Local Politics · Miami-Dade County
Voters in Miami-Dade County approved renewal of a school tax referendum by more than 81% during Tuesday's midterm election, continuing funding for teacher compensation and school safety through 2031. The measure supports more than 300,000 public and charter school students and was first approved in 2018 before being renewed in 2022. In Broward County, just over 66% of voters approved their respective school tax referendum renewal, marking the highest percentage since the first referendum passed in 2018. Miami-Dade Superintendent Rafael A. Villalobos and Broward Superintendent Dr. Howard Hepburn both issued statements thanking voters for their support.
Local Politics · Miami, FL
City of Miami voters rejected Referendum 3 by a 65% to 35% margin, blocking a plan to lease nearly 28 acres of public waterfront at Virginia Key for redevelopment. The proposal would have leased the land to Virginia Key LLC, a joint venture between RCI Group and Dallas-based Suntex Marinas, for an initial 45-year term extendable beyond 75 years, generating $2.2 million in annual rent for the city. Critics of the plan raised concerns about potential environmental harm.
Local Politics · Miami-Dade County
Democratic Miami-Dade Commissioner Oliver Gilbert is projected to win Florida's Congressional District 24, replacing retiring Rep. Frederica Wilson. Gilbert defeated Republican Te Brown, a businesswoman and real estate developer, by approximately 66 percentage points. Gilbert had earned Wilson's endorsement and campaigned on affordability concerns.
Local Politics · Miami-Dade County
Incumbent Republican Carlos Gimenez won re-election to Florida's 28th Congressional District seat on Tuesday night, securing his fourth term. He defeated Democrat Phil Ehr and Independent candidate Eddy Rojas. The district includes parts of Miami-Dade County as well as the Florida Keys. Gimenez currently chairs the House Homeland Security Subcommittee.
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Local Politics · Miami-Dade County
Democrat Eliott Rodriguez and Republican incumbent Maria Elvira Salazar were tied at 50% to 50% in Florida's District 27 congressional race as of Tuesday evening. Salazar spoke at a watch party at a Key Biscayne restaurant, claiming she was up by 1,000 votes and attributing her lead to her stance on immigration. Rodriguez, a first-time candidate who previously worked as a broadcast journalist like Salazar, greeted supporters at a South Miami watch party. Salazar has held the District 27 seat since 2021.
Local Politics · Miami-Dade County
Republican incumbent Mario Diaz-Balart is likely to retain his U.S. House seat representing Florida District 26, but the race remained too close to call as of late Tuesday night. The district covers Southwest Broward, Doral, Hialeah, and Miami Lakes. Diaz-Balart, who has held the seat for twelve terms, faced Democrat Nicole Locklin and independent Deborah Meidinger Hosey. Past elections saw him win by over 30 points, but affordability and immigration concerns narrowed the margin this cycle.
Public Safety · Miami, FL
The U.S. Coast Guard detained the cruise ship MSC Poesia at PortMiami on Sunday during an expanded examination to verify compliance with international standards and U.S. regulations. The detention canceled the vessel's 11-night sailing scheduled to depart Miami for Jamaica, Colombia, Panama, Costa Rica, Honduras, and Belize. MSC said a regulatory matter arose before departure that could not be resolved in time for the sailing to proceed. Guests aboard the ship, which holds 3,223 passengers and 1,039 crew members, are permitted to remain onboard until Thursday to make travel arrangements. MSC stated guests will receive a full refund of their cruise fare.
Crime · Homestead, FL
A 28-year-old Homestead man, Kevin Narvaez Cruz, was arrested Monday on charges including burglary with assault or battery, battery on a disabled adult, and indecent exposure after an alleged incident on Halloween night. The victim, a two-time stroke survivor, told NBC6 that Cruz made sexual advances during the ride, exposed himself in a parking lot, and pushed her into her apartment when she tried to escape. The altercation was captured on a neighbor's Ring camera, and Cruz appeared in bond court Tuesday. Homestead Police Chief Mario Knapp offered safety tips for rideshare passengers, and Lyft confirmed it permanently removed the driver from its platform.
Local Politics · Broward County
U.S. Rep. Jared Moskowitz won a third term on Tuesday night, defeating former Boca Raton mayor Scott Singer in the newly redrawn 25th District spanning Broward, Miami-Dade and Palm Beach counties. Unofficial returns at 8:45 p.m. showed Moskowitz with 51% of the vote, roughly 5 points ahead of Singer, who was endorsed by President Trump. The Associated Press called the race at 8:07 p.m. The district, drawn by Republican-controlled state government to favor their nominee, runs from Delray Beach to Miami Beach and saw a combined $45 million in broadcast television spending alone, the most for any congressional race in the country.
Social Events · Miami Beach, FL
The City of Miami Beach, with VFW Post 3559 and the Badger platform, will project letters and video messages of gratitude on The Betsy Orb at 1440 Ocean Drive from Nov. 7-10, with a sunset bugler playing "Retreat" at 5:30 p.m. Saturday in three city locations. Two screenings of the documentary "Nothing Can Be Done, But Something Can Be Said" will be held inside The Betsy on Nov. 7 at 7 and 8 p.m., and an invitation-only ceremony will present Vietnam veteran USAF Sgt. James E. Anderson with replacement medals lost after his service in Da Nang. The city's 18th annual Veterans Day parade, described as the largest in South Florida, is set for Wednesday, Nov. 11 at 11:11 a.m. on Ocean Drive from 5th to 15th Streets. Residents can upload gratitude messages or view the live feed at miamibeachfl.gov/america250 between Nov. 2-10.
