Some Miramar voters become prized target in race for Wilson’s congressional seat
Although Miramar makes up only a sliver of Florida’s 24th Congressional District, candidates vying to replace longtime U.S. Rep. Frederica Wilson are expected to spend time courting voters in the city’s eastern neighborhoods.
When qualifying closed Friday, June 12, 10 candidates had filed to run for the seat being vacated by the 83-year-old Wilson, setting up a competitive race to represent one of South Florida’s most reliably Democratic districts.
Only Miramar residents living in the eastern portion of the city are within Congressional District 24. But in a crowded race, every vote could matter.
According to the Broward Supervisor of Elections Office, Miramar has approximately 95,700 registered voters — including 47,095 Democrats, 30,335 voters with no party affiliation and 16,121 Republicans. Thousands live within District 24 and will help decide who succeeds Wilson, who announced she will not seek reelection.
Candidates are expected to compete aggressively for support in the city as they seek to represent one of Florida’s two Black-performing congressional districts.
“For me, Miramar isn’t an afterthought. It’s a community I’ve represented and fought for,” Miami-Dade Commissioner Oliver Gilbert, who recently resigned his seat to run, told the Miramar News.
Gilbert points to his opposition of a proposed waste-to-energy incinerator near the Broward-Miami-Dade county line as evidence that he has already advocated for Miramar residents.
“When the Miami-Dade Commission was contemplating placing a waste-to-energy facility less than a mile from Miramar residents, I made the motion to take that location off the table,” Gilbert said. “My thought was simple: We are one community.”
State Sen. Shevrin Jones, another prominent contender, said Miramar remains central to his campaign.
“I had the privilege of proudly representing Miramar for a decade,” Jones told the Miramar News. “Miramar is a city built by working families, small-business owners and commuters who are feeling the pressure of rising costs. It’s also the gateway between Broward and Miami-Dade and reflects everything South Florida is fighting for.”
The race has attracted a diverse field of candidates, including veteran elected officials, attorneys, community leaders and political newcomers.
Seven Democrats, one Republican, one no party-affiliation candidate and one write-in candidate qualified for the ballot.
The other Democratic candidates in the race include former Miami-Dade Commission Chairman Jean Monestime; attorney Kendrick Meek Jr., whose family has deep political roots and name recognition in South Florida; and civil rights attorney Roderick Vereen.
Also running are Marshall Davis, a longtime cultural arts leader; Rudy Moise, a physician and attorney; Republican candidate Te Mayonna Brown; no party-affiliation candidate Andy Daro; and write-in candidate Patricia Gonzalez.
Because the district leans heavily Democratic, the Aug. 18 primary is widely expected to determine Wilson’s successor.
