Whether or not the city of Miami cancels this year’s election, effectively extending the mayor’s and commissioners’ terms by a year, all depends on Commission Chairwoman Christine King.
The first reading of an ordinance to move the Miami city elections from odd to even years, effectively cancelling this year’s election and extending the mayor’s and commissioners’ terms by a year — passed 3-2, with King and Commissioners Ralph Rosado and Damian Pardo voting in favor. Commissioners Joe Carollo and Miguel Gabela voted no.
But King said she was only voting in favor for the first reading, so she has reservations. And, hopefully, enough people have advised her to vote no on the second round.
Read related: Miami Commissioners pass election date change — and steal an extra year
The biggest reason, however, that King’s vote may swing the other way is that, as she likes to remind everyone at almost every meeting, she is an attorney. So, she knows this action is going to be challenged. Perhaps even by the state.
Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier on Wednesday doubled down on his opinion that the city could not move the elections year without first going to the voters for approval. He says the city charter, and the Miami-Dade County charter, supersede the state law that City Attorney George Wysong has relied on.
“The State will not tolerate such an unconstitutional deviation,” Uthmeier wrote in a letter to Mayor Francis Suarez and the commission. “You should immediately cease the process of enacting the ordinance to move the date of municipal elections and change the terms of office for elected officials in the City of Miami. The citizens of Miami deserve — and are entitled to — the right to make this decision, directly.”
He cited the city charter, which says the election is in odd years, and the county’s Home Rule Charter, which requires the 37 municipalities in Miami-Dade to take any major charter change to the voters.
It seems logical. From what Ladra has known from decades covering government, local rules can be stricter than state rules but not looser. And then municipalities have to follow those stricter rules.
Uthmeier says there will be “consequences” and has threatened to “consider taking all available options.” The state is not the only one who has threatened to sue. Several would-be candidates for mayor and commission — including former Commissioner Ken Russell, former City Manager Emilio Gonzalez, mayoral candidate Michael Hepburn and Little Havana activist Denise Galvez Turros, who is running for commission in District 3 — have also threatened to take legal action.
Many of them and other critics have called this nothing but a power grab.
Read related: Miami lifetime term limits, election year change intertwined, like bait & switch
“If Commissioner Pardo were truly serious about reform, he’d be fighting to expand representation, not restrict it,” said Downtown Neighbors Association President James Torres, a onetime commission candidate in District 2 and frequent critic of Pardo’s.
“One of the most impactful proposals raised in recent months — is to increase the number of City Commission districts from five to nine. Miami has nearly half a million residents — yet only five commissioners. Many cities of similar or even smaller size have nearly twice as many districts, giving neighborhoods a stronger voice and better access to their government. It’s time we caught up,” Torres said.
“When you expand districts, you bring government closer to the people. You make sure that places like Downtown and Brickell — vibrant neighborhoods with growing populations — finally have a seat at the table. That’s how you empower v
oters. That’s how you strengthen democracy. Not with bans. Not with backroom extensions. But by making sure every corner of this city has a voice.”
There is currently a petition being circulated to put expanded districts on the ballot (more on that later).
Uthmeier also posted his letter on X, the platform formerly known as twitter. “Home to thousands of patriotic Cuban Americans who know better than most about regimes that cavalierly delay elections and prolong their terms in power, the City of Miami owes to its citizens what the law requires,” Uthmeier wrote.
In light of Uthmeier’s strong words, it is possible that Commissioner Rosado, who voted in favor of the outright change — giving himself five years instead of four in his first term — goes back also and decides to take it to the voters, instead.
But King, the attorney who is always trying to avoid legal battles, knows that this is one giant lawsuit waiting to happen and will most likely switch her vote based on that. It gives her cover.
The meeting begins at 9:30 a.m. Thursday at City Hall, 3500 Pan American Drive, and can also be watched live online at the city’s website and on YouTube.
Miami election change to 2026, term extensions hinge on Christine King added by Ladra on
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Christine King and Keon Hardemon are forever stealing from taxpayers. The Southeast Overtown Park West CRA is just s slush fund to make them richer. Ask Art Noriega how much they are stealing.
” The City of Miami does not have a voter turnout problem ”
Look at the percentage of people who vote it’s a small percentage of those who can in fact I think most do not even bother to register , might be different in Coral Gables
I agree many feel ‘ why bother ‘ but politics is the lesser of evils and even if you refuse to vote for a candidate there are amendments , Judges in pretty much all elections .
