Another Miami mayoral gathering — but this one’s for Democrats only

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Here comes another candidate forum in the crowded Miami mayor’s race. But this time, only the Democrats need apply.

That means nine of the 13 candidates are excluded from the “Democratic Candidate Mayoral Forum,” hosted by The Coconut Grove Democratic Club and the Miami-Dade Democratic Party. The moderator will be Don Finefrock, of the Coconut Grove Spotlight and formerly of the Miami Herald.

The four Democrats confirmed for this powwow are Miami-Dade Commissioner Eileen Higgins, former Miami Commissioner Ken Russell, Elijah John Bowdre and perennial candidate Michael Hepburn.

It will be probably be more civilized than the debate this past week put on by the Downtown Neighbors Alliance and CBS Miami, which turned into a mudslinging festival, although it had lots of entertainment value. That’s because the main clowns in the circus, Miami Commissioner Joe Carollo and former Commissioner Alex Diaz de la Portilla, weren’t invited to Sunday’s shindig.

Read related: One-liners and other memorable moments from Miami mayoral debate

And while the invite thanks the Coral Gables Dems, the Key Biscayne Dems, and the Miami-Dade Democratic Hispanic Caucus for co-sponsoring, Ladra can’t help but point out the obvious: the mayor’s race is supposed to be nonpartisan. Candidates don’t run with a party label on the ballot. But here we are with the local Democratic clubs lining up behind their own showcase anyway.

“From our perspective, we are here to introduce the Democrat candidates to our community,” said Greg Frankel, president of the Coconut Grove Democratic Club (no relation to Congresswoman Lois Frankel). The club had a planning committee to come up with a list of questions and issues to discuss.

“They are free to challenge each other within the format, but we want them to focus on the larger citywide issues,” Frankel told Political Cortadito.

Not that the other side hasn’t blurred the lines, too. Truth is, these races have become partisan.

Both the Florida Democratic Party and the Republican Party of Florida started taking partisan shots before qualifying even ended, with the Dems calling the Republican frontrunner, former City Manager Emilio Gonzalez, the “MAGA mayor,” and the GOP comparing Miami-Dade County Commissioner Eileen Higgins to Democratic New York mayoral candidate Zohar Mamdani, who has been a darling of the Socialist Workers Party.

This is Miami, after all. Nobody really believes in nonpartisan anything.

Still, the forum might matter to some undecided voters one month before Election Day.

Read related: Daniella Levine Cava gives Higgins the expected abrazo in Miami mayor’s race

But let’s be honest, the Dems are really going to choose between Higgins and Russell. Ladra’s money is on Higgins, even before but especially now that she just got Mayor Daniella Levine Cava’s official endorsement. Levine Cava is arguably the most influential and powerful Democrat in the state.

So, you can bet this forum will feel less like a public debate and more like an in-house audition.

The forum begins at 5 p.m. Sunday at St. James Baptist Church, 3500 Charles Ave.

If you want more independent, watchdog reporting of county government and local elections, help Ladra with a contribution to Political Cortadito. Click here.

  Eileen Higgins, Ken Russell, Miami mayoral race