Billboards, ads turn up heat on Miami Mayor Eileen Higgins over ICE 287g

Billboards, ads turn up heat on Miami Mayor Eileen Higgins over ICE 287g

Apparently, the text messages weren’t enough. Neither were the protests at City Hall. Or the activists confronting Miami Mayor Eileen Higgins at public events. Or the dozens of speakers who packed a commission meeting in June demanding that the city get out of its controversial 287(g) agreement with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. So now […]

Vince Lago once wanted a search for Coral Gables manager; Now he’d skip it

Vince Lago once wanted a search for Coral Gables manager; Now he’d skip it

Oh, what a difference a couple of years — and a different commission majority — can make. Coral Gables Mayor Vince Lago, who once practically wrapped himself in the flag of process, transparency and a national search when his political enemies abruptly installed a city manager without one, now wants the commission to appoint his […]

Oliver Gilbert beats back $2 million+ attack, wins crowded CD 24 primary

Oliver Gilbert beats back $2 million+ attack, wins crowded CD 24 primary

They came at Oliver Gilbert with money. Lots and lots of money. They came at him with attack ads, a crypto-funded super PAC, questions about his campaign contributions, Kendrick Meek Jr.‘s famous political surname and, toward the end, polls suggesting former State Sen. Shevrin Jones might beat him. And Gilbert won anyway. Not by much. […]

Anchor vs. anchor: Eliott Rodriguez wins primary, takes on María Elvira

Anchor vs. anchor: Eliott Rodriguez wins primary, takes on María Elvira

Former newsman beats Robin Peguero by seven points For nearly 50 years, Eliott Rodriguez delivered the news to South Florida. Now he’s making some. Rodriguez, the longtime CBS Miami anchor who traded the television studio for the campaign trail earlier this year, defeated former homicide prosecutor Robin Peguero in Tuesday’s Democratic primary for Congressional District […]

Vicki Lopez beats Joe Sanchez, heads into runoff with Rob “Who?” Piper

Vicki Lopez beats Joe Sanchez, heads into runoff with Rob “Who?” Piper

Incumbent Miami-Dade commissioner couldn’t close So much for the coronation. Miami-Dade Commissioner Vicki Lopez had the money. She had the endorsements. She had the unions. She had the cops and firefighters. She had Democrats and Republicans. She had the entire Miami Beach Commission. She had nine months of incumbency and all the ribbon cuttings, newsletters, […]

Bruno Barreiro survives GOP squeaker, faces Gloria Romero Roses for HD 113

Bruno Barreiro survives GOP squeaker, faces Gloria Romero Roses for HD 113

Bruno Barreiro is going back to Tallahassee — if he can get past Gloria Romero Roses in November. And if it wasn’t going to be Tony Diaz, Ladra is kinda glad it’s Bruno. The former Miami-Dade commissioner and former state representative won the Republican primary for Florida House District 113 Tuesday night in a nail-biter […]

Miami-Dade limps into Election Day with 12.5% turnout — runoffs looming

Miami-Dade limps into Election Day with 12.5% turnout — runoffs looming

If you haven’t voted yet, congratulations. You’re in the overwhelming majority. Miami-Dade heads into Tuesday’s primary Election Day with just 12.5% of registered voters having cast ballots through early voting or vote-by-mail, according to Miami-Dade Supervisor of Elections Alina Garcia, who diplomatically described the turnout as “not optimal.” No me digas. That means nearly nine […]

Jimmy Morales trades County Hall for lobbying job after fuel farm fallout

Jimmy Morales trades County Hall for lobbying job after fuel farm fallout

Well, that didn’t take long. Former Miami-Dade Chief Operating Officer Jimmy Morales, who resigned in June amid the spectacular PortMiami/Fisher Island fuel-farm fiasco, has found himself a very comfortable soft landing. And where does a longtime government insider go after decades of running governments and learning exactly how the sausage gets made? Why, into government […]

Mavel Ruiz lawsuit follows the money behind ‘communist judge’ campaign

Mavel Ruiz lawsuit follows the money behind ‘communist judge’ campaign

The most interesting and heated judicial race in Miami-Dade just went nuclear. Miami-Dade Circuit Judge Mavel Ruiz, who is fighting to keep her seat against challenger Destiny Alvarez (aka Destiny Goede) in the election that ends Tuesday, has filed a lawsuit accusing Alvarez, her husband and a network of political committees and consultants of orchestrating […]