Meet the South Florida primary candidates for state representative
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Early voting for primary elections has already begun.
Why it matters: Miami-Dade residents will vote in local races, but they'll have the opportunity to elect their representatives at the state level, too.
- ICYMI: Here's our election guides for the county commission, school board and Miami Gardens races, plus the city of Miami Marine Stadium referendum and the U.S. House and Senate races.
Reminder: The vote-by-mail ballot request deadline is Aug. 6. (Request one here.)
- Early voting runs through Aug. 16.
- Election Day is Aug. 18.
Here are the races we're watching (Full sample ballot here … get your personalized sample ballot here).
State representatives
Florida House District 106
Two Democrats are running to be the party's nominee to challenge Republican state Rep. Fabián Basabe, who is seeking reelection.
- Basabe was recently found liable in a civil trial accusing him of sexual harassment, battery and defamation.
Lucia Baez-Geller, a former Miami-Dade County School Board member, is campaigning on defending public education, reducing property insurance premiums, addressing sea level rise and expanding healthcare.
Ashley Litwin Diego, a lawyer and political newcomer, is running to address the property insurance crisis, fix the state's Live Local Act, safeguard the environment and enact commonsense gun control.
Florida House District 108
Three candidates are seeking the Democratic nomination to succeed Rep. Dotie Joseph, who is term-limited: Peter Walsh, Dinah Escarment and Daphne Campbell.
Walsh, a Boston native, is pro-union, supports expanding Medicaid, supports closing corporate tax loopholes and is against the state's push for universal school vouchers.
Escarment, a former school teacher, is the chairwoman for Florida Rising in Miami-Dade County and a local business owner who grew up in the district.
- She is campaigning on housing affordability, access to community centers and mental health resources and environmental resilience.
Campbell, a former state Senator who was embroiled in controversy during her tenure, is promising healthcare and public safety reform.
Florida House District 109
Four Democrats are vying for their party's nomination to succeed Rep. Ashley Gantt, who is running for a state Senate seat.
James Bush III, former state representative, is running on economic growth and prioritizing services for seniors.
- While in office, he was the only Democrat to back the state's 15-week abortion ban.
Satin Fye, a political newcomer, told the Miami Herald she wants increased workforce housing oversight, more investment in public education and regulation on data centers.
Broadway Harewood, a property owner in Liberty City, cited affordable housing as a top issue, per the outlet.
John H. Taylor Jr., the Opa-locka mayor, is campaigning on lower costs, expanding affordable housing, economic growth and expanding social services.
Florida House District 113
Three Republicans and two Democrats are running to secure their party's nomination in the Aug. 18 primary.
- The seat represents downtown Miami, parts of Coral Gables, Key Biscayne, Brickell and Little Havana.
Republicans
Bruno A. Barreiro, a former Miami-Dade County Commissioner and only sitting commissioner to support President Trump in 2016, wants to cut taxes, improve traffic and stop overdevelopment.
- In 2009, he voted for a controversial public-private financing deal to build the Marlins' baseball stadium complex, saddling county taxpayers with $2 billion in debt, per the Miami Herald.
Tony Diaz, a local business owner, told the Herald he would establish election finance limits on PACs and require special elections, not appointments, for non-election-cycle vacancies.
Frank Lago, who works in commercial real estate, wants to change the Live Local Act to protect coastal communities, supports bringing down property insurance costs and advocates private school vouchers, per the outlet.
Democrats
Gloria Romero Roses, who owns an assisted living facility and has made a career in real estate and development, is campaigning on affordability, including housing, childcare and insurance, and elderly care.
Justin Mendoza Routt, the president of the Miami-Dade Young Democrats, wants to build affordable housing, protect Biscayne Bay, the reefs and waterways, and supports property insurance reform.
Florida House District 118
Incumbent Republican Rep. Mike Redondo is facing Marco Insua in an effort to secure another term.
Redondo, who is seeking reelection with an America-first platform, has made affordability and cutting property taxes a key part of his agenda. He also supports "ending radical teachings" in classrooms.
Insua, an educator, supports expanding access to assisted living spaces for seniors, parents' rights and law enforcement.