November delivered major developments at every level of government. Miami-Dade saw key appointments and public pushback on major land and infrastructure decisions. In Tallahassee, lawmakers advanced contentious bills on fetal personhood, firearms, and property taxes. Federally, the shutdown ended amid intensified Executive and judicial battles.

Here are the highlights shaping Florida and the nation this month.

Two Democratic candidates: Miami Mayoral candidate Eileen Higgins and Miami Beach Group I Commission candidate Monica Matteo-Salinas will be in individual run-off elections on December 9. Both candidates are officially endorsed by the Miami Dade Democratic Executive Committee.

Our hard work over the last eleven months is slowly, but surely, starting to bear fruit. Besides cheering on Democratic victories all the way from Virginia and New Jersey to California, we Miami-Dade Democrats can celebrate the wins we have just racked up here at home:

• Democratic incumbents–Laura Dominguez and Alex Fernandez (Miami Beach), and Christine King (Miami)–won re-election to their respective Commission seats.
• Democrat Eileen Higgins finished a strong first in a crowded Miami mayoral field, and is now in an excellent position to become Miami’s first woman mayor.
• Democrat Monica Matteo-Salinas powered her way to a first place finish in the race for Miami Beach Commissioner, Group I, and has won the endorsement of an impressive array of supporters in the run-off.
• Yet another Democrat–Navy veteran and Gen Z political newcomer Oscar Alejandro–earned the Miami Herald’s endorsement and came close to making the run-off for Miami Commission in District 3.

By Crystal Etienne, DEC member and President of the EDUVOTER Action Network

I have a request: I would like to move into your home, rent-free.

I’d like full access to your electricity, water, food pantry, medicine cabinet, vacuum cleaner, and alarm system. And, by the way, while I’m benefiting from everything you’ve bought or built, I will be trying to replace you in your current job or position.

You’re thinking, “Are you insane?”

Why? Because what I’ve just described is a hostile takeover of your property, a draconian case of squatter’s rights.

Ninety-one of Miami-Dade’s district schools have just learned that they are the potential victims of just such a takeover.

Governor DeSantis made headlines last February when he suggested that legislators place a constitutional amendment on the 2026 ballot to get rid of property taxes on homesteaded properties in Florida. Later, he doubled down, calling such taxes "basically paying rent to the government to live on your own property."

DeSantis soon got into a pitched war of words with House Speaker and Kendall representative Danny Perez, who favored slashing sales taxes instead. Despite the spat, Perez created a Select Committee on Property Taxes in April, and in September announced the roll-out of an octet of Republican proposals featuring a wide array of property tax reform options.

The Miami-Dade Democratic Party mourns the passing of former State Representative Roy Hardemon, a passionate advocate for Liberty City and one of its most determined sons.

We are heading to a runoff between Eileen Higgins and Emilio Gonzalez to determine who will become the City of Miami's next mayor!

View results of the 2025 Miami mayoral election

Attend the runoff candidate forum between Eileen Higgins and Emilio Gonzalez on Thursday 11/13