Seven Democratic candidates agree that there is an affordability crisis in Florida’s 24th Congressional District, which covers communities in northern Miami-Dade and southern Broward.
The candidates running to succeed U.S. Rep. Frederica Wilson, who has represented the 24th Congressional District for about 13 years, include two Haitian Americans and a member of a local political dynasty.
As of Wednesday, campaign finance records showed retired U.S. Air Force Col. Dr. Rudolph “Rudy” Moise, who was born in Port-au-Prince, leads the crowded field with over $631,000 in total receipts.
The physician, who has a practice in North Miami and also earned a juris doctor and a master of business administration from the University of Miami, said he wants to change the Medicare eligibility age to 55.
“The difficulty that they are experiencing right now, rising, also, costs, groceries, gasoline, medicine, health care,” said Moise, 71, a Haitian American.
Miami-Dade Commissioner Oliver G. Gilbert II, a former Miami Gardens mayor, followed with over $524,000 in receipts, according to campaign finance records. Wilson formally endorsed him on June 22.
“Whether you are in District 24 in Florida or District 24 in Texas, you need healthcare, you need food security, you need affordable housing, you need to be able to go to the store if your check didn’t get bigger, but prices got bigger. That’s a problem for real Americans, and I want to help with that,” said Gilbert, 53, who also earned a J.D. from UM.
Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniela Levine Cava also endorsed Gilbert. A St. Pete Polls survey commissioned by Florida Politics showed Gilbert had the support of 27% of Democrats.
At 29 years old, Kendrick Meek Jr., who also earned a J.D. from UM, follows Gilbert with more than $486,500, according to campaign finance records.
“I’m the only candidate in this race that has experience working on Capitol Hill and at the White House. I’m very proud of that,” Meek said about his internships at the House Administration Committee in 2015 and the House Judiciary Committee in 2021, and his work as an aide on healthcare policy initiatives under the Biden administration.
Meek said he wants to follow in the footsteps of his father, former U.S. Rep. Kendrick B. Meek, who served Florida’s 17th Congressional District from 2003 to 2011, and his grandmother, the late former U.S. Rep. Carrie Meek, who served Florida’s 17th Congressional District from 1993 to 2003.
“I know that I’m going to be able to bring resources... on behalf of this community from day one,” Meek said.
Former U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson endorsed Meek. A St. Pete Polls survey commissioned by Florida Politics showed Meek had the support of 10% of Democrats.
Florida Sen. Shevrin Jones, who was born in Miami Gardens, follows Meek with over $148,000 in total receipts, according to campaign finance records.
On Wednesday, the Democratic Progressive Caucus of Florida endorsed Jones, 42, who earned a doctorate in education from Florida Atlantic University.
“You look at the cost of healthcare and people having to choose to pay their rent or even getting their prescription drugs. That is a broken system. That is a government that is working against the people and not for the people,” Jones said.
Broward County Commissioner Alexandra Davis, and former Miami-Dade Commissioners Betty Ferguson and Barbara Jordan endorsed Jones.
A St. Pete Polls survey commissioned by Florida Politics showed Jones had the support of 24% of Democrats.
Jean Monestime, a former Miami-Dade County commissioner, follows with more than $57,000 in receipts, according to campaign finance records.
“We can do a lot building people up, instead of pushing people down, and we do so by providing them with an opportunity. I’m a candidate for Congress because these are the opportunities this community gave to me a little over 45 years ago when I arrived here,” said Monestime, 63, a Haitian-American businessman and former real estate broker.
Roderick D. Vereen, a criminal defense attorney who was admitted to the Florida Bar in 1990, had $15,000 in receipts, according to campaign finance records.
“When I look at the other candidates, I think I’m the most qualified. Congress is the lawmaking body of the government, and I’m a lawyer, so I think I have a better grasp of the law,” Vereen, 64, said. “I think I can be a better voice of the people in Washington D.C. This is the right time for me to take that opportunity.”
Marshal L. Davis, Sr., the director of the Marshal L. Davis, Sr. African Heritage Cultural Arts Center in Miami’s Liberty City since 1963, had more than $13,000 in receipts, according to campaign finance records.
“We’ve got to look at what we consider to be the problem because with any problem, there is a solution,” Davis, 76, said. “We have to look at our potential and be expansive, and we’ve got to govern ourselves by principles.”
The mail-in ballot request deadline is Aug. 6, the Democratic primary is Aug. 18, and the general election is Nov. 3.
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