Republican primary battle shapes up for District 27
It looks like Raquel Regalado has decided what she wants to do next: Congress.
After briefly entertaining a state Senate run to replace Frank Artiles — because, really, who hasn’t? — the former Miami-Dade School Board member and recent county mayoral candidate has set her sights on District 27, the seat 
U.S. Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen is giving up next year.
No, she hasn’t announced yet. But she’s talked to Ileana and others about it. And she’s made up her mind. No exploratory committee for her. She’s flying to D.C. this week to see if party leaders will back her bid — or at least stand out of the way during what could be an interesting primary, since Miami-Dade Commissioner Bruno Barreiro has already said he was interested in the seat. And, no, it’s not interesting just because her brother is running against his wife in another race, proving what a family affair 305 politics is (more on that later). It’s interesting also because both Bruno and Raquel have been elected and represented the area for years. Him at the county and the Florida House. Her at the School Board. They’re both proven fundraisers. They’re both bien educados and well-versed in the federal issues — transportation, housing, education. And they’re both moderate Republicans in a bellweather district that has consistenly elected the national poster child of GOP moderation.
Read related story: Two new ‘open’ seats spur political piñata question: 40 or 27?
Sure, she’s just come off a bruising election and a misogynistic campaign that trashed her with false allegations of 
homestead exemption fraud and belittled her knowledge and experience. But she still had somewhere around 100,000 votes in that district. And some of those people have voted for her multiple times and for her dad, Miami Mayor Tomas Regalado. In fact, Raquel didn’t even really campaign there because it was her home base. Ladra knows. I was working on her team. (For the record: I worked to elect Raquel to Miami-Dade mayor because the incumbent was the exact opposite of public servant, using the office to benefit himself and those on his friends and family plan. I do not plan to work for her congressional bid but I am still a fan and wish her the best of luck).
In fact, Ladra thinks Regalado has the GOP leg up. Her name recognition and positives in that district are probably the highest she’s got and, likely, higher than Barreiro’s. That’s even before voters are reminded of Bruno’s vote for the Marlin’s stadium deal. As commission chairman at the time, he championed and channeled the whole thing. It’s the main reason he was almost recalled at the same time as Mayor Carlos Alvarez and Commissioner Natacha Seijas Millan, but the petition gatherers fell a few signatures short.
Barreiro also voted against Commissioner Esteban Bovo‘s ordinance that would prohibit the county from contracting with any company that did business in Cuba. This might not be a big deal anywhere else. But the Cuba issue — and the Cuba PAC — plays in this congressional race.
Bruno might also be hampered a bit by his wife’s run for city of Miami commission this year. A quick look through Zoraida Barreiro’s contributions makes it obvious that he’s made some asks of county vendors or contractors. A second ask may not go as well. And what if his wife loses? And what if she wins? Wasn’t the whole point of her running because it was her turn now?
Read related story: Kristen Rosen Gonzalez to challenge Ileana Ros-Lehtinen
Regalado, who jus it spent $800,000 trying to become the county mayor, may be in a similar situation since her brother, Radio Marti Exec Tommy Regalado, is running for commissioner against Mrs. Barreiro. But Regalado has political sugardaddy Norman Braman and a well-oiled machine that will benefit from the full time addition of one 
of its longtime members in November, when Papi is no longer alcalde and can give his daughter’s campaign 100%.
Imagine both daughter and dad — and possibly a Commissioner Tommy Regalado — on a media rampage to get her elected. Raquel is a match for Ileana in that way. Did everybody see how the congresswoman’s retirement became a weeklong story? She had press conferences for three days. She’s very active on twitter and accessible to the constituency. Really, Raquel is better at that kind of thing than Bruno is.
There’s also the fact that she’s a woman. We already have a limited number of women in Congress. It would be a shame if the first Hispanic woman elected to this great democratic body were replaced by a man. Sorry, Bruno, it just does. Best case scenario is Regalado against Miami Beach Commissioner Kristen Rosen Gonzalez on the Dems side (because Ladra was told that Daniella Levine Cava was caught off guard and is not going to make the jump).
Raquel Regalado vs Bruno Barreiro for Congress? added by Ladra on
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I’m a Dem but if I have a choice between these two..it’s Bruno hands down!
[…] Read related story: Raquel Regalado vs. Bruno Barreiro for Congress? […]
Raquel Regalado might not win in a democratic district but she will certainly give the Republicans a fighting chance
Thanks for the primer in opposition research. I seem to remember Bruno was appointed to the BCC initially and then reelected forever based on the incumbency rule.
Too bad (Cava) won’t run. She shall be forever pigeonholed as a lefty on the BBC like her mentor Katy Sorensen and like Katy will accomplish little in her career there.
However she’s much smarter than her peers with her Ivy League degrees to prove it. Bilingual with a multi ethnic sounding name she attracts a wide following. And this free-for-all primary is her best shot at Congress for the for seeable future.
The school board superintendent is the big unknown. The consummate public administrator but how is he going to be in a street fight?
If either one faces Superintendent Carvalho…
I live in the district 27, I will never vote for Raquel Regalado again she has been looking for ever since she lost the mayor race, first she was looking for state rep 112, the went over to Hialeah for the Senate seat, they told her no, the district 40 no again, and now the congressional seat, I think she has a better chance at mayor of city of miami.
I like Raquel alot I voted for her for mayor I would like to see her run for county commission maybe district 5 Brunos seat she should stay local. She has young kids who needs her especially her daughter with autism. She will make a great county commissioner and then try again for county mayor thats my opinion stay local.
This Democrat is not voting for any Republican for Congress. End of Story and I doubt others will either
I hope Raquel doesn’t run. It’s just not winnable for any Republican except Ileana running as an incumbent. Even Ileana’s chances aren’t very good. It’s that ugly out there for Republicans who aren’t in deep-red districts.
Raquel will just be digging herself deeper into a hole. She turned off a lot of voters and insiders with her mayoral campaign. Give them time to forget and forgive.
I really like her and want to see her run for something she can win and then serve. Something will come up. She’s young, healthy, and intensely engaged in our community. Please be patient.
Bruno’s support of corrupt companies like Obdebrecht over principles of supporting freedom and democracy for the #Cuban people makes him an absolute disgrace to our party & community! Go Raquel, she’s not perfect but has a backbone!
Funny how all of a sudden every Republican running for the seat is “moderate” Republican. Laughable. Seat will go blue..
Raquel Regalado is the first person that comes to mind to replace Ros-Lehtinen, these two hispanic women have so much in common including their ability to get independents, democrats and unions to vote/support them and let’s not forget their ability to work a news cycle. Notice that Bruno announced and we are all talking about Regalado? Annette needs to run for District 40.
Annette Taddeo
Bruno was one of the chief chearleaders behind Marlins Stadium, which we’ll be paying for decades to come. He was lucky he wasn’t recalled a couple of years ago, but he’s not going any further.
She needs to retrace the steps she made while explaining the stinky courthouse deal. She explained that very well and folks will remember it.
Taxpayers will lose over $3 Billion just on the Marlins Scam. Bruno Barrerio made the Motion and it was Bruno and then Chair Dennis Moss who refused any attempts to make the deal fair to taxpayers. Bruno is easily manilipulated.
What an Easy Choice Today ! Bruno is Like GIguiri,Giguiri DON’T DO NOTHING ? And Marlins Park is Still a Sore Subject ?