News in Brief
Congressional District 27
Two prominent figures in local politics, Ken Russell and Eileen Higgins, will challenge incumbent congresswoman Maria Elvira Salazar. First, they must face off each other in the August primary.
Democrat Ken Russell, City Commissioner for District 2, which includes Downtown — a fraction after a controversial redistricting process — and Democrat Eileen Higgins, Miami-Dade County Commissioner for District 5, which also includes parts of Downtown and Brickell, have set their eyes on Washington, DC. Before the November election against Republican Maria Elvira Salazar, Higgins and Russell have to battle each other.
Both commissioners must resign. In the case of Ken Russell, he is termed out. And his former aspiration for the US Senate to oust Senator Rubio most people understood as Quixotic. In effect, few thought he could make it past the primary. So, in a video uploaded to TikTok, he announced that he is switching to the congressional race. Some of his constituents outside Coconut Grove said he lacks the necessary backbone, pointing out that he allowed his more seasoned and bombastic nemeses in the Commission to bully him. “Not the best credentials for the big leagues,” said a Downtown resident. “To be fair,” added another resident, “Russell has been instrumental for building the Baywalk and hopefully he will see it through. That can be his legacy.” Commissioner Russell was also instrumental in passing the Miami Forever Bond, which will invest $400 million in affordable housing, parks, streets and flood mitigation throughout the city, as well as expanding trolley routes, bike lanes and other mobility options.
The stakes for County Commissioner Higgins are more substantial. She still has 2 years to go and could run for a second term in 2024. Her possibilities of defeating incumbent Maria Elvira Salazar many consider also more substantial. Commissioner Higgins, La Gringa, has captured the affection and respect of a diverse district with a significant Hispanic population. It helps that she speaks Spanish well enough to get her message across. More important, said a Little Havana resident, “she championed causes important to us, like transit, livable wages, affordable housing, promoting small businesses, education... You can agree or disagree with her political philosophy, but you can’t say she has not stood for her district!” Commissioner Higgins said that Miami-Dade can be the best place to live, “but only if we come together to solve our most pressing problems.” Accordingly, she has fought for resiliency vis a vis a changing environment, and common-sense gun reforms.
Who will be the Democrat candidate for District 27? The August primary will tell. By then, we will also know who is to occupy the seats they are vacating.
