Meet Our 2026 Democratic Slate: Onward to November!
- Amanda Knapp, Ph.D.

- 24 hours ago
- 7 min read
Last night, voters across Florida selected the candidates who will advance to the 2026 General Election. We congratulate our Democratic nominees and thank every candidate who stepped forward to serve.
Running for public office is not easy. It requires courage, sacrifice, and a willingness to put your values and vision before the voters. We are grateful to every Democratic candidate who participated in this primary—including those who did not advance. Their campaigns introduced new ideas, engaged voters, and strengthened our democracy. We sincerely hope they will remain active and help us build the broad, united coalition we need to win in November.
The primary election may be over, but the most important phase of our work is just beginning.
Rob Piper Advances to the November Runoff
Here in Miami-Dade County, we are especially excited to congratulate Rob Piper, who finished in second place and advanced to the November runoff for Miami-Dade County Commission District 5!
Rob’s success demonstrated something powerful: grassroots organizing works.
His campaign took on some of Miami-Dade’s most powerful political forces. With the support of volunteers and voters throughout District 5, Rob earned his place in the runoff and proved that a people-powered campaign can compete with the political establishment.
Electing Rob will be a top priority for the Miami Beach Democratic Club, and he will need all of our help. County Commission races are nonpartisan, which means Rob will be the only candidate on our slate with a “D” next to his name on the ballot.
We must make sure voters know that Rob is the Democrat in the race and that he is ready to bring accountable, responsive, and people-powered leadership to the County Commission. That will require conversations with friends and neighbors, voter outreach, canvassing, phone calls, text messages, and a strong volunteer presence throughout District 5.
Congratulations, Rob! Now, let’s finish the job in November.

