Herald Endorsement: Miami Commission District 5 | Opinion
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Editorial Board November 2025 election recommendations
Ahead of the upcoming local elections, the Editorial Board sits down with political candidates to gain insight into their positions on key issues and the potential impact of their policies on the community. Our aim is to help voters make informed decisions about who is best suited for each race. See our November 2025 endorsements below:
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In the Miami Commission District 5 race, incumbent Commissioner Christine King is being challenged by retired teacher and community activist Frederick Bryant and construction executive Marion K. Brown.
King is obviously the most qualified. Unfortunately for voters, she declined to meet with the Herald Editorial Board to answer our questions. She sent a text through a spokesperson saying she was busy campaigning and serving as commissioner.
King has been on the wrong side of a number of issues during her term — one notable time calling constituents “mean and miserable” — but she has also demonstrated she understands her district. She has pushed for affordable housing and took a public stand against the 287(g) agreement in support of the immigrant community. With reservations, she is our choice in District 5.
Of the three candidates, only Bryant accepted an invitation to meet with the Miami Herald Editorial Board. Bryant is a grassroots candidate concerned about gentrification, housing affordability and community trust in local government — all pressing issues for Miami residents. Brown ran unsuccessfully for the Miami-Dade Commission District 3 seat in 2024.
King, a lawyer and former CEO of the Martin Luther King Jr. Economic Development Corporation nonprofit, was elected to the seat in 2021. She was supported by Keon Hardemon, now a county commissioner, who had previously held the District 5 seat.
She has created a First-Time Homeowner Program for residents, offering assistance with financing and down payments to help create a pathway to homeownership and generational wealth. She started “Constituent Tuesdays” to meet with residents and sponsored legislation for a $2 million grant for the Bakehouse Arts Complex to make repairs and structural renovations to its building.
During a June commission meeting, she took a political risk by speaking out against a plan for the city to enter an immigration enforcement agreement with ICE. The 287(g) agreement, which deputizes police officers with immigration enforcement powers, passed anyway.
“I feel the pain of my residents, afraid to leave their homes, afraid to get medical attention for their children. And I don’t want to be a part of that. I think we are on the wrong side if we enter into this agreement,” she said. The agreement passed 3-2, with King and Commissioner Damian Pardo voting no.
King, 59, is the child of Guyanese immigrants. About 58% of residents in Miami are foreign born, according to U.S. Census Bureau data.
King has made serious missteps such as voting last year to give herself and the other commissioners lifetime pensions. It was a controversial proposal that led to a discussion in which she demeaned her constituents by calling them “M&Ms: mean and miserable.”
She supported moving city elections from November to 2026 — a decision rightly overturned by a judge — which would have extended current officeholders’ terms, including hers, by a year, bypassing voter approval.
In July, when the Miami City Commission voted on lifetime term limits for elected officials — two four-year terms as mayor and two four-year terms as a commissioner — King voted against letting voters decide. The measure passed anyway, and voters will decide on Nov. 4. King has said she supports term limits but called lifetime bans “too rigid” and “too inflexible.”
King is the current chair of the Miami commission and has struggled at times to control some of her infamously rowdy colleagues. The district includes Liberty City, Little Haiti, Model City, Overtown, Wynwood/Edgewater and the Upper East Side.
In the past four years, King has worked on issues important to residents, such as housing affordability and community outreach. But her record has not been without blemishes.
The Miami Herald Editorial Board endorses CHRISTINE KING for the Miami Commission District 5 seat.
BEHIND THE STORY
MOREWho 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 23, 2025 at 1:35 PM.
