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Miami, FL - Miami’s city commission has voted to delay this year’s municipal election until November of 2026, sparking backlash from state leaders and igniting legal threats.
The move, approved in a three to two vote, came just one day after Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier warned the commission that changing election dates without a public vote could violate the state constitution.
Governor Ron DeSantis also blasted the decision, calling it an attempt by city leaders to extend their own terms.
Supporters of the change, including Mayor Francis Suarez and Commissioners Damian Pardo, Ralph Rosado and Christine King, argue that aligning elections with state and federal contests will dramatically boost voter turnout.
Rosado claimed turnout could jump from fifteen percent in off-cycle elections to over sixty percent during general elections.
Suarez echoed this, saying even-year elections make local government more reflective of public will.
Opponents Joe Carollo and Miguel Angel Gabela strongly disagreed.
Carollo warned that pushing elections to December, in the event of a runoff, would result in record-low participation.
Gabela questioned the legality of extending elected terms without a voter mandate and suggested the issue should go to a public referendum.
Denise Galvez Turros, a candidate who planned to run this year, said she is filing for an emergency injunction to stop the ordinance from taking effect.
Legal challenges are expected to escalate, with both state officials and private citizens preparing lawsuits.
The fate of Miami’s next election may now be decided in court.