Meet Our 2026 Democratic Slate
We are proud to congratulate the Democratic candidates who will represent our party in the General Election.
Federal Races
Angie Nixon — U.S. Senate
Angie Nixon is a Florida state representative, former labor organizer, small-business owner, and mother of five with a record of advocating for working families. Her campaign is focused on confronting corporate greed and creating an economy that works for everyday Floridians rather than wealthy special interests. Nixon supports Medicare for All, universal childcare and prekindergarten, paid family and medical leave, stronger labor protections, and increased wages. She has also prioritized affordable housing, public education, reproductive freedom, lower prescription drug costs, and federal action addressing Florida’s property-insurance crisis. Her grassroots primary victory demonstrated the power of organizing and a message centered on the economic challenges facing working people.
Jared Moskowitz — U.S. House of Representatives, District 25
Jared Moskowitz brings experience from the Florida Legislature, the Florida Division of Emergency Management, and the U.S. House of Representatives. As Florida’s emergency-management director, he led the state’s response to hurricanes and other major emergencies, giving him extensive experience managing crises and delivering government services. In Congress, he has developed a reputation for working across the aisle while remaining a forceful advocate for government accountability, public safety, gun-violence prevention, and the fight against antisemitism and extremism. Moskowitz has made affordability a central focus of his campaign, including healthcare costs, property insurance, and the rising cost of remaining in one’s home. He is running to continue delivering federal resources to South Florida while defending democracy and holding the Trump administration accountable.
Statewide Races
David Jolly & Gwen Graham — Governor & Lieutenant Governor
David Jolly is an attorney and former member of Congress who has become an outspoken critic of political extremism and the divisive direction of today’s Republican Party. His campaign focuses on the practical challenges affecting Florida families, including the affordability and property-insurance crises, housing costs, access to healthcare, and underfunded public schools. Jolly has proposed greater state action to reduce insurance costs and protect homeowners, renters, and retirees from being priced out of Florida. He also supports reproductive freedom, stronger public education, responsible environmental policies, and investments that help coastal communities prepare for climate-related threats. His campaign offers Floridians an opportunity to move beyond culture-war politics and elect a governor focused on solving problems and improving residents’ daily lives.
Jose Javier Rodriguez — Attorney General
José Javier Rodríguez is a workers’ rights attorney who has served in both chambers of the Florida Legislature and as an assistant secretary at the U.S. Department of Labor. Throughout his career, he has represented workers who were cheated or mistreated and challenged powerful interests on behalf of consumers and communities. His campaign centers on three priorities: combating crime, lowering costs, and confronting corruption. As attorney general, Rodríguez plans to pursue scams, fraud, price gouging, wage theft, and corporate misconduct while supporting law enforcement and prosecutors in protecting Florida communities. He is running to restore the office’s role as the People’s Lawyer and ensure Floridians have someone on their side when they are exploited, defrauded, or ignored.
Annette Taddeo — Chief Financial Officer
Annette Taddeo is a small-business owner and former state senator who made history as the first Latina Democrat elected to the Florida Senate. She served for five years on the Senate Banking and Insurance Committee, giving her direct experience with the policies affecting Florida’s financial and insurance systems. Her campaign focuses on holding insurance companies accountable, lowering costs for families and businesses, and increasing transparency in state government. Taddeo has pledged to investigate insurance fraud and bad-faith practices, including companies that improperly delay, deny, or underpay legitimate claims. She is running to transform the chief financial officer’s office into an independent watchdog for taxpayers and consumers.
Joey Mendoza Atkins — Commissioner of Agriculture
Joey Mendoza Atkins is a trial attorney whose work has included representing individuals and families in civil cases and providing legal assistance to migrant farmworkers and DACA recipients. He also brings experience in international economic development, environmental management, nonprofit work, public policy, and the private sector. Atkins emphasizes that the Department of Agriculture’s responsibilities extend beyond farming to include protecting consumers, safeguarding Florida’s food supply, and managing natural resources. His priorities include supporting Florida farmers, protecting clean water, strengthening consumer protections, and preserving the state for future generations. He is running to ensure the department serves Florida residents rather than powerful special interests.
State Legislative Races
Ashley Gantt — Florida State Senate, District 34
Ashley Gantt is an attorney, former public-school teacher, former public defender, and current member of the Florida House of Representatives. Her experience in classrooms, courtrooms, and the Legislature has given her a direct understanding of the challenges facing students, families, and underserved communities. Gantt has prioritized affordable housing, strong public education, criminal-justice reform, transportation improvements, and access to good-paying jobs. She has also advocated for local control and opposed efforts by Tallahassee to prevent communities from responding to their residents’ needs. In the State Senate, she would bring both legislative experience and a commitment to ensuring that working families have a meaningful voice in state government.
George Lavin — Florida State Senate, District 36
George Lavín is a legal professional, longtime community advocate, and the son and grandson of immigrants who fled their home countries in search of greater opportunity. He is running to provide District 36 with accessible, accountable leadership that listens to residents and focuses on delivering tangible results. Lavín’s priorities include reducing the costs that state government can influence, particularly property insurance, utility bills, and fees imposed on working families. He also supports protecting local control, strengthening public schools, investing in climate resilience, and reforming flood insurance. His campaign is centered on expanding opportunity, strengthening public safety, and ensuring every resident has a seat at the table.
Lucia Baez-Geller — Florida House of Representatives, District 106
Lucia Báez-Geller is a longtime educator, mother, community advocate, and former member of the Miami-Dade County School Board. Her 15 years in the classroom and service on the School Board have given her extensive experience addressing public education, student safety, and the needs of local families. Báez-Geller is campaigning on affordability, stronger public schools, access to healthcare, reproductive freedom, and lower prescription-drug costs. She has also emphasized equality, accountable representation, and protecting residents from policies driven by special interests. As a longtime member of our community, she is prepared to bring an experienced and responsive voice for District 106 to Tallahassee.
Local Race
Rob Piper — Miami-Dade County Commission, District 5
Rob Piper is a retired U.S. Marine Corps officer who served for more than two decades, including three combat tours in Iraq. After retiring from the military, he continued his public service as a legislative aide, community organizer, precinct captain, and advocate for government accountability. Rob has prioritized addressing Miami-Dade’s affordability crisis, improving public transportation, investing in climate resilience and flood protection, and ensuring that residents—not special interests—drive county decisions. His experience confronting corruption and organizing communities has prepared him to bring independent, ethical leadership to the County Commission. Because this is a nonpartisan race, Rob will not have a “D” beside his name on the ballot, making voter education essential to his victory in November.
Winning in November Will Require All of Us
Candidates cannot win elections alone. Every successful campaign depends on volunteers who are willing to give their time, energy, and talents.
You do not need political experience to make a difference. Campaigns and Democratic organizations need people to knock on doors, make phone calls, send text messages, register voters, distribute literature, staff events, share accurate information online, and speak with their own friends and neighbors.
Even a few hours can have a meaningful impact. A conversation at someone’s door may persuade an undecided voter. A phone call can remind someone to request a Vote-by-Mail ballot. A text message can help a voter find the correct polling place. A social media post can ensure that someone recognizes Rob Piper’s name in a race without party labels.
Volunteering also builds community. It connects us with neighbors who share our values and reminds voters that democracy is not something we simply observe—it is something we create together.
The stakes in November are too high for any of us to remain on the sidelines. We need volunteers in Miami Beach and throughout Miami-Dade County who are ready to organize, educate voters, and turn enthusiasm into votes.
Join Us and Help Elect Democrats
Our first opportunities to get involved are coming soon:
Day of Action: Sunday, September 13 | 6:00–8:00 p.m.
Join us for an evening of action, wine, and pizza as we begin organizing for the General Election. Bring a friend! A $5 contribution is suggested.
September General Meeting: Monday, September 14
6:00 p.m. — Hour of Action
7:00 p.m. — General Meeting
Last night’s results gave us our candidates. What happens next depends on all of us.
Let’s thank every candidate who participated, unite behind our Democratic slate, support Rob Piper in the District 5 runoff, and begin the work of earning every possible vote.
The road to November starts now. Join us—and let’s get to work!




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