Miami Beach Democrats | September 2026 Meeting Recap
Updated: 8 hours ago
Lucia Baez-Geller George Lavin Ashley Gantt
The Miami Beach Democratic Club began its September meeting with important election updates and a look at the work ahead. Over the coming weeks, the Club will host multiple phone banks, canvasses, days of action, and community events to help inform and mobilize voters.
We also unveiled our finalized 2026 Democratic Slate Card, which will be available in both printed and digital formats. We are asking every member and volunteer to share the slate with friends, family, and neighbors. You can view and share the digital slate at beach-dems.org/slate2026.
The Club also discussed the successful email fundraising campaign that raised the money needed to print our slate cards. Thank you to everyone who donated and helped make this important voter-outreach effort possible. We have a lot of work ahead of us, and every contribution of time, energy, and resources makes a difference.
Club Unanimously Opposes the 1691 Michigan Avenue Referendum
Members next considered a resolution opposing the Miami Beach ballot referendum concerning the proposed lease amendments and additional development at 1691 Michigan Avenue.
After discussing the agreement and its potential long-term consequences, Club members concluded that the benefits granted under the new agreement outweigh the public benefits offered to Miami Beach residents. The resolution opposing the referendum passed unanimously.
Stay tuned for a separate blog post explaining the referendum and the Club’s concerns in greater detail. You can also learn more on our Elections 2026 page.
Hearing From Our Democratic Candidates
The Club was honored to welcome four candidates who spoke about their campaigns, the communities they hope to represent, and the importance of electing leaders who will stand up for South Florida families.
Ashley Gantt — Florida Senate District 34
State Representative Ashley Gantt spoke about her campaign for Florida Senate District 34 and the importance of strong, effective representation in Tallahassee. She encouraged members to remain engaged and emphasized the organizing work necessary to reach voters and move our community forward.
George Lavin — Florida Senate District 36
George Lavin introduced members to his campaign for Florida Senate District 36 and discussed why he is running to represent the district. His remarks highlighted the importance of listening to residents, building community connections, and ensuring that voters understand what is at stake in this election.
Lucia Báez-Geller — Florida House District 106
Lucia Báez-Geller discussed her campaign for Florida House District 106 and her commitment to serving the district’s families. A former Miami-Dade County School Board member, Báez-Geller has identified public education, property insurance costs, environmental resilience, and access to healthcare as campaign priorities.
Rob Piper — Miami-Dade County Commission District 5
Rob Piper spoke about his campaign for Miami-Dade County Commission District 5 and his vision for responsive, accountable local leadership. District 5 includes Miami Beach, Downtown Miami, Brickell, Little Havana, and surrounding communities. Piper reminded members that local elections directly affect the services, infrastructure, affordability, and quality of life residents experience every day.
Pick an Action—and Act
The night was filled with information, energy, and excitement. There is so much to do—and less than seven weeks to do it.
Join a phone bank. Knock on doors. Attend a community event. Share our slate card. Talk to your friends and neighbors. Volunteer for a campaign.
Pick an action—and act. You can make the difference!
Comments