MIAMI (CBSMiami) – After months of not discovering a candidate to run towards Republican Congresswoman Maria Elvira Salazar, Democrats now discover themselves with two candidates and a what could also be an costly and extremely contested major.
CBS Miami has realized Miami City Commissioner Ken Russell is anticipated to drop out of the U.S. Senate race to run towards Salazar. A proper announcement might come as early as at present.
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And moments after the Russell news was reported, Miami-Dade County Commissioner Eileen Higgins additionally jumped into the first.
“Eileen Higgins has shown to be a battle-tested elected leader who has always stood by the people of her community,” her political advisor, Christian Ulvert, wrote in an announcement to CBS Miami. “It’s no surprise that trusted leaders in our community are excited to hear that Comm. Higgins is ready to take her fight to Washington D.C. She will be making a formal announcement imminently.”
Her announcement is anticipated on Monday. Higgins declined to remark, pointing as an alternative to Ulvert’s assertion.
Russell declined to remark, telling CBS Miami he could have a “major announcement” about the way forward for his marketing campaign within the subsequent 24 hours.
But in one other signal that Russell is planning on shifting races, CBS Miami has realized he’s been polling within the district, which incorporates Miami Beach, Little Havana, Coral Gables and Pinecrest.
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For practically a 12 months, Russell had been waging an uphill battle towards Orlando Congresswoman Val Demings to develop into the Democratic nominee who would problem incumbent Marco Rubio in November.
Demings had the backing of most Democrats throughout the state and in Washington, whereas Russell drove throughout the state, hoping his TikTook movies would spur a groundswell of assist, significantly amongst youthful Democrats. But after eleven months on the marketing campaign path it grew to become clear to Russell that he couldn’t proceed to significantly problem Demings.
Russell raised barely greater than $1.2 million throughout his Senate race and nonetheless has greater than $280,000 in his account, in line with federal marketing campaign information. Under federal legislation, he can shift that cash into a brand new marketing campaign account to run towards Salazar, who’s sitting on $1 million, in line with federal information.
The combat between Russell and Higgins may very well be an intense one. Russell has served on the town fee since 2015. He has been one of many extra liberal voices on the dais, advocating for high quality and environmental points. Last week he was the pivotal vote within the metropolis resolution to award a 99-year lease to developer Jorge Mas and soccer legend David Beckham to construct a soccer stadium, workplace park, lodge and retail house on the present web site of the Melreese Golf Course.
This would be the second time Russell has run for Congress on this district. In 2018, he jumped right into a crowded Democratic major area, solely to depart the race a short while later. Former University of Miami President Donna Shalala ultimately gained the first and was elected, solely to lose two years later to Salazar.
Higgins has been on the County Commission since 2018 and has developed a repute as champion for the dwelling wage. She led the combat to see that workers, who work for personal contractors, be handled pretty.
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The indisputable fact that nobody had filed to run towards Salazar has been embarrassing to the Democratic Party and seen as additional proof that Florida, and significantly Miami-Dade County, is turning into an increasing number of Republican. Nevertheless, Salazar is susceptible. She has made a sequence of outlandish statements since taking workplace, together with advocating America capturing down Russian planes over Ukraine, saying “Freedom is not free.”