Five Miami-Dade Commissioners were elected Tuesday — without a single vote

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Well, that was anticlimactic.

Five Miami-Dade County Commission seats were effectively decided Tuesday without a single vote being cast.

No debates. No attack mailers. No awkward candidate forums. No explaining controversial votes. No defending records. No pretending to suddenly care about potholes and transit.

Just free passes back to County Hall for four incumbents and a speed lane for a replacement in District 1.

Commission Chairman Anthony Rodriguez and commissioners Juan Carlos “JC” Bermudez, Micky Steinberg, and Natalie Milian Orbis all coasted back into office after nobody filed to challenge them. They had already raised more than half a million between them, not counting any political action committees.

“Being re-elected unopposed is a privilege and a responsibility that I do not take lightly,” Rodriguez said in a statement he posted on Instagram. “I am sincerely thankful for the trust and confidence that our community has placed in me.”

Milian Orbis was the vice mayor of West Miami in April of last year when she was appointed to fill the vacancy left by Kevin Cabrera when he was made Ambassador to Panama. She was also grateful in an email she sent out Tuesday afternoon.

“Over the past year, I have been blessed to serve the community that raised me, shaped me, and gave me the opportunity to give back. Every day, my goal has been simple: to show up, listen, work hard, and earn your trust,” she said, adding pride and gratitude for having qualified by petition.

Still, voters have never technically approved of her.

Meanwhile, Miami-Dade School Board member Steve Gallon III glided into the District 1 seat being vacated by Commissioner Oliver Gilbert III, who resigned for what promises to be a lively congressional campaign for the seat being vacated by the seemingly eternal Congresswoman Frederica Wilson.

Gallon leaves after a decade on the school board, with two years left in his term. He already resigned effective immediately. Ladra will let you know if there’s going to be an appointment or a special election. The school board has time to put it on the November ballot. Let’s see if they have the will.

“Serving as District 1’s School Board Member has been one of the greatest honors of my life — educating and serving children and the community has been my life,” Gallon said in a statement. “Together, we demonstrated what is possible when communities invest in children, support educators, and maintain high expectations for student success.

“While my service on the School Board is coming to an end, my commitment to the people of District 1 remains unchanged.”

Read related: Frederica Wilson drops the mic = North Miami-Dade’s musical chairs begins

Miami Gardens Councilwoman Linda Julien cleared the field for Gallon — and sources say she was strongly encouraged to drop out. A rumored poll had Gallon, who has much more name recognition, with 75% of the vote against her and another candidate. He came out strong, announcing on a Friday and having signs pop up all over Miami Gardens over the weekend.

Signs that are now useless.

One week after announcing her candidacy, just days before Tuesday’s qualifications deadline, Julien withdrew from the race last week and issued a statement.

“After much prayer, reflection, and conversations with residents, community leaders, and those who have supported my journey, I have decided to remain on the Miami Gardens City Council and not seek a seat on the Miami-Dade County Commission,” Julien said. Keywords: Community leaders. Could she mean people like county commissioners Gilbert and Keon Hardemon?

“This was not an easy decision. I am truly grateful to everyone who encouraged me and believed I was ready to serve in a greater capacity. Your confidence and support mean more than I can express,” Julien said in her carefully crafted copout. “As I reflected on where I am needed most, my heart led me back to the people of Miami Gardens. Together, we have made important progress, but there is still work to be done. From public safety and infrastructure to economic development and quality of life, I remain committed to the priorities we have worked so hard to advance.

“Miami Gardens is not a stepping stone for me; it is my home. It is where I have chosen to serve, and it is where I believe I can make the greatest impact right now.”

And just like that, five of the thirteen seats on Miami-Dade’s most powerful governing body were settled without voters having much say at all.

Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava congratulated the bunch “on earning the continued trust of their communities” in a statement.

“I am proud to work alongside these dedicated public servants as we continue building a stronger Miami-Dade County,” Levine Cava said. “Though we bring different perspectives to the table, we are united by our passion for this community and our commitment to solving problems, delivering results, and building a brighter future for every neighborhood across our county.

“I look forward to continuing our work together to meet this moment, prepare for the challenges ahead, and ensure Miami-Dade remains a place of opportunity and possibility for generations to come.”

Which leaves only three commission races for political junkies to obsess over between now and August. All three races have three candidates each. All three races are technically nonpartisan. Nobody actually believes that, of course.

And while none may rival the drama of the congressional musical chairs now underway across North Miami-Dade, they should provide enough intrigue, ambition and occasional weirdness to keep things interesting.

Welcome to the 2026 Miami-Dade Commission season.

District 2 — Bastien gets company 

Commissioner Marleine Bastien drew two challengers. But neither one is very well known.

Read related: Miami-Dade considers giving property away to Marleine Bastien’s non-profit

Bastien is the longtime activist, founder of Family Action Network Movement and former head of the Haitian Women of Miami organization. Before joining the commission in 2022, she spent decades advocating for immigrants, affordable housing and social services. She left as executive director of FANM in 2024, but is a stalwart defender of non-profits.She is arguably one of the county’s most progressive voices and has become a frequent ally of Mayor Daniella Levine Cava.

Trying to unseat her are Ernst Jean and Miguel “Skip” Quintero. Muy conocidos en su casa.

