Miami-Dade voters face open Florida governor race amid national midterms

Polls across Miami-Dade County are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Eastern Time on Election Day, Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Voters in Miami, Hialeah, Fort Lauderdale, Pembroke Pines, Hollywood, and Miramar are casting ballots for the state's most prominent open seat, the governorship. According to Ballotpedia, this is an open seat with no incumbent on the ballot, and the field includes candidates from the Democratic, Republican, Libertarian, and No Party Affiliation lines. The Associated Press notes that the election is being viewed as a referendum on President Donald Trump's second term, with voters grappling with high prices and an unpopular war with Iran.

In the governor's race, the Associated Press and PBS identify the Florida contest as competitive. The specific candidates on the general election ballot are listed by Ballotpedia, including Republican incumbent Jimmy Patronis, who is running for the office, and a Democratic opponent, though the source text provided lists the office as an open seat in the summary section while listing Patronis as incumbent in the candidate table. Clarifying the state facts, Ballotpedia lists the Governor as an office on the ballot with an open seat and no incumbent running in the summary, yet the candidate list shows Jimmy Patronis as incumbent. For the purpose of this report, we focus on the fact that the governor's office is up for election in a state that voted for Trump in 2024. The Associated Press describes the mood as one where Republicans are bracing to lose the House while fighting to hold the Senate. Democrats are described as cautiously optimistic about their chances.

While the governor's race is the top state contest, every U.S. House seat in Florida is also on the ballot. Florida is one of six states using new congressional maps after mid-decade redistricting, a fact highlighted by the Associated Press. These new districts may not vote as originally drawn, adding a layer of uncertainty to the results. In the U.S. Senate, Florida is holding a special election for the remainder of the term that Marco Rubio was elected to in 2022. Ballotpedia lists Ashley B. Moody, a Republican incumbent, as on the ballot for this special election, alongside Democratic and No Party Affiliation candidates. The Associated Press notes that Republicans currently hold 53 Senate seats and can lose only two to maintain their majority.

Nationally, the stakes are high for the control of both chambers of Congress. All 435 seats in the U.S. House are up for grabs. Republicans hold 218 seats, while Democrats hold 214, with one independent. Ballotpedia reports that Democrats need a net gain of three districts to secure a majority, whereas Republicans can afford to lose no more than two seats. Sixty House incumbents, including 23 Democrats and 37 Republicans, did not run for re-election. The Associated Press analysis indicates that 46 districts are considered battlegrounds, with 25 currently held by Democrats and 21 by Republicans. The outcome will determine who controls the legislative agenda for the final two years of the Trump administration.

The Associated Press reports that more than 57 million people had already voted as of Monday, surpassing the early vote totals from four years ago in many closely watched states. A federal judge temporarily barred the Trump administration on Monday from carrying out a plan intended to prevent noncitizen voting, a move that critics said risked disenfranchising eligible voters. In California, a judge ordered the administration to stop demanding that election officials segregate ballots cast by people on lists of suspected noncitizens. The U.S. Postal Service added hours, staff, and special lines to ensure mail ballots are counted on time, according to Reuters.

In Miami-Dade, voters are also deciding on state and local offices that vary by county, as well as statewide ballot measures. Ballotpedia lists three statewide amendments on the ballot: Amendment 1 regarding budget stabilization, Amendment 2 for agricultural tax exemptions, and Amendment 3 concerning property taxes and homestead exemptions. These measures allow voters to directly influence state fiscal policy and local tax burdens. The Associated Press notes that the 2026 elections are likely to be the most expensive in history, with Republican committees out-raising and out-spending Democratic committees at the committee level, though Democrats out-raised their opponents at the candidate level.

The Associated Press polls indicate that 35% of U.S. adults approve of President Trump's job performance, while only 25% approve of his handling of the economy. About seven in 10 voters say the country is heading in the wrong direction. Mark Barker, a voter in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, told the Associated Press that he has been following Trump closely and believes he is doing an awesome job. James Moore, a 57-year-old librarian in Raleigh, North Carolina, expressed frustration, stating that he is paying more in taxes and for healthcare. These sentiments reflect the national mood that is influencing decisions in Florida's polling places from Miami to Pembroke Pines.

For those just arriving at the polls, anyone in line when the polls close at 7 p.m. is entitled to vote, according to USA.gov and Ballotpedia. ID rules vary by state, but voters in Florida should check their specific requirements before going to their assigned location, which can be found at vote.gov. The Associated Press notes that Republican National Committee Chairman Joe Gruters emphasized that everything depends on turnout, stating that if they turn out their voters, they win. Conversely, Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee Chair Rep. Suzan DelBene said the American people are angry and want change. This dynamic is playing out in real-time across the county, with voters in Hialeah and Fort Lauderdale making their final decisions.