MIAMI-DADE: NEW POLITICAL STRATEGY FOR DEMOCRATS
Although Democrats in Miami-Dade County suffered a severe defeat in 2024, they claim to have regained political momentum thanks to a series of local victories in 2025, including that of Eileen Higgins, who was elected mayor of Miami—the first Democrat to hold this position in thirty years. For county party chair Laura Kelley, this result marks “a real political reset.” She explains, “The losses of 2024 forced us to rethink our approach. We rebuilt our infrastructure and restored confidence.”
Now focusing on a strategy of continuous organization, the party has decided to break with an approach that was considered too electioneering in the past. Kelley emphasizes: “Voters told us, ‘You only show up during election season.’ And we took that to heart.” Michael Joseph, the party’s vice president, also stresses the importance of the groundwork that he and his team are doing: “In 2025, we invested early in direct contact and mail-in voting. For 2026, we are extending this model to the entire county.”
The central focus? A lasting commitment to Black voters (mostly Democrats), who were decisive in Higgins’ victory. Joseph says, “Too often, my community is forgotten after the election.” The party is now increasing its partnerships with Black organizations, churches, and Haitian groups.
Due to local issues such as housing, health, and immigration, Kelley sums up their party’s goal as follows: “Our mandate is to do the work necessary to win in 2026 and end these mounting crises.”
PALM BEACH COUNTY ACCUSED OF OVERSPENDING
Florida’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) accuses Palm Beach County of spending well beyond its actual growth. According to WLRN, the report shows that the county’s general fund has grown by nearly 90% since 2016, while the population has grown by only 10%. This increase is largely attributed to the explosion in property tax revenues, which have risen from $790 millions to $1.4 billion.
A $13 millions increase has been identified for health care spending between 2021 and 2024, funded primarily by property taxes, and the rise in costs for specialized transportation services known as paratransit (+176%).
County officials justify these expenditures by citing the aging population and soaring property values, while the clerk rejects accusations of waste, calling the state’s conclusions “irresponsible.”
PROOF OF CITIZENSHIP: A HEATED DEBATE IN THE SUNSHINE STATE
Senate Bill 1334, which has been passed by a Senate committee, would require new voters whose citizenship is not confirmed by the DHSMV (Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles) to provide official documents such as a valid passport, birth certificate, or naturalization certificate. A Republican state senator claims that “99% of Floridians are already REAL ID compliant,” downplaying the impact of the measure.
Voting rights advocates warn, however, that these requirements could prevent eligible citizens from registering to vote. Jonathan Webber of the Southern Poverty Law Center told WLRN, “How much voter disenfranchisement is acceptable?” A similar law in Kansas blocked more than 31,000 voter registrations before being ruled unconstitutional.
The proposal is continuing its journey through the Senate, with an equivalent bill in the House.
