Early voting began Monday to fill the Miami City Commission seat in District 2, which has had no representation since January, after former commissioner Ken Russell resigned to run for Congress.
Of the 49,195 eligible voters to date, some 3,180 have already taken part in this early vote for 6.46% of the total. They are divided into 1,735 Democrats, some 646 Republicans and 47 independents, according to figures updated this Friday noon.
Thirteen candidates have qualified for the position and some are household names within the community, but others are a long way off, but the election battle is attracting the attention of many.
In many elections, one of these candidates needs a majority to win, and if neither wins, there is a runoff. But this time it’s not, because now whoever gets the most votes will win the seat.
As usual, this election strayed from politics, filled with petty insults and personal attacks that took precedence over neighborhood issues.
District 2 is home to one of Miami’s most thriving communities, including Virginia Key, Coconut Grove, Downtown, and Brickell, though it extends north to the Edgewater and Morningside neighborhoods.
Much of it touches Biscayne Bay, making the district the most vulnerable to climate change, especially sea level rise.