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.”

MIAMI-DADE, FL: Florida Representative Javier Fernandez has won the primary to become the Democratic nominee for Florida Senate District 39. He will face a well-funded Republican opponent on the November ballot as Republicans try to hold on to this district which spans from the Florida Keys in Monroe County to include much of Southern Miami-Dade County. 

Miami-Dade Democratic Party Chair, Steve Simeonidis, issued the following statement, congratulating Rep. Fernandez on his victory.

“I congratulate Javier Fernandez on becoming the Democratic nominee for Florida Senate District 39. Winning Senate District 39 is a top priority of the Florida Democratic Party and the Miami-Dade Democratic Party, and we are excited to get to work supporting Rep. Fernandez’s campaign.”

The Miami-Dade Democratic Party has registered nearly 2,000 new Democrats and signed up more than 25,000 Democrats for Vote-By-Mail ballots in the Miami-Dade portion of Senate District 39 since January of 2020. “We will continue to invest staff time, digital spending and volunteer hours to flip Senate District 39 blue in November,” stated Steve Simeonidis, Miami-Dade Democratic Party Chair.

Rep. Jones is on the path to become the first openly gay Black member of the Florida Senate

MIAMI-DADE, FL: Florida Representative Shevrin Jones has won the primary to become the Democratic nominee for Florida Senate District 35. He will face a write-in opponent on the November ballot. 

Miami-Dade Democratic Party Chair, Steve Simeonidis, issued the following statement, congratulating Rep. Jones on his historic victory.

“Shevrin Jones has made history tonight. Winning his primary today, he has taken one more step toward that moment in November, when he will be elected the first openly gay Black member of the Florida Senate. Miami-Dade Democrats are proud of the progress this represents and we are proud of Rep. Jones’ advocacy for all Floridians in Tallahassee.”