Jean is a businessman and community activist whose campaign is expected to focus heavily on economic opportunity and neighborhood concerns. While not nearly as well known countywide as Bastien, he could draw support among voters looking for a less ideological approach to government.

Then there is Quintero, a trapeze artist and teacher who has been battling with the county on code enforcement because of his backyard school. Political veterans may remember him from his 2024 run for Miami-Dade mayor. Or maybe they don’t. Quintero finished far behind the major contenders in that race, but apparently concluded the problem wasn’t running for office. It was running for the wrong office.

Now he’s back. Because in Miami politics, hope springs eternal.

District 8: Danielle’s to defend

Commissioner Danielle Cohen Higgins has generally looked politically untouchable since first being appointed in 2020 and then winning election in her own right.

A lawyer by training, Cohen Higgins has positioned herself as one of the more policy-focused members of the commission, often taking lead roles on transportation, housing and economic development issues. She also chairs some of the county’s most important committees, like aviation and seaport — and we can expect the fuel depot debacle to become part of the debate — and has built a formidable fundraising network.

Meanwhile, back in District 8 — which covers a lot of unincorporated Kendall, Homestead, Cutler Bay and Palmetto Bay, where the commissioner has warred with the mayor — Cohen Higgins is no political lightweight. An attorney with a background in complex commercial civil litigation, she was appointed to the commission in 2020 after Daniella Levine Cava became mayor. She beat two opponents in 2022 with 57% of the vote. Many say she wants to follow Levine Cava’s shoes again and run for mayor.

Still, she drew two challengers.

Read related: Danielle Cohen Higgins gets a challenger — one with Republican ties

Martha “Vega” Hero enters the race as a businesswoman and community advocate who argues district residents need stronger representation and more accountability from county government. Hero says she previously worked as a on the campaign for Republican Congresswoman Maria Elvira Salazar, handling Hispanic outreach. She told Political Cortadito earlier this year that she also worked on the campaigns for Sen. Rick Scott, Congressman Carlos Gimenez and the mayor of Homestead, where she has lived for 11 years.

She is also involved in the Florida Republicans Coalition Corp. and as president of National Community Services, a non profit on Flagler Street that says it helps people fill out immigration documents and find fulfilling arts and sports programs. As founder and president of the organization, she has supported Salazar’s ironically named Dignity Act, because Miami. That plants Hero firmly in South Florida’s Republican political ecosystem.

Also running is John DuBois, a former Palmetto Bay vice mayor who was running for mayor there before he decided he wanted a county seat instead. DuBois has spent years criticizing local government spending and development decisions and is likely to campaign as the anti-establishment candidate in the race.

But this will likely dredge up the old Back in 2015, while serving as Palmetto Bay vice mayor, DuBois publicly vouched for Stanley “Junior” Kowlessar, who had been charged with molesting a 9-year-old girl. DuBois appeared in court on his behalf, told a judge he did not believe Kowlessar committed the crime, and then allowed him to live in DuBois’ waterfront home after his release on bond. The accused’s father was a friend and political supporter of DuBois.

Neither challenger enters as a favorite. But their sheer existence could force DLC — who is not universally loved in the district — into a runoff.

District 5: The real fight

If there’s a race to watch, this is probably it.

District 5 Commissioner Vicki Lopez was appointed to the seat after Eileen Higgins resigned to become the first female mayor of Miami. Now, Lopez has to win it.

Lopez enters with perhaps the strongest résumé in the field. A former state representative, affordable housing expert, business executive and veteran of local government, Lopez spent years building a reputation as one of Tallahassee’s most knowledgeable voices on housing policy.

But appointments come with a catch. Nobody elected her to this seat. Not yet. And that opens the door for challengers.

She also has lots of baggage to overcome with a prior indictment on 10 counts, including bribery and “honest services fraud,” when she was a Lee County commissioner in 1995. Lopez served 15 months in federal prison until President Bill Clinton commuted her sentence. Later, a court vacated her conviction. Last year, she was accused of benefiting from the school bus camera legislation she championed last year after family members got lucrative jobs in the industry.

But, as Ladra has said before, that might just means she’s “experienced” for Miami politics.

The biggest name is former Miami Commissioner Joe Sanchez.

Read related: Miami-Dade Commission races might be a snooze fest, except for District 5

Sanchez is a former Florida State Highway Patrol spokesman, Miami city commissioner and failed Republican candidate for sheriff. He has been around Miami politics for decades and remains one of the better-known political figures in the district. If anybody can make this race uncomfortable for Lopez, it’s probably him.

Then there’s Rob Piper. South Florida political observers know Piper as the perennial candidate, government watchdog and frequent City Hall critic who helped spearhead the 2020 recall effort against Miami Commissioner Joe Carollo.

Piper has spent years challenging incumbents and filing ethics complaints. Winning office has proven more difficult than attracting attention.

What happens next?

The August election is now effectively a three-race card.

If any candidate receives more than 50 percent of the vote plus one, they win outright. If not, the top two finishers advance to a November runoff.

And given the number of candidates in each race, at least one runoff seems likely.

Meanwhile, five commissioners are already measuring drapes for another four years in office. No campaign required. No opposition necessary. No awkward questions asked.

Just another reminder that in Miami-Dade politics, sometimes the hardest part isn’t winning an election.

It’s finding somebody willing to run.

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