Candidates set for Miami-Dade House district special election. Find out who’s running

Gov. Ron DeSantis made the state representative for a strip of unincorporated southwest Miami-Dade County the clerk of the courts and comptroller for the county in June. Now the district is gearing up to fill the vacancy.

Republican Juan Fernandez-Barquin was elected to the Florida House of Representatives in 2018. He first represented nearby District 119, but in 2022 after redistricting, he was elected to represent District 118. Now, one Republican, one Democrat and one non-party-affiliated candidate are running in a special election to represent District 118.

DeSantis called for the special election in an executive order last month and set the date for the election to December 5.

Mike Redondo, a personal injury lawyer, is running as a Republican. Johnny Farias, a small business owner and former community council member, joined the race as a Democrat. Francisco De La Paz is running as a non-party candidate. The deadline for qualification was Thursday. Because only one candidate from each party is running, there will not be a primary election.

For multiple candidates in this election, the most important issue for District 118 is the cost of home insurance.

The narrow district boundaries stretch north to south from Southwest Eighth Street immediately west of Florida’s Turnpike to Cutler Bay.

Redondo receives endorsement from influential Republican

Redondo, 38, is the founder and managing partner of Redondo Law, a local firm specializing in accident and injury law.

He received the endorsement of Daniel Perez, the Miami-Dade Republican representative in line to be the next Speaker of the House. Redondo said he appreciates the endorsement but does not want to think of himself as the front runner. He called himself “a put my nose to the grindstone kind of guy,” and he said he wants to get to work without worrying about the outcome.

This is Redondo’s first time running for public office, which he said he sees as a way to give back to the community where he was born and raised.

Redondo said he grew up in the area he now hopes to represent, and he moved back to the district earlier this year. He pointed to his parents, both Cuban immigrants, as sources of inspiration for him.

The attorney said he had been interested in running for office, but he would not have challenged Fernandez-Barquin as the incumbent. Because the seat was open, though, he said it was “a great combination of interests and opportunity.”

The top issue in this election is the cost of home insurance, Redondo said. His campaign website highlights his “uncompromising conservative values” and issues like law enforcement and public education.

Redondo estimated his campaign has raised between $160,000 and $170,000.

Farias joins race as Democratic contender

Farias, 53, said he decided to run about three weeks ago because he wanted to represent the interests of common people, which he said representatives in Tallahassee are not addressing. He said the most important issue to him is the cost of living and home insurance in District 118, where he said he has lived for around 20 years.

The former community council member unsuccessfully ran against Fernandez-Barquin in 2022 and received 31.6% of the vote.

An electrician by trade, Farias said he has been involved in politics as both an activist and a Miami-Dade Community Council member. Farias has five children and is a U.S. Navy veteran.

District 118 is typically represented by a Republican, but Farias said he thinks he has a shot as a Democrat. He said he thinks District 118 voters feel that “it’s not about the party, it’s about the person.”

Farias said he has raised about $30,000 for his campaign.

Non-party candidate De La Paz

The Florida Department of State website indicates De La Paz, a non-party-affiliated candidate, qualified for the election on Wednesday. De La Paz, 67, declined to comment on his background, qualifications or political positions.

De La Paz said he considers himself a legitimate candidate. He added that he decided to run when the vacancy was announced.