Voter guide · Nov 3, 2026

Miami Gardens City Council Election 2026

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council seats up

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2 candidates

Updated Oct 2, 2026. Every claim links to its source. How we check →

The candidates

Listed alphabetically by last name. Every position links to its source.

City Council Residential Area Seat 4 · 1 seat

Mykita Cherry-PrimeTeacher for more than 10 years and department chair at Miami Norland Senior High School. Board member of the Center for Family and Child Enrichment and scholarship committee chairwoman for the FAMU National Alumni Association.10sourced
Rod MackCo-founder and president of the Miami Gardens Ravens Youth Football Academy. Founded Onyx Financial Management Group after working as a financial advisor at Prudential Financial; former University of Miami linebacker.9sourced

One contest is on this ballot: the runoff for Residential Area Seat 4, where voters who live in the Seat 4 area pick Mykita Cherry-Prime or Rod Mack.

4 notes on these statements

The Seat 4 vacancy opened when term-limited Councilwoman Katrina Wilson resigned to run for the Miami-Dade school board. The Miami Times

After the August election, Angela Maria Wynter and outgoing Seat 2 Councilman Reggie Leon endorsed Rod Mack, The Miami Times reported. The Miami Times

Vice Mayor Robert Stephens and Councilwoman Linda Julien have endorsed Mykita Cherry-Prime, The Miami Times reported. The Miami Times

Campaign finance records show Mykita Cherry-Prime raised $22,182 and Rod Mack raised $51,878.18, The Miami Times reported. The Miami Times

Already on the council, not on the ballot

Whoever you elect will govern alongside these members.

Katrina L. BaskinCouncilmember, Seat 16sourced Rodney HarrisMayor; presides over the City Council and is a voting member6sourced Linda JulienCouncilmember, Seat 5 (citywide)4sourced Michelle C. PowellCouncilmember, Seat 35sourced Robert L. Stephens IIIVice Mayor; Councilmember, Seat 65sourced Paul V. Wilson Jr.Councilmember, Residential Area Seat 2; elected in 2026 to a four-year term2sourced

Start here

Match quiz5 questions · answers stay on your phone Seat the CouncilPick winners, see the council What council decidesTax rate and budget cuts, Housing affordability, El Dorado warehouse rezoning Key datesDeadlines and vote centers

Next date

Voter registration deadline

Mon, Oct 5, 2026

TodayAll key dates

What the next council decides

Tax rate and budget cuts

Where it standsThe council kept the operating tax rate at 6.9363 mills for fiscal 2027, 6.69% above the rolled-back rate, while a statewide tax amendment is on the November ballot.

What's on the tableThe council sets the tax rate and adopts the budget every September, and would decide what to cut if city revenue falls.

On Sept. 23, 2026, the council adopted a 6.9363-mill operating rate by a 7-0 vote; the rolled-back rate is 6.5013 mills. Resolution No. 2026-090-2547 · Sep 23, 2026
Including 0.4137 mills of voter-approved debt service, the city's total rate is 7.3500 mills. Resolution No. 2026-090-2547 · Sep 23, 2026
The state's proposed amendment would raise the homestead exemption from $50,000 to $150,000 in 2027 and to $250,000 in 2028. City of Miami Gardens · Aug 4, 2026
The city estimates the amendment could cost it $9,683,997.05 in the first year, affecting special events, social services, parks and road maintenance. City of Miami Gardens · Aug 4, 2026

Housing affordability

Where it standsIn May 2026 the council allowed accessory dwelling units on single-family lots; both Seat 4 candidates name affordability as a main priority.

What's on the tableThe council writes the zoning rules that decide how much and what kind of housing can be built.

The council adopted an ordinance permitting accessory dwelling units by a 6-0 vote on May 27, 2026. Ordinance No. 2026-008-497 · May 27, 2026
The ordinance allows one accessory dwelling unit per lot on R-1 single-family lots of at least 7,500 square feet, and the unit cannot be sold separately. Ordinance No. 2026-008-497 · May 27, 2026
Both runoff candidates identified affordability as a main priority. The Miami Times

El Dorado warehouse rezoning

Where it standsIn June 2026 the council rezoned 4.21 acres next to El Dorado Furniture from single-family to light industrial for a warehouse expansion, after rejecting a heavy-industrial version in March.

