Many people don’t realize the impact of their vote in a local election. In the 2024 primaries, only 21.6% of eligible Florida voters cast a ballot, according to the Florida Division of Elections. This means that only a few votes can directly affect election outcomes for influential positions in our community. Voters in three County Commission districts will cast ballots for those countywide offices in the August 18 primaries.
At The Miami Foundation, we believe that civically engaged communities are stronger communities. For this reason, we, in collaboration with devoted community partners, launched Vote Miami in 2020 to help Miamians access the information they need to make an informed decision at the ballot box. Last month, we hosted three online forums to ensure Miamians could hear from and ask questions to the candidates running for the commissioner seat in Districts 2, 5, and 8. We sourced questions from Miami’s nonprofit community, and we asked local journalists Liz Rebecca Alarcón (Project Pulso), Janey Tate (Hy-Lo News), and Martin Vassolo (Axios Miami) to help us guide the conversation.
Local elections determine who spends our tax dollars, shapes our neighborhoods, and governs our public spaces. They are among the most direct expressions of democracy and among the least understood and most frequently skipped by voters. We invite you to read our summaries of those forums below, watch the forums on our Vote Miami website, take notes, and share them with others.
Remember, your vote is your voice. Make it count on August 18.
Use the arrows to find your district:
District 8
Covers: Palmetto Bay, Cutler Bay, Homestead, Redland, The Falls, Princeton, Naranja, Leisure City, and parts of West Kendall
Candidates: Danielle Cohen-Higgins (Incumbent) and John DuBois
District 8 sits at the southern edge of Miami-Dade County, where suburban neighborhoods meet farmland, the Everglades, and Biscayne Bay. It’s one of the county’s fastest-growing areas. That growth is testing roads, housing, and land that was until recently agricultural.
Traffic came up early and often. Comments included the South Corridor Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system and roadway improvements, such as a new bridge connection in Palmetto Bay.
Candidates discussed the Urban Development Boundary and continued support for the Environmentally Endangered Lands (EEL) program.
Both candidates recognized the county’s capacity challenges and discussed the possibility of a waste incinerator facility.
They talked about Amendment 3, access to homeownership, and rising rents.
District 5
Covers: Brickell, Downtown Miami, Little Havana, The Roads, Silver Bluff, Shenandoah, and parts of Miami Beach
Candidates: Victoria “Vicky” Lopez (Incumbent), Rob Piper, and Joe Sanchez
Located in the heart of the city, District 5 represents Miami-Dade’s urban core. It is densely populated, depends heavily on public transportation, and continues to grow. The forum focused on how to manage that growth while keeping housing affordable and services accessible.
Candidates talked about repairing and improving existing housing in neighborhoods such as Little Havana. They said the goal is to keep homes affordable, support seniors, and help long-time residents remain in their communities.
Candidates discussed the proposed Bay Link Metrorail extension connecting Downtown Miami and Miami Beach. They discussed accessibility and elevator outages at Metrorail and Metromover stations.
The candidates also talked about the need for more mental health beds, housing with ongoing support, and a discussion about the criminal charges often faced by people experiencing homelessness.
Candidates also highlighted recent tragic boating accidents in and around Biscayne Bay. They discussed stronger law enforcement, expanded sea patrols, and concerns about pollution in the bay.
Climate resilience topics also surfaced, including flood protection, preserving the tree canopy, and improving coordination between city and county emergency systems.
District 2
Covers: Hialeah, North Miami Beach, North Miami, Opa-locka, Biscayne Gardens, Liberty City, and North Central Dade
Candidates: Marleine Bastien (Incumbent), Ernst Jean Louis, and Miguel “Skip” Quintero
Tracing Miami-Dade’s northern edge, District 2 is bordered by Broward County to the north, I-95 to the west, and Biscayne Boulevard to the east. The district weaves together long-established residential neighborhoods, industrial corridors, and the Opa-locka Regional Airport, alongside historic business districts like Overtown, MiMo, and North Miami. It is a community shaped as much by its people as by its geography, and that showed in the conversation.
Invitations went out to all three candidates, but Miguel “Skip” Quintero was the only one able to attend.
He talked about strengthening neighborhood investment, as well as proposing tax rebates and other relief for renters.
Recent changes to Temporary Protected Status (TPS) and their impact to North Dade’s immigrant communities shaped much of the conversation. The candidate spoke to the county’s role in advocacy, recognizing immigrant contributions to the district’s economy and culture, and working with local law enforcement.
Protecting the urban tree canopy and preserving neighborhood lakes from development also stood out as priorities for District 2.
Your Vote Has an Impact
The issues raised across these forums point to a simple reality. Decisions made at the county level have a direct impact on everyday life. Housing policies help determine how families can stay in the neighborhoods that they love. Transit decisions affect how people across Miami get to their offices, their schools, our hospitals and public spaces. Vote Miami exists to make civic participation easier to access and understand for all Miamians.
As you prepare to strengthen our community with your vote, here are some key election details you should know:
Key Election Details
• Election Day is August 18, 2026.
• A candidate must receive a majority of the vote, more than 50%, in the primary election to win outright.
• If no candidate receives more than 50% of the vote, the top two candidates will move on to a runoff election on November 3, 2026, in the general election.
• Visit the Miami-Dade County Department of Elections Countywide Primary Election page to see a sample ballot, early voting sites, and information about the three ways to vote.