MIAMI – Raquel Regalado, a two-term school-board member, failed to defeat Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Gimenez, who has been in office since 2011.
The 62-year-old incumbent -- a former city manager of Miami, city fire chief and firefighter -- will continue to manage the county's $7 billion budget.
Gimenez received 55 percent of the vote compared to Regalado's 44 percent in Tuesday's runoff election.
During her campaign, Regalado, 42, criticized nearly every aspect of Gimenez's five-year tenure. But none of her accusations stuck.
Her last attack before Election Day was a lawsuit. Regalado, who used to practice law, alleged that Gimenez should have been tossed from the ballot over a technicality related to a qualifying check. The lawsuit was dismissed.
With $1.6 million in television and radio ads, Regalado was also at a disadvantage on spending. Gimenez raised about $7 million.
During the Aug. 30 mayoral primary, about 122,000 voted for Gimenez and close to 82,000 voted for Regalado, the daughter of Miami Mayor Tomás Regalado.