On Saturday, the final stretch of the state’s general elections began in South Florida, with two of its most prominent candidates kicking off their first days of campaigning in Miami-Dade.
According to the report from Local 10, Byron Donalds and Angie Nixon held simultaneous events aimed at engaging the vote of a Cuban-American community that exceeds 1.6 million people in the metropolitan area.
Byron Donalds, Republican candidate for governor participated alongside his running mate, state senator Bryan Ávila, in a launch event for the general elections held at the Republican Party headquarters in Miami-Dade.
"The future of Florida is at stake," Donalds declared to the attendees. "We have become the example for the other 49 states. We are the best state in the United States. Everyone knows it."
Donalds had announced Ávila as his candidate for lieutenant governor this very week at the Freedom Tower in Miami, a building with symbolic significance for the Cuban community as it served as a center of assistance for exiles following the 1959 revolution.
Ávila, born in Hialeah and the son of Cuban exiles, is a captain in the Florida Army National Guard and represents District 39 in the state Senate, which includes Hialeah, Hialeah Gardens, and Miami Lakes.
In November, Donalds will compete against David Jolly, a former Republican congressman who registered as a Democrat in 2025 and won the primary of that party on August 18.
Jolly has focused his message on the cost of living: "You deserve a governor who will put you first. Because we are all concerned about the cost of housing, healthcare, food, and gasoline."
In parallel, state representative and Democratic Senate candidate Angie Nixon traversed Calle Ocho seeking the Cuban vote, enjoyed Cuban coffee in front of a mural dedicated to Gloria and Emilio Estefan, distributed campaign materials, and paused at Domino Park to chat with residents, according to a report from Univisión 23.
She was accompanied by the Democratic congressional candidate Oliver Larkin on a visit aimed at connecting her with a territory historically favorable to the Republican vote.
"I'm someone who wants to bring accountability and transparency to Washington D.C.," Nixon said during the rally in Little Havana. "I want to make sure I'm helping Floridians across the state."
Nixon, state representative for Jacksonville who identifies as a democratic socialist, surprised many by winning her party's primary with 56% of the votes compared to 44% for former Colonel Alex Vindman.
Her rival in November is Republican Senator Ashley Moody, appointed by Governor Ron DeSantis in January 2025 to fill the seat left by Marco Rubio when he was named Secretary of State.
Moody, former Attorney General of Florida from 2019 to 2025, defends her record: "I already have an excellent track record of results and getting laws passed for Floridians. I was the most productive first-term senator."
The seat in contention between Nixon and Moody covers the term until January 2029, and the general election in Florida is scheduled for the upcoming November 3rd.
Related videos:
Filed under: