When Congresswoman Frederica Wilson announced Friday that she was finally calling it a career at 83, she didn’t just create an open congressional seat. She detonated a political chain reaction stretching from Washington to Tallahassee to County Hall to city halls across North Miami-Dade. It didn’t take long for the dominos to start falling.
Actually, the dominos started falling before she announced, with the abrupt decision last week of State Sen. Shevrin “Shev” Jones not to seek sure-fire re-election. He hasn’t filed yet, but we all know it was because he wants her seat.
But immediately after Wilson’s announcement, State Rep. Ashley Gantt announced she would run for Jones’ vacated seat and became the second domino. There was nobody else filed for Senate District 34 when the incumbent was in it. But now it’s an open seat so the first one to file, along with Gantt, was Pitchie “Peachy” Escarment, who is president of the Miami Dade Democratic Haitian Caucus. In 2022, she ran against Jones, getting 15% of the vote and coming in third.
The fourth domino is Miami-Dade District 1 Commissioner Oliver Gilbert, who on Thursday suddenly filed his resignation. He didn’t say he was running for Congressional District 24. And he was coy at the ceremony renaming part of Northwest 206th Terrace after Wilson — in front of Skyway Elementary, where she was principal and which was also renamed after here — declining to tell reporters if he would run or not, saying the 
day was about the congresswoman.
But his resignation is effective Jan. 3, the same day a new congress member is sworn in. The date a newly elected congressman would report to work. That’s not a coincidence.
So, he’ll run. And then voters will have to replace him. Whether he wins or now. Already Miami Gardens Councilwoman Linda Julien and Miami-Dade School Board Member Steve Gallon, who filed paperwork on Thursday.
Then someone will have to run for her council seat and/or his school board seat.
Read related: Florida Sen. Shevrin Jones won’t run for re-election; will he run for Congress?
What we’re witnessing is the political equivalent of somebody kicking over the first tile in a very expensive line of dominoes that snakes through Miami Gardens, North Miami, Opa-locka, Miramar and beyond.
The first domino was Wilson. The second was State Sen. Jones. The third was State Rep. Ashley Gantt. The fourth was Commissioner Gilbert. The 
fifth was Gallon.
And now everybody is staring at everybody else’s seat.
Welcome to Miami politics.
Within hours of Wilson’s retirement announcement, at least a dozen politicians started looking at their resumés.
Gantt, the North Miami Democrat, wasted exactly zero time announcing her candidacy for Jones’ suddenly available Senate seat, praising Wilson’s legacy while simultaneously making it clear she intends to climb the next rung of the political ladder.
“Today, I want to first take a moment to honor a true South Florida icon whose supreme service and selfless service is an example to us all, Gantt said in a statement. “Congresswoman Frederica Wilson has spent her life fighting for our community, as a teacher, a state legislator, and for 16 years as a fearless voice for us in Congress. Her signature hats are as legendary as her heart. We owe her a debt that cannot be repaid, and I am grateful for every door she opened and every barrier she broke.”
“As Congresswoman Wilson passes the torch and Senator Shevrin Jones announces his campaign for Congressional District 24, this moment also creates an opening, and I believe I am ready to fill it,” said Gantt, a former educator and attorney who has served in the Florida House since 2022.
“Our community deserves a bold, pragmatic voice in the Florida Senate — someone who will continue to stand up a
gainst attacks on our rights, our schools, and our democracy without flinching. That is the standard Congresswoman Wilson set. That is the standard I intend to meet and follow.”
Girl, you’re running for Shevrin Jones’ seat, remember?
“Four years ago, our community entrusted me with the greatest honor; to be their voice in Tallahassee and fight for stronger neighborhoods, better schools and a brighter future. I am ready to do it as their state senator.”
This is how Miami politics works. Nobody waits for the funeral before discussing the inheritance.
Now comes the fun part.
If Gantt wins Jones’ Senate seat, somebody has to replace Gantt in House District 109. Word is that might be Opa Locka Mayor John Taylor. And if he wins, then somebody else will emerge to replace him. And so on. And so on. And so on.
By the time it’s all over, half of North Miami-Dade’s Democratic political establishment may be playing musical chairs.
Read related: Looks like Annette Taddeo is running for something after all — Florida CFO
Commissioners get elected and unelected all the time. Legislators move up and move out every other year. But Frederica Wilson was always there. Like the sun rising over Biscayne Bay.
Her retirement creates something Miami politicians rarely see: An actual opening. A real one. A once-in-a-generation window of opportunity.
And those tend to reveal exactly how many ambitious people have been waiting patiently in line.
The Democratic primary next August is likely to decide who succeeds Wilson because the district is overwhelmingly Democratic.
Which means the next member of Congress may be determined long before November.
But that’s only the beginning. Because this story isn’t just about who replaces Frederica Wilson. It’s about how many other politicians end up moving because she decided it was finally time to take her famous hats home.
One retirement.
Five dominoes down.
About twenty more to go.
This kind of independent, government watchdog reporting is crucial to transparency and democracy. And more so every day. Help shine a light on the darker corners of our community with a contribution to Political Cortadito. Click here. Ladra thanks you for your support.
Frederica Wilson drops the mic = North Miami-Dade’s musical chairs begins added by Ladra on
View all posts by Ladra →