Herald endorsement: No good choice in U.S. House District 28 | Opinion

By the Miami Herald Editorial Board

Updated November 2, 2024 11:41 AM

Republican incumbent Carlos Gimenez (right) faces a challenge from Democrat Phil Ehr, a 26-year U.S. Navy veteran from the Florida Panhandle.

Editorial Board’s General Election Endorsements

In advance of the upcoming general elections on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024, the Editorial Board interviewed and researched candidates to better understand their views on various issues and how their policies will affect their constituents. The goal is to give voters a better idea of who’s the best candidate for each race.

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In U.S. House District 28, Republican incumbent Carlos Gimenez — the former mayor of Miami-Dade County — is facing Democratic challenger Phil Ehr, a 26-year U.S. Navy veteran from the Florida Panhandle.

Gimenez was elected to represent the district in 2020, defeating incumbent Democrat Debbie Mucarsel-Powell, who is now running against Florida Sen. Rick Scott for his seat. Gimenez, who is tightly tied to Donald Trump, was easily reelected in 2022, with 63% of the vote.

The district encompasses southwest Miami-Dade County, including Everglades National Park, and all of Monroe County including Key West. About 73% of residents in the district identify as Hispanic. The voter base is predominantly Republican and independents, with Democrats coming in third.

Challenger Ehr mounted an unsuccessful bid to oust U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz in the Panhandle in 2020. He told the Herald Editorial Board he is living in the South Florida district, initially planned to run for the U.S. Senate seat held by Scott, but late last year announced he was switching to District 28.

In his reelection bid, Gimenez declined to be interviewed by the Miami Herald Editorial Board. Ehr did meet with the Board. Gimenez has more than $1 million in his campaign coffers; Ehr has $20,000.

Unfortunately, we cannot recommend either candidate in this race.

Gimenez’ ties to Trump have been one of the defining features of his political career. As mayor, he’d been an able administrator in a nonpartisan seat, and even publicly touted his vote for Hillary Clinton in the 2016 presidential race. During his first race for Congress, he became tightly tied to Trump. In 2021, he voted to support Trump’s efforts to overturn the results of Joe Biden’s victory in several battleground states, just hours after rioters, encouraged by a defeated Trump, stormed the Capitol in a deadly attack.

Since then, especially on Fox News, he has continued to toe the line for Trump, serving as a surrogate for an ex-president with 34 felony convictions who encouraged an insurrection, someone he once called “despicable” for his remarks about women.

In Congress, Gimenez has often joined with other Cuban-American Republican Reps. Mario Diaz-Balart and Maria Elvira Salazar on issues in Cuba, Venezuela and Nicaragua. He serves on the House Armed Services Committee, the Homeland Security Committee and the House Select Committee on Strategic Competition between the U.S. and the Chinese Communist Party.

We were glad to see Gimenez among a handful of Republicans who pushed back, in a moment of rare common sense, against misinformation from their own party during Hurricane Milton. Gimenez posted that those who believe humans can control the weather — such as GOP Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene — ought “to have their head examined.”

In Congress, he’s pushed bills to strengthen security of ports and to prohibit the Department of Homeland Security from procuring batteries from companies with ties to China. But he’s also been critical of Biden on the border crisis — even though Republicans defeated a bill to address the issue after Trump came out against it.

Although Ehr is well-versed on the issues, his strong ties to the Panhandle and little name recognition in South Florida do not make him a viable candidate. But with Gimenez, we cannot condone his full embrace of Trump and the threat the ex-president poses to the country, if reelected.

The Herald makes NO ENDORSEMENT in Florida’s U.S. House District 28.

BEHIND THE STORY

Who decides the political endorsements?

In advance of local and state elections, Miami Herald Editorial Board members interview political candidates, as well as advocates and opponents of ballot measures. The Editorial Board is composed of experienced opinion journalists and is independent of the Herald’s newsroom. Members of the Miami Herald Editorial Board are: Amy Driscoll, editorial page editor; and editorial writers Isadora Rangel and Mary Anna Mancuso. Read more by clicking the arrow in the upper right.

What does the endorsement process look like?

The Miami Herald Editorial Board interviews political candidates to better understand their views on public policy and how their policies will affect their constituents. Board members do additional reporting and research to learn as much as possible about the candidates before making an endorsement. The Editorial Board then convenes to discuss the candidates in each race. Board members seek to reach a consensus on the endorsements, but not every decision is unanimous. Candidates who decline to be interviewed will not receive an endorsement.

Is the Editorial Board partisan?

No. In making endorsements, members of the Editorial Board consider which candidates are better prepared to represent their constituents — not whether they agree with our editorial stances or belong to a particular political party. We evaluate candidates’ relevant experience, readiness for office, depth of knowledge of key issues and understanding of public policy. We’re seeking candidates who are thoughtful and who offer more than just party-line talking points.

This story was originally published October 22, 2024 at 2:48 PM.