You probably know who’s running for governor. But what about your state senator, county commissioner or member of Congress? Here’s a rundown of the candidates — starting closer to home.
By now, you’ve probably seen enough political advertising to last until the next election.
But while the candidates for governor and Congress dominate the airwaves, some of the races with the most direct consequences for Miami neighborhoods receive considerably less attention.
Who represents Coconut Grove in Tallahassee? Who’s running for County Commission? And which races will actually appear on your ballot?
In the final installment of the Spotlight’s 2026 voter guide, we’re starting with the local and state legislative contests before moving to statewide and federal offices.
Not every Grove voter will see the same ballot. The North Grove is in Florida House District 113, while the South and West Grove are in District 114. County Commission districts and other boundaries also determine which races appear.
The Spotlight does not endorse candidates.
Miami-Dade County Commission — District 5
Vicki L. Lopez — Incumbent
Rob Piper — Challenger
Lopez was appointed to the County Commission to fill a vacancy. The officially nonpartisan contest will determine who serves the remainder of the District 5 term, through November 2028.
District 5 includes portions of Miami and Miami Beach, including Brickell, downtown and The Roads. It does not include Coconut Grove.
Read More: The D5 County Commission Race: This Time, Voters Decide
Florida Senate — District 38
Alexis Maria Calatayud — Republican, incumbent
Richard Lamondin Jr. — Democrat
Jeffrey “Doc” Solomon — No party affiliation
The winner will represent Coconut Grove and other portions of Miami-Dade County in the Florida Senate. State senators serve four-year terms and vote on state laws, taxes, spending and other matters.
Read more: Live Local Act Takes Center Stage in Senate District 38 Race
Florida House — District 113
Bruno A. Barreiro — Republican
Gloria Romero Roses — Democrat
Paola Vazquez del Mercado — Qualified write-in candidate
District 113 includes the North Grove. The seat became vacant when former state Rep. Vicki Lopez left the Legislature to join the Miami-Dade County Commission.
The winner will represent the district in Tallahassee for a two-year term.
Read more: Meet the Primary Candidates for House District 113
Florida House — District 114
Demi Busatta — Republican, incumbent
District 114 includes the South and West Grove, along with portions of Coral Gables, South Miami and communities farther south. Busatta is running unopposed, so there is no District 114 House contest on the November ballot.
Read more: Who’s Representing Coconut Grove in Tallahassee?
Florida Governor and Lieutenant Governor
Byron Donalds and Bryan Avila — Republicans
David Jolly and Gwen Graham — Democrats
Scott Eckhard Jewett and Nicole Skelly — Libertarians
Charles Burkett and Ruben A. Coto — No party affiliation
Frank J. Russo and Rachel Rodriguez — No party affiliation
Moliere “Moe” Dimanche and Benjiman Rojas — No party affiliation
Dean Ocean Abrams and Joe Van Vactor — No party affiliation
Jeffrey Peter “Dr. Jeff” Datto and Juan Santana — No party affiliation
The governor oversees Florida’s executive branch, proposes a state budget, signs or vetoes legislation and makes numerous appointments. The governor and lieutenant governor are elected together for four-year terms.
Florida Attorney General
James Uthmeier — Republican
Jose Javier Rodriguez — Democrat
The attorney general is Florida’s chief legal officer, representing the state in legal matters and overseeing consumer protection and certain law enforcement responsibilities.
Florida Chief Financial Officer
Blaise Ingoglia — Republican
Annette Taddeo — Democrat
The chief financial officer oversees state accounting and financial reporting and has responsibilities involving insurance and financial regulation.
Florida Commissioner of Agriculture
Wilton Simpson — Republican
Joey Mendoza Atkins — Democrat
The commissioner oversees the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, which regulates agriculture and a range of consumer-related activities.
U.S. House of Representatives — District 27
Maria Elvira Salazar — Republican, incumbent
Eliott Rodriguez — Democrat
The winner will represent the district in Congress for a two-year term, voting on federal legislation, taxes and spending.
U.S. Senate
Ashley Moody — Republican, incumbent
Angie Nixon — Democrat
Neil J. Gillespie — No party affiliation
The winner will represent Florida in the U.S. Senate. Senators serve six-year terms and vote on federal legislation, spending and presidential appointments.
Before You Vote
Election Day: Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026.
Polls: 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Early voting: Oct. 19 through Nov. 1.
Vote-by-mail ballot request deadline: Oct. 22.
Because district boundaries determine which races appear on individual ballots, voters should check their personalized ballot and polling location through the Miami-Dade County Elections Department.
You can also consult the county’s official sample ballot.
Election 2026: A Coconut Grove Voter’s Guide
Part 1 covered amendments and referendums on Miami’s November ballot.
Part 2 covered two contested judicial races and six judges seeking retention on the November ballot.
