Miami Political Dynasties: The Families Shaping Decades of Local Governance

Miami politics is rich with examples of families who have shaped city and county politics for decades. Here’s a brief look at some of the most prominent political dynasties, who have made our local governments look less like democracies and more like fiefdoms.

As the Miami Herald put it in an article from 2017, "Miami’s politics is beginning to look like HBO’s “Game of Thrones.” Families that have dominated the city for decades are still jockeying for the same offices as dynasties clash over the precious few positions of power."

1. The Carollos

0 up for election in 2024

Joe and Frank Carollo: The Carollo brothers are significant figures in Miami politics. 

• Joe Carollo (current Miami Commissioner) began his political career running for a Miami City Commission seat in the 1970s and later for mayor.
  • Our research on Joe Carollo found 🚨 1 criminal charge; 💰 1 fine for breaking Florida election law; 🏛️ 5 ethics complaints; and a whole slew of 📢 Headlines relating to his scandals and long-running feuds with other political families going back four decades.
• His brother, Frank Carollo, entered the political arena in the 2000s, running for a State House seat. Joe made another run for a city commission seat in the late 2010s, demonstrating the family's enduring presence in local politics.
  • Our research on Frank Carollo found 🏛️ 4 ethics complaints found and a number of 📢 Headlines dealing with abuse of power and ethics issues.

2. The Regalados

2 up for election in 2024

• Tomás P. Regalado: (running for election as Miami-Dade County Property Appraiser) Known first for his long career as a Spanish-language broadcaster, Tomás Sr. ran for a Miami city commission seat in 1996 and later successfully ran for mayor of the City of Miami in 2009.
  • Our research on Tomás P. Regalado found 