The Miami-Dade Democratic Party voted on January 30 to endorse Sabina Covo for City of Miami Commissioner, District 2. A special election will be held in the City of Miami on February 27, 2023. 

Ms. Covo, who is Colombian-American, worked as the Director of Hispanic Media Relations and Communications at the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services under former Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried. She is a former TV reporter and program host. Since late 2014, she has run her own public relations firm.

Covo’s 22-year residency in Miami’s District 2 and years covering issues at City Hall give her a unique insight into the problems plaguing the City of Miami. Her priorities include public safety, access to resources, affordable housing, support for arts and entertainment, and helping to boost the city’s economic development and tourism.

The Miami-Dade Democratic Executive Committee condemns the heinous murder of Tyre Nichols by members of the Memphis Police Department. We extend our deepest condolences to his family as they grieve his loss and grapple with the details of his brutal assault. We further condemn police violence wherever it occurs, whether in Memphis or Miami. 

With District 2 Commissioner Ken Russell stepping down at the end of 2022, the City of Miami Commission voted to hold a special election in February 2023 to fill this vacancy. There will also be elections for District 1 and District 4 at the end of 2023.

For this election, the Miami-Dade Democratic Party voted to endorse Sabina Covo

In 2023, 15 municipalities in Miami-Dade will be holding elections, including the city of Miami, Coral Gables, Hialeah, and Miami Beach. Turnout for these local elections can often be very low, and every vote counts. We even witnessed a tie in a local election in 2022. 

Please check the Miami-Dade 2023 election calendar and share the dates with your friends who live in these areas.

Remember, that vote-by-mail registrations expired at the end of 2022, and we recommend all voters to re-enroll, so they do not miss out on any general elections or runoffs for their local government. Click here to re-enroll in vote by mail

February 21 (Register to vote by Jan. 23)

• Golden Beach General Election

February 27 (Register to vote by Jan. 30)

• Miami Special Election 2023 for District 2 Commissioner 

March 7 (Register to vote by Feb. 6)

• Golden Beach Run-Off Election
• Hialeah Gardens General Election (Candidate Qualifying Dates: Dec. 21, 2022 Jan. 23, 2023)
• Pinecrest Special Election (Mail Ballot)

March 21 (Register to vote by Feb. 21)

• Hialeah Gardens Run-Off Election

Legendary Miami Journalist Jim DeFede Set To Moderate the Candidate Forum on May 28 at North Miami Beach’s Julius Littman’s Performing Arts Theater

LEER EN ESPAÑOL

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY: Today, Miami-Dade Democratic Party Chair Robert Dempster announced that the Miami-Dade Democratic Party would be hosting a candidate forum with the three Democratic candidates for governor, Congressman Charlie Crist, Florida Commissioner of Agriculture and Consumer Services Nikki Fried and State Senator Annette Taddeo. 

He also announced that longtime Miami journalist Jim DeFede will moderate the event. The forum, hosted at the City of North Miami Beach’s historic Julius Littman Performing Arts Theater, will be held on Saturday, May 28, 2022 at 6 PM. The event is free and open to the public, who are encouraged to reserve seats at this link.

Miami-Dade Democratic Party Chair Robert Dempster stated:

“I am thrilled that all of the Democratic gubernatorial candidates have agreed to participate in this important Miami-Dade forum. They all know that Miami-Dade County’s future will be brighter with a Democrat in the governor’s mansion. They also know that the path to a Democratic governor in 2022 runs directly through Florida’s most populous, and most diverse county. I look forward to an event where Miami-Dade Democrats can hear directly from these three outstanding public servants.”

On Tuesday, August 17, 2021, the Miami-Dade Democratic Party held elections for our chair and programs vice chair positions. After a well-run campaign from multiple candidates, the Democratic Executive Committee elected Robert Dempster (D-North Miami Beach) and Allison Sardinas (D-Homestead) as the new chair and programs vice chair, respectively. 

Dear Democrats: Thank you. Thank you for all the volunteer hours. Thank you for voting in record numbers. Thank you for your record-breaking donations. Thank you for breaking the glass ceiling and electing Daniella Levine Cava as county mayor - the first democrat in 20 years and first woman ever.

Miami-Dade Democrats' Statement on Biden's EOs for Gun Reform

The Miami Dade Democratic Party commends President Biden for his Executive Orders, which represent a significant step forward towards the reduction of gun violence in our country. We hope Congress will follow suit by taking action to enact meaningful gun safety measures.

When announcing this legislation, President Biden stated: “They’ve offered plenty of thoughts and prayers, members of Congress, but they’ve passed not a single new federal law to reduce gun violence Enough prayers. Time for some action.” We agree with the President. Executive Orders are merely a start but cannot be a finish.  

These Executive Orders, in summary, work to stop the proliferation of ghost guns, regulate pistols modified with stabilizing braces, help states enact red flag laws, and support community violence interventions.

Ghost guns are guns that can be built from kits or with a 3-D printer.  This weaponry has no serial numbers making them almost untraceable. Currently, a background check is not required to purchase the kits used to build them.

Red Flag or Extreme Risk Laws allow family or law enforcement to petition a court to prohibit a person exhibiting symptoms of a desire to commit violence against themselves or others from being able to purchase a firearm. 

President Biden’s executive order directs the Department of Justice to draft a model statute for states to enact, one model that will survive court challenges. We support such laws, so long as they afford individuals the opportunity for due process under the law. 

Finally, a stabilizing brace allows pistols to be used in the same manner as a rifle and circumvents regulations on short-barreled rifles.  These often make a pistol easier to conceal than a rifle.

The text of the 2nd Amendment permits the regulation of the right to bear arms. President Biden’s common-sense measures are constitutional and will withstand judicial scrutiny. 

We urge Congress to also consider other rules that will protect us all from gun violence, such as closing the Charleston loophole, which allows persons to purchase firearms without a completed background check, making waiting periods effective, and banning high-capacity magazines, bump stocks, and other such conversion devices.

We stand in solidarity with all the victims, families, activists and organizations in Florida who have stepped up to bring these issues forward and are grateful to the Administration for taking action that is long overdue. It is now on Congress to act. We need gun reform now. 

Miami-Dade Democrats' Statement on the Chauvin Verdict

"The Miami-Dade Democratic Party supports the Minnesota jury’s decision to find officer Derek Chauvin guilty to the fullest extent of the charges filed. While no court ruling will ultimately reverse this injustice, we are encouraged by the outcome. The Miami-Dade Democratic Party believes that while this is a step in the right direction, the struggle to defeat systemic racism at all levels of government must continue. We commit to fighting for a day when a badge does not allow you to get away with murder, as it has so many times before."

Miami-Dade Democratic Party Chair Steve Simeonidis issued the following statement: "I'm thankful that Mr. Floyd and his family received some measure of justice, but I still feel for the countless others who are still looking for theirs. We must continue to fight for equality and equal justice under the law. Black Lives Matter."

En español:

Steve Simeonidis, Presidente del DEC: "Estoy agradecido de que el Sr. Floyd y su familia hayan recibido cierta medida de justicia, pero todavía siento por los otros innumerables que persiguen la suya. Debemos seguir luchando por la justicia e igualdad la de condiciones bajo la ley. Black Lives Matter."