A judge has ruled that Miami elections could proceed this year as originally scheduled, rejecting the city’s attempt to postpone them to 2026 without voter approval.
The decision comes after the Miami City Council voted 3-2, and Mayor Francis Suarez signed off, on a plan to delay November’s elections and align them with statewide contests, citing potential cost savings and higher voter turnout. Critics argued the change, enacted by ordinance rather than a public vote, effectively extended the terms of current officials beyond legal limits.
Mayoral candidate Emilio Gonzalez filed a lawsuit on June 30, calling the move “unconstitutional” and “a blatant power grab.” Miami-Dade County Circuit Judge Valerie R. Manno Schurr ruled in his favor, writing that the city cannot alter election dates or officials’ terms without amending the municipal charter through voter approval.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and Attorney General James Uthmeier praised the ruling, with both officials noting that the attempt to postpone the elections violated term-limit rules. Former Miami Mayor and current Commissioner Joseph Carollo, one of the two commissioners who voted against the delay, also supported Gonzalez’s case.
The ruling provides declaratory relief but does not explicitly bar the city from attempting to postpone elections again. Miami has filed an appeal. City Attorney George Wysong expressed confidence in the appeal, while legal experts noted it is unlikely to succeed.
Law professors say the dispute highlights the trade-offs of holding elections in odd versus even years. Odd-year elections may have lower turnout but a stronger focus on local issues, while even-year elections risk local concerns being overshadowed by state and national politics.
Even as the elections move forward, experts say the controversy has already affected Miami’s political culture. The decision to attempt a delay without public input could deepen cynicism and distrust among residents, reinforcing perceptions that city politics favors insiders over the broader electorate.
