Miami Beach Dems August General Membership Meeting: Energy, Excitement, and Election Momentum

Club President Amanda Knapp, with guest speakers Brian Ehrlich and Sophie Ringel, inspiring action for a stronger, cleaner Miami Beach. 💙

This week, the Miami Beach Democratic Club gathered for our August General Membership Meeting at the beautiful 626 Lincoln Road Courtyard, and the turnout was nothing short of inspiring. The room was packed wall-to-wall with members, candidates, and neighbors ready to roll up their sleeves and get this election season underway. You could feel the energy buzzing — Miami Beach Democrats are fired up and ready to fight for our city’s future!

Club Elections

We kicked things off with a special election, in which members voted for Tim Johnson as our new Male Vice President and Fred Knapp as our new Secretary of the Club. Both Tim and Fred bring dedication, passion, and fresh ideas to our leadership team, and we are delighted to have them join us at this critical time. Their leadership will help guide us as we build momentum toward November 4th. Congratulations, Tim and Fred — we're so glad to have you on board!

Spotlight on Guest Speakers

One of the highlights of the evening was hearing from our guest speakers, who brought both vision and inspiration.

✨ Sophie Ringel – Executive Director & Founder of Clean Miami Beach

Sophie delivered an impactful presentation on the mission and successes of Clean Miami Beach, the nonprofit she founded, which has already removed more than 175,000 pounds of trash from Miami Beach's shoreline, parks, and neighborhoods. Her work has been transformational, showing what grassroots organizing and environmental commitment can achieve.👉 View her full presentation here: Clean Miami Beach Presentation.

But Sophie’s presentation was about more than just numbers. This moment was also deeply personal. Sophie recently became a U.S. citizen, and not only has she registered to vote, but she's now officially a member of our Club! Many of us remember when Sophie partnered with the Club years ago for our very first park cleanup — a project that helped define who we are as a community. To see her now, as both a citizen and a voter, was truly moving. Sophie, we love you, and we're honored to have you with us on this journey. 💙

Sophie Ringel shares her journey and Clean Miami Beach initiatives, inspiring members to take action.

✨ Brian Ehrlich – Candidate for Commissioner, Group 1

Brian shared his vision for the future of Miami Beach, emphasizing the importance of smart development, resiliency, and creating a city that prioritizes both its residents and its unique character. He reminded us that Miami Beach's future must be shaped with care, transparency, and a focus on the needs of everyday people. His thoughtful approach and dedication to serving our city resonated strongly with our members.👉 Learn more about Brian's platform here: Issues Important to Brian Ehrlich.

Brian Ehrlich discusses his vision for a stronger, more inclusive Miami Beach

Surprise Guests Light Up the Night

Just when the evening couldn’t get any more exciting, we were joined by surprise guest speakers who fired up the crowd even more.

✨ Commissioner Kristen Rosen Gonzalez – Candidate for Mayor

Kristen spoke from the heart about the importance of equality, local jurisdiction, and protecting Miami Beach’s future. She reminded us that Miami Beach is at a crossroads — and that it will take all of us, working together, to save our city from destructive outside forces.

Kristen has long been a friend of the Miami Beach Democratic Club, and our members were excited to hear her bold vision. From activating alleys in North Beach to ensuring real transparency and championing smart development, Kristen’s ideas represent the innovative solutions Miami Beach needs. As she said so powerfully, “We must come together and save Miami Beach.” Our Club stands proudly with her.

Commissioner and Mayoral Candidate Kristen Rosen Gonzalez energizes members with her vision for Miami Beach.

✨ Commissioners Laura Dominguez & Tanya Bhatt

While they couldn't attend in person, our amazing Commissioners, Laura Dominguez and Tanya Bhatt, Zoomed in to share their support and words of encouragement. Their leadership and commitment to our community continue to inspire us, and their virtual presence reminded us that this movement stretches across every neighborhood in our city.

Looking Toward November: A Call to Action

The evening closed with powerful remarks from our Club President, Amanda Knapp, who laid out the stakes of the coming months. She reminded us that the November 4th election is now less than 70 days away and that Vote-by-Mail ballots will be sent out on September 25th.

But Amanda also sounded the alarm: Vote-by-Mail registrations are down. She urged everyone in attendance to not only renew their own requests but also to reach out to neighbors, friends, and family members. This election will come down to turnout — and every single vote matters.

Amanda also announced that our next General Membership Meeting will be held as a Democratic Forum on September 25th at the Hotel Marseille. This will be a critical opportunity to hear from candidates directly and to prepare ourselves for the final push leading up to Election Day.

Club President Amanda Knapp calls on members to turn out and ensure every vote counts.

The Momentum Is Here

From electing new leaders to hearing from inspiring speakers to welcoming Sophie as both a new citizen and Club member, this meeting was filled with moments of pride, energy, and determination. The packed room, the powerful words from our candidates and Commissioners, and the overwhelming enthusiasm made it clear: Miami Beach Democrats are ready.

The path to victory begins with us — and together, we will make sure Miami Beach stays strong, inclusive, and blue.