 2: Partial Terms of Office of Less Than Two Years
▪ Referendum 3: Calculating Consecutive Term Limits When There is a Gap in Service
▪ Referendum 4: Method of Filling Vacancies in Office
▪ Referendum 5: Non-Substantive Technical Updates to Charter Relating to Elections Timelines
SOUTH MIAMI COMMISSIONER - GROUP II
▪ Daniel Guerra
▪ Danny Rodriguez
Read what the candidates have to say about key issues
SOUTH MIAMI REFERENDUMS
▪ Referendum 1: Enactment of purchasing limitations by ordinance of the City Commission
▪ Referendum 2: Four-year term of office for City Mayor
▪ Referendum 3: Bond referendum for improvements, infrastructure and property for Parks/Recreation, Public Works and Public Safety
SUNNY ISLES BEACH COMMISSIONER - SEAT 1
▪ Patricia Alvarez
▪ George Bardmesser
▪ Jerry Joseph
▪ Iracilda Lichtinger
Read what the candidates have to say about key issues
SUNNY ISLES BEACH COMMISSIONER - SEAT 3
▪ Greg Capra
▪ Fabiola Stuyvesant
Read what the candidates have to say about key issues
SURFSIDE REFERENDUMS
▪ Referendum 1: Residential uses on Lots between Collins and Harding Avenues
▪ Referendum 2: Residential uses on Lots West of Harding Avenue
▪ Referendum 3: Prohibition of Lot Subdivision
▪ Referendum 4: Ensuring Collection of Obligations due to the Town
▪ Referendum 5: Amendment Prohibiting Development and Construction of Structures Within Point Lake
VIRGINIA GARDENS COUNCIL
(vote for up to 3)
▪ Richard L. Block
▪ Debra A. Conover
▪ Gabriel Fernandez
WEST MIAMI REFERENDUMS
▪ Referendum 1: Amending Charter Article III, Section 3.03 electing commissioners by separate city-wide seats
▪ Referendum 2: Amending City Charter to change Mayor’s term of office to a four-year term
BROWARD COUNTYWIDE RACES
SHERIFF
▪ Gregory Tony
▪ Charles Whatley
COUNTY COMMISSIONER, DISTRICT 1
▪ Herbert E. “Herb” Vargas
▪ Nan H. Rich
4TH DISTRICT COURT OF APPEAL
▪ Shall Judge Burton C. Conner be retained in office?
▪ Shall Judge Jeffrey T. Kuntz be retained in office?
CIRCUIT JUDGE, 17TH JUDICIAL COURT, GROUP 18
▪ Jessica Maureen Marra
COUNTY COURT JUDGE, GROUP 10
▪ Woody Clermont
▪ Samuel Ford Stark
COUNTY REFERENDUMS
▪ Referendum 1: Membership of Broward County Housing Council and the Procedure for Establishing Membership
▪ Referendum 2: Expansion of the Broward County Inspector General’s Authority
BROWARD COUNTY MUNICIPAL RACES AND BALLOT MEASURES
Here are the cities with races and/or questions on the ballot. Click here to look up your sample ballot.
▪ Coconut Creek (ballot question)
▪ Cooper City (mayor and ballot question)
▪ Coral Springs (commissioner and 5 ballot questions)
▪ Dania Beach (commissioner and 17 ballot questions)
▪ Fort Lauderdale (mayor and commissioners)
▪ Hallandale Beach (mayor and commissioners)
▪ Hollywood (mayor, commissioners and 6 ballot questions)
▪ Lauderdale Lakes (mayor, commissioners and 6 ballot questions)
▪ Lauderdale-By-The-Sea (ballot question)
▪ Lauderhill (mayor and commissioners)
▪ Lighthouse Point (8 ballot questions)
▪ Margate (commissioners and ballot question)
▪ North Lauderdale (commissioners and ballot question)
▪ Oakland Park (commissioner)
▪ Parkland (commissioner and 4 ballot questions)
▪ Pembroke Park (2 ballot questions)
▪ Pembroke Pines (commissioner)
▪ Plantation (council member)
▪ Pompano Beach (mayor, commissioners and 3 ballot questions)
▪ Southwest Ranches (mayor, commissioners and 5 ballot questions)
▪ Sunrise (mayor and commissioners)
▪ Tamarac (commissioners)
▪ West Park (commissioners)
▪ Weston (commissioner and 2 ballot questions)
▪ Wilton Manors (mayor)
This story was originally published September 30, 2024 at 5:00 AM.