Voter guide · Nov 3, 2026

Opa-locka Mayor & City Commission Election 2026

3 of 5 council seats are on the ballot, with 6 candidates running. Updated Oct 5, 2026. Every claim links to its source. How we check

Not sure who to vote for? Answer 5 questions and see which candidates agree with you, and why.

Find your match: 5-question quiz See who is on your ballot

No sign-in. Your answers stay on your device. We never endorse anyone.

Nov 3Election Day

How to vote · 11 days left

Find where to vote Check your registration

Early voting ends (Nov 1): the election office's notice

These links go to official state and county election sites. Hours and rules differ by state; your election office has the final word.

The candidates

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

Mayor

1 seat

Commissioner

Vote for up to 2

Voters citywide pick one mayor from two candidates and up to two commissioners from four; the top two commission vote-getters win.

Also on your Nov 3 ballot

We research city races only. For these races, go to the state's official guide or a nonpartisan one.

Governor
8 candidates on the ballot
- Byron Donalds · Republican
- David Jolly · Democratic
- Scott Eckhard Jewett · Libertarian
- Charles Burkett · No Party Affiliation
- Frank J. Russo · No Party Affiliation
- Moliere "Moe" Dimanche · No Party Affiliation
- Dean Ocean Abrams · No Party Affiliation
- Jeffrey Peter "Dr. Jeff" Datto · No Party Affiliation
Official candidate list, in its order
U.S. Senate (special election)
- Ashley Moody · Republican
- Angie Nixon · Democratic
- Neil J. Gillespie · No Party Affiliation
Official candidate list, in its order
Also statewideAttorney General · Chief Financial Officer · Commissioner of Agriculture
U.S. HouseDistrict 24
State SenateDistrict 34
Statewide measures3 on the ballot: the state's official explanations

Official voter lookup State voter guide Vote411 (League of Women Voters)

Districts come from 2020 Census blocks and the district maps for this election. Your address decides your districts.

Already on the council, not on the ballot

Whoever you elect will govern alongside these members.

What the next council decides

01Exiting state financial oversight3 sourced facts

Where it standsOpa-locka has been under state financial oversight since a 2016 financial emergency. In July 2026 the mayor said the city was awaiting a decision from the Governor's office.

What's on the tableThe next commission will govern while oversight continues or ends, and will decide which financial controls to keep.

Opa-locka has operated under state financial oversight since a financial emergency was declared in 2016, and state monitoring remains active. The Miami Times
On July 8, 2026, Mayor Taylor said every ordinance and resolution the commission passes must go to the Governor for approval while the city is under financial oversight. Opa-locka City Commission minutes, July 8, 2026 (in the July 22 agenda packet) · Jul 22, 2026
On July 8, 2026, Mayor Taylor said the city was awaiting the efficiency audit's findings, which would go to the Governor's office for a decision. Opa-locka City Commission minutes, July 8, 2026 (in the July 22 agenda packet) · Jul 22, 2026

02Tax rate, budget and city events3 sourced facts

Where it standsThe commission passed the fiscal 2027 millage rate and budget ordinances on first reading, 5-0, on Sept. 8, 2026.

What's on the tableThe next commission will run the fiscal 2027 budget and decide how much to spend on events and other services.

The city's proposed fiscal 2027 millage rate is 8.9797 mills, 5.66% above the rollback rate of 8.4988 mills. Opa-locka City Commission minutes, Sept. 8 and Sept. 9, 2026 (in the Sept. 23 agenda packet) · Sep 23, 2026
The proposed fiscal 2027 total budget is $71,719,611. Opa-locka City Commission minutes, Sept. 8 and Sept. 9, 2026 (in the Sept. 23 agenda packet) · Sep 23, 2026
Total special events spending in the budget is $291,250, down from $387,350. Opa-locka City Commission minutes, Sept. 8 and Sept. 9, 2026 (in the Sept. 23 agenda packet) · Sep 23, 2026

03Pay and benefits for elected officials3 sourced facts

Where it standsTwo charter amendments on the Nov. 3 ballot would raise commission pay and add health and life insurance.

What's on the tableVoters decide both questions; the commission would then set pay changes every other year if the first passes.

