Miami-Dade County voters settled two of three contested County Commission races Tuesday and set up a November runoff in the third, capping a low-turnout primary that will reshape the board’s lineup heading into next year.
In District 2, Commissioner Marleine Bastien cruised to a second and final term, capturing 78% of the vote against two challengers. Miguel “Skip” Quintero finished second with 13%, and Ernst Jean Louis took 9% in the district, which covers portions of Miami, Hialeah and North Dade.
In District 8, Commissioner Danielle Cohen Higgins also avoided a runoff, winning re-election with just over 55% of the vote. Former Palmetto Bay Mayor John DuBois drew about 28% and Martha “Vega” Hero roughly 17%.
The night’s closest contest came in District 5, where no candidate cleared the majority required under county rules. Commissioner Vicki Lopez, who was appointed to the seat, led the field with 42.3% and will face Rob Piper, who finished second at 29.5%, in a Nov. 3 runoff. Former Miami Commissioner Joe Sanchez was eliminated after taking 28.2% — a margin of just 211 votes separated Piper and Sanchez with 53 of 55 precincts reporting.
Turnout Lags Countywide
Because commission races are technically nonpartisan, candidates needed more than half the votes cast to win outright; otherwise the top two finishers advance to the Nov. 3 general election.
Participation was thin. Pre-Election Day turnout stood at just 12.5% of registered voters, with roughly 102,000 vote-by-mail ballots and about 58,000 early votes cast, according to figures reported by Political Cortadito. Supervisor of Elections Alina Garcia described the turnout as “not optimal.”
The District 5 runoff is likely to draw significant attention this fall. The district stretches across some of the county’s most politically and geographically diverse territory, including Miami Beach and Brickell, and the seat has changed hands through appointment rather than election since its last occupant departed.
Five other commission candidates had already won new terms unopposed when qualifying closed earlier this year, leaving Tuesday’s three contests as the only commission races on the countywide ballot.
The runoff will share the Nov. 3 ballot with the governor’s race and a high-stakes statewide property tax amendment, which could push turnout in District 5 well above Tuesday’s levels.
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