MIAMI-DADE, FL—Despite traditionally boasting more Democrats than Republicans, Miami-Dade, once considered solidly blue, hasn't voted for a liberal Senator, Governor, or President since 2012.
Now, Democrats are hoping to steer their county back on course—starting at the county sheriff level, as four Democrats and 11 Republicans vie for their respective nominations to become the next county sheriff. Both primaries—held Tuesday—have been a bitter battle, considering this is the first time in nearly 60 years that residents will be able to elect their sheriff.
On the Democrat side, former police lieutenant Ricky Mitchell (the most well-funded in the race with over $294,000 raised), Chief of Police James Reyes (endorsed by Mayor Daniella Levine Cava), police veteran John Barrow, and former federal agent Susan Khoury are butting heads for the nomination—though their primary hasn't experienced the same level of vitriol laced through that of their Republican counterparts.
With 11 candidates chomping at the bit for the nominee slot, former Highway Patrol Trooper Joe Sanchez kicked off the insults by going for Rosie Cordero-Stutz, the county's Assistant Director of Investigative Services who snagged the most high-profile endorsement in the race: that of former president Donald Trump.
Cordero-Stutz said he was jealous of her endorsement, insisting he is "not qualified enough" for a Trump nod of approval.
Sanchez, who is outraising Cordero-Stutz by just over $12 grand, called her a "RINO"—or "Republican in name only"—for allegedly not voting in the 2024 Presidential Preference Primary and donating to Charlie Crist in 2014 over then-Governor Rick Scott.
Nonetheless, Scott endorsed her earlier this month.
The other Republican candidates include Iggy Alvarez, Jose Aragu, Ruamen de Jesus DeLaRua, Alex Fornet, Jeffrey Giordano, Mario Knapp, Joe Martinez, John Rivera, and Ernie Rodriguez. Knapp has raised the most money, standing firmly with over $187,000 raised and $152,000 spent, compared to Sanchez's $160,000 raised and $113,000 spent and Cordero-Stutz's $148,000 raised and $125,000 spent.
As for the Democrats, Reyes scores second place in the financing race after Mitchell, with $154,000 raised and $140,000 spent.
As of 2 p.m. Tuesday, 19.4% of Democrats have turned out to vote compared to Republicans' 21.2%.
The winners will face off on November 5th.
