Local Politics · Miami Beach, FL
Miami Beach Rep. Basabe Confronts Opponent at City Hall; Police Intervene
State Representative Fabián Basabe confronted his opponent Lucia Baez-Geller, her volunteers, and other politicians at the Miami Beach City Hall voting location on Oct. 30, 2026, according to video posts by immigrant advocate Thomas Kennedy. Miami Beach police intervened twice during the encounter, telling Basabe he would be ticketed for yelling into a microphone while people were voting, per Kennedy's social media posts. Basabe also approached Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniela Levine Cava at a Miami Beach diner; her advisor described the interaction as an attempt to intimidate her, while Basabe said she was at a publicly announced political appearance. In a separate Oct. 26 Facebook video, Basabe demanded Baez-Geller and her husband denounce connections to CAIR and Emgage. Basabe told New Times he was exercising free speech and criticized orders from city leadership.