South Florida Runoff Election Results: What to Know

It is a big day of runoff elections in Hialeah, Miami Beach, and the City of Miami, as some races didn’t have a candidate win a majority of the vote during the November general election.

Miami residents are heading to the polls to decide who will succeed Miami Mayor Francis Suarez, who is leaving office millions of dollars richer than when he arrived in 2018. The city could have its first Democratic mayor in nearly three decades if Eileen Higgins, who is backed by the Democratic National Committee, beats out former city manager and President Donald Trump-endorsed Emilio González. In the general election last month, Higgins dominated the mayoral race, receiving nearly 36 percent of the vote, while González received just over 19 percent.

Tuesday’s election will also reveal whether the Carollo political dynasty will live on in the City of Miami. While Commissioner Joe Carollo came up short in the mayoral race, his brother Frank drew nearly 38 percent of the vote in the District 3 commission race and wound up in a runoff against Rolando Escalona, the general manager of Sexy Fish in Brickell. Residents attempted to keep Frank, who would be serving a third term as city commissioner, off the ballot after voters approved a November referendum that ended lifetime term limits and would only allow elected officials to serve two terms in office. However, a judge ruled that Frank can remain in the race for his older brother’s District 3 seat, opting not to interfere “with the orderly process of the election.”

Over in Miami Beach, residents are deciding between Monica Matteo-Salinas, a City of Miami Beach commission aide, and Monique Pardo Pope, an attorney and daughter of the notorious serial killer Manuel Pardo, for the Group 1 commission seat. Metteo-Salinas previously earned 23 percent of the vote, and Pardo Pope won 20 percent.

In Hialeah, voters are casting ballots for the Group 3 and Group 4 city council seats. Jessica Castillo, a 38-year-old social worker, is up against Gelien Perez, a former Hialeah human resources director who is supported by Hialeah Mayor-elect Bryan Calvo, in the Group 3 race. Perez won 41 percent of the vote while Castillo won 36 percent last month.

William “Willy” Marrero, a 23-year-old Florida International University (FIU) student and former council aide, is battling Javier Morejon, a 34-year-old land-use specialist, for the Group 4 seat. Marrero narrowly led in the general election, receiving just under 25 percent of the vote, whereas Morejon received 23 percent.

Polls close at 7 p.m. on Tuesday. New Times will update this file as the results come in.