I was at the VA not long ago and while waiting for something I was chatting and plenty did not bother to vote .
Damian Pardo joined the Miami Crime Family long ago. Pardo should be recalled. District 2 needs an educated honest commissioner.
The argument that in order to move elections to even years it requires an extension to 5 year terms for commissioners and mayor either now or at some time in the future is just plain wrong. The 2025 election could be changed to a 3 year term, then the 2027election could be changed to a 3 year term; and that would result in future elections being in even years.
So the change could be effected without extending any terms.
Yes! It is true.
I got aggressively escorted out of the City of Miami Government Commission meeting this morning during Public Comment but hey — sometimes 2 Minutes is just not enough time to say what you have to say.
For the Record:
The City of Miami does not have a voter turnout problem. That’s not the real issue! “We The People” and our Elected Officials need to be honest and confront the root cause which is the major Civic Empowerment Gap that we have in the City of Miami.
— Vast Majority of our residents lack basic Civics 101 Knowledge
— Vast Majority of our Voters choose NOT TO VOTE in our Municipal Elections because they don’t believe there’s anything to vote for, don’t trust our government, and do not understand what our local government even does
— The Intentional Voter Suppression led by our Elected Officials to control their Targeted Voter Universe; the Quid Pro quo that occurs to muster up votes; and the oversimplification of just telling voters to vote for the person with their same Political Party Identification
— Vast Majority of Residents do not understand the impact of how local legislation will impact their life
Let me help level-set this conversation.
— Almost 40K Registered Voters were switched to inactive status and removed from our active Voter Registration list here in the City Miami as of June 2025. We only now have 177K+ Active Registered Voters in the City of Miami -with a city that has almost 500,000 Residents.
— The vast majority of voters do not understand the differences between the Miami Dade County Mayor vs City of Miami Mayor
–The majority of our Voters can’t tell you the City Budget amount or any detail about it
— Majority of Voters do not know their elected Representatives based on their home address
— Majority of Voters can’t tell you why they actually voted for the Judges on their ballot, etc. Outside of the candidate or issue having a popular Name ID.
— Majority of Voters have never served on a City Advisory Board, Neighborhood Association, PTA, attended a City Hall Meeting, etc.
I think you understand where I’m getting at…
But they tell people that Voter Turnout is the issue and saving money on Elections is important. The majority of voters actually vote against their own self-interest a lot but instead of fixing this issue — we just tell folks, if more people vote we will be better off.
Even though we can clearly see with data — that the majority of people actually DO NOT FULLY UNDERSTAND WHAT THEY ARE VOTING FOR OR AGAINST.
We do not have a Voter Turnout Problem, we have a Civic Engagement, Civics Education, and Social Capital PROBLEM.
Our City of Miami Commissioners are pushing for an ordinance that will cancel our Municipal Election and extend their Terms in office an additional year without voter consent and they say it’s to increase Voter Turnout and save Money.
Question FOR YOU…
What price can you put on having a Democracy?
AND
Is the goal to just have more non civically-educated people voting or to actually cultivate a culture of engaged and educated voters participating in our Elections?
OH! Let me not forget the fact that canceling an election is taking away my Right To Vote. But I guess they don’t believe in or understand the 15th Amendment to the United States Constitution.
Maybe that’s because the folks pushing this rhetoric, did not protest for it, marched for it, and they damn sure did not die for having the right to vote in this Country.
So, I guess it’s easy for them to say just cancel this year’s municipal election, give our elected officials 12
more months in office without voter consent and — we’re going to be better off down the road for doing it this way.
Or maybe they just don’t understand what Democracy is, or have a basic level of Civics 101 and perhaps they missed all of the documentaries highlighting the precious Right To Vote.
That’s why I oppose SR.1
And despite knowing all of this, if the Miami Commission still votes to pass this ordinance today. I will initiate the Municipal Recall for Commissioner Damian Pardo,
TODAY!
Christine King has sold her votes ever since she was first elected. She has voted YES for every respect for up zoning to cross her desk and she has made a fortune from lobbyists AKA land use attorneys. Ask the bag lady Barbara Hardemon. Or just ask Keon Hardemon. All park of the same crime family.