What's on the tableThe council casts the final vote on rezonings, including requests to turn residential land into industrial land.

On March 25, 2026, the council rejected rezoning the parcel from single-family to heavy industrial, 3-4. City Council minutes, March 25, 2026 · Mar 25, 2026
On June 24, 2026, the council approved rezoning it to light industrial, 4-1, with Reggie Leon voting no and Linda Julien absent. City Council minutes, June 24, 2026 · Jun 24, 2026
The property is in the district represented by former Councilwoman Katrina Wilson. The Miami Times
Residents cited traffic, pollution and transparency concerns; city staff and the applicant said the expansion would not increase traffic. The Miami Times

Myrtle Grove Park

Where it standsMyrtle Grove Park is on the city's list of general obligation bond park projects, and residents have told the council its improvements have been slow.

What's on the tableThe council approves park project contracts and spending, and can press the city manager on the schedule.

Voters approved $60,000,000 in general obligation bonds in an April 21, 2014 referendum. Resolution No. 2026-083-2540 · Jul 22, 2026
The city's bond project list includes Myrtle Grove Park with basketball courts, fencing, a gymnasium or field house, a playground and video surveillance. City of Miami Gardens
At the Jan. 28, 2026 council meeting, a resident expressed frustration about the lack of progress on Myrtle Grove Park improvements over the past four years. City Council minutes, Jan. 28, 2026 · Jan 28, 2026

Who matches you?

Answer any of these questions. We compare your answers with each person's sourced record, and nothing is stored. Questions where no one has a sourced record yet are left out. Tap a selected answer again to skip it.

1. Miami Gardens set its fiscal 2027 operating tax rate at 6.9363 mills, 6.69% above the rolled-back rate. What should the city do?
2. If a state tax change cuts city revenue, what should happen to city-funded special events?
3. Which approach should the city lead with to make housing more affordable?
4. The council rezoned 4.21 acres of single-family land next to El Dorado Furniture to light industrial for a warehouse expansion. Where do you stand?
5. Residents say Myrtle Grove Park improvements have been slow to start. What should the council do?

Seat the Council →

Pick a winner for each open seat and see where the resulting council stands on each issue.

Key dates

Vote-by-mail ballots begin going outMiami-Dade Elections · Sep 17, 2026Sep 24, 2026
Voter registration deadlineMiami-Dade Elections · Sep 1, 2026Oct 5, 2026
Early voting beginsCity of Miami GardensOct 19, 2026
Last day to request a mail ballot (5 p.m.)Miami-Dade Elections · Sep 1, 2026Oct 22, 2026
Early voting endsCity of Miami GardensNov 1, 2026
Election Day (polls open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.)City of Miami GardensNov 3, 2026

The seat math

6 stay (not up this year): Katrina L. Baskin, Rodney Harris, Linda Julien, Michelle C. Powell, Robert L. Stephens III, Paul V. Wilson Jr.1 on this ballot

7 council seats. The council decides by a 4-vote majority.

The City Council has seven members: a mayor and two council members elected citywide, and four council members elected by district. City of Miami Gardens
The mayor presides at council meetings and is a voting member of the City Council. City of Miami Gardens
The mayor and each council member are elected to four-year terms. City of Miami Gardens
City general elections are held in even-numbered years on the day of the state primary; a runoff, if needed, is held on the day of the state general election. City of Miami Gardens
Miami Gardens has a mayor-council-manager government: the council sets policy and the city manager, appointed by the council on the mayor's recommendation, runs the administration. City of Miami Gardens
On Sept. 8, 2026, the council confirmed Latoya Porter's appointment to fill the Seat 4 vacancy until the winner of the Nov. 3 runoff is sworn in. City of Miami Gardens
Miami Gardens' only contest on the Nov. 3, 2026 ballot is Residential Area Council Member Seat 4, with Mykita Cherry-Prime and Rod Mack. Miami-Dade Elections

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