MIAMI-DADE, FL: Credible reports have emerged concerning egregious human rights violations against Muslim detainees being held at the Krome Service Processing Center in Miami. The reports claim that “ICE officers at Krome have repeatedly served pork or pork-based products to Muslim detainees, contrary to the detainees’ sincerely held religious belief that they are forbidden from consuming pork.”

Statement from Miami-Dade Democratic Party Chair Steve Simeonidis:

“I am deeply disturbed by the credible reports from ICE’s Krome Processing Center in Miami. These actions, if true, represent more than abuse and neglect, they represent a violation of basic human rights. The men and women who work for ICE are charged with upholding the United States Constitution, including the First Amendment, which guarantees the free exercise of religion, and the Eighth Amendment, forbidding cruel and unusual punishment. These constitutional rights do not end at the front door of the Krome Processing Center. We call on ICE to respond immediately to these allegations and to ensure that it is treating our Muslim brothers and sisters with dignity and respect.”

MIAMI-DADE, FL: Commissioner Eileen Higgins won the highest vote share in today’s primary and will move on to the November runoff in a position of strength. 

The Miami-Dade Democratic Party Chair, Steve Simeonidis, issued the following statement, congratulating Commissioner Higgins for her first-place showing.

“Commissioner Higgins has shown the strength of her support throughout County Commission District 5. I congratulate her on her first place showing tonight and I look forward to celebrating her reelection in the November runoff. We were proud to endorse her reelection, and we are proud that she has earned the support of the overwhelming plurality of her Miami-Dade constituents. It is clear that national Republicans like Marco Rubio wanted to take her out, but apparently his robocalls aren’t as effective as he thinks they are.”

MIAMI-DADE, FL: Jean-Pierre Bado has become the Democratic nominee for House District 114. The Miami-Dade Democratic Party will work to defend this seat in November.

Miami-Dade Democratic Party Chair, Steve Simeonidis, issued the following statement, congratulating J.P. Bado on his victory.

“I congratulate J.P. on becoming the Democratic nominee for House District 114. J.P.’s story is an inspiring one of service to his country, and I know he will make an excellent representative for his constituents in Tallahassee. We are excited to work with him to defend this seat.”

MIAMI-DADE, FL: Doral City Councilwoman Dr. Mara Zapata has advanced to the November runoff in the race for School Board District 5. 

The Miami-Dade Democratic Party Chair, Steve Simeonidis, issued the following statement, congratulating Dr. Zapata for her strong showing.

“Dr. Zapata has shown the strength of her support throughout School Board District 5. I congratulate her on her strong showing tonight and I look forward to celebrating her election to the School Board in the November runoff. We were proud to endorse her in this race, and we are proud that she has earned such strong support throughout her district. We are ready to get to work to ensure she is elected in November, along with the rest of our slate of Democrats.”

Dr. Mara Zapata has dedicated her professional life to education and supporting both teachers and students. She currently serves as Associate Director of the FIUteach program in the STEM Transformation Institute. She has served as an Instructional Supervisor for Miami Dade County Public Schools in the division of Human Capital Management, supported and mentored many pre-service teachers; many of whom are current teachers in the field. Prior to this she served as an administrator in Curriculum & Instruction for Miami Dade County Public Schools, overseeing the implementation of several federally funded district wide programs and initiatives.

MIAMI-DADE, FL: Miami Beach High School teacher Lucia Baez-Geller has advanced to the November runoff in first place for the race for School Board District 3. 

Miami-Dade Democratic Party Chair, Steve Simeonidis, issued the following statement, congratulating Lucia Baez-Geller for her first-place showing.

“Lucia Baez-Geller has shown the strength of her support throughout School Board District 3. I congratulate her on winning the plurality of voters in her district tonight and I look forward to celebrating her election to the School Board in the November runoff. We were proud to endorse her in this race, and we are proud that she has earned such strong support throughout her district. We are ready to get to work to ensure she is elected in November, along with the rest of our slate of Democrats.”

MIAMI-DADE, FL: After tonight’s historic Democratic turnout in the August 18 election, Miami-Dade Democratic Party Chair Steve Simeonidis congratulated Commissioner Daniella Levine Cava for her strong showing and for advancing to the November 3 runoff.

Miami-Dade Democratic Party Chair, Steve Simeonidis, issued the following statement, congratulating Commissioner Levine Cava for advancing to the runoff.

“Daniella Levine Cava is on the path to break the highest glass ceiling in Miami-Dade County Government. Today, on the 100th anniversary of the ratification of the 19th Amendment, she showed the strength of her movement. I congratulate her on her historic showing tonight and I look forward to celebrating her victory as Miami-Dade’s first Democratic mayor in 16 years this November.”

“The record breaking Democratic turnout in Miami-Dade can be attributed to two factors,” Chair Simeonidis continued. “We have amazing Democratic candidates helping drive turnout, and the strength and work of our party staff and our Party’s volunteers.”

MIAMI-DADE, FL: Former Pinecrest Mayor Cindy Lerner won the highest vote share in today’s primary in County Commission District 7 and will move on to the November runoff in a position of strength. 

Miami-Dade Democratic Party Chair, Steve Simeonidis, issued the following statement, congratulating Mayor Lerner for her first-place showing.

“Mayor Lerner has shown the strength of her support throughout County Commission District 7. I congratulate her on her first place showing tonight and I look forward to celebrating her election to the Board of County Commissioners in the November runoff. We were proud to endorse her in this race, and we are proud that she has earned the support of the overwhelming plurality of the residents of District 7. We are ready to get to work to ensure she is elected in November, along with the rest of our slate of Democrats.”