Referendum 1 asks whether to raise pay for the mayor and commissioners from $550 to $1,500 a month and let the commission raise it every other year for cost of living. Miami-Dade Elections
Referendum 2 asks whether the mayor and commissioners may join the city's health and life insurance programs on the same terms as full-time employees. Miami-Dade Elections
The commission passed both ordinances on second reading, 5-0, on July 8, 2026, as recommended by the Charter Review Board. Opa-locka City Commission minutes, July 8, 2026 (in the July 22 agenda packet) · Jul 22, 2026

04Development and youth recreation3 sourced facts

Where it standsThe commission approved a concrete batching plant at 13060 Cairo Lane and an outside group's youth basketball program in September 2026.

What's on the tableThe next commission will vote on development projects, city facility use and how the city runs its parks and recreation programs.

On Sept. 9, 2026, the commission approved the site plan and development agreement for a concrete batching plant at 13060 Cairo Lane, 5-0. Opa-locka City Commission minutes, Sept. 8 and Sept. 9, 2026 (in the Sept. 23 agenda packet) · Sep 23, 2026
On Sept. 9, 2026, the commission approved a facility-use agreement with Lead by Example Elite LLC for a basketball program at Sherbondy Village, 4-1. Opa-locka City Commission minutes, Sept. 8 and Sept. 9, 2026 (in the Sept. 23 agenda packet) · Sep 23, 2026
The basketball group would pay a $5,000 monthly facility fee while letting Opa-locka youth participate at no cost. Opa-locka City Commission minutes, Sept. 8 and Sept. 9, 2026 (in the Sept. 23 agenda packet) · Sep 23, 2026

3 notes on these statements

Mayor John H. Taylor Jr. is not seeking reelection, so the mayor's seat is open. The Miami Times

Commissioner Natasha Ervin is running for mayor. The Miami Times

The Miami Herald's Sept. 23, 2026 candidate questionnaire shows Randolph Aikens as 'Awaiting response'. Miami Herald · Sep 23, 2026

No sign-in · answers stay on your phone

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. Opa-locka has been under state financial oversight since 2016. When it ends, what should the city do with the financial controls it adopted?
2. Opa-locka's fiscal 2027 millage rate is 8.9797 mills, 5.66% above the rolled-back rate of 8.4988. What should the city do?
3. The fiscal 2027 budget puts special events spending at $291,250, down from $387,350. What should happen to event spending?
4. What should Opa-locka require of developers in new projects?
5. The commission approved a private group's youth basketball program at Sherbondy Village, which pays $5,000 a month in facility fees. Was that the right call?

Seat the councilSeat the Council →Pick a winner for each open seat and see where the resulting council stands on each issue.On the recordHow the council voted4 council decisions, each member's vote side by side, with a link to the minutes.New · How Opa-locka is runWho runs Opa-locka, and what it costsThe interim city manager earns $190,000. See council pay, whether the city is in the red, and where your property tax goes.

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 beginsMiami-Dade Elections · Sep 1, 2026Oct 19, 2026
Last day to request a mail ballot (5 p.m.)Miami-Dade Elections · Sep 1, 2026Oct 22, 2026
Early voting endsMiami-Dade Elections · Sep 1, 2026Nov 1, 2026
Election Day (polls open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.)Miami-Dade Elections · Sep 1, 2026Nov 3, 2026

The seat math

2 stay (not up this year): Joseph L. Kelley, Luis B. Santiago3 on this ballot

5 council seats. The council decides by a 3-vote majority.

The commission consists of the mayor and four commissioners, all elected at large. City of Opa-locka Charter
The mayor and commissioners each serve four-year terms, and the mayor is elected separately from the commissioners. City of Opa-locka Charter
The mayor presides at commission meetings; minutes list the mayor's yes or no vote on each roll call. Opa-locka City Commission minutes, Sept. 8 and Sept. 9, 2026 (in the Sept. 23 agenda packet) · Sep 23, 2026
The two commission candidates with the most votes are elected. City of Opa-locka Charter

Every claim here links to its source and was checked against it before publishing. How this guide works

See something wrong? Report an error

Something wrong or missing? Tell us what and where, with a link to a source if you have one. Reports feed the next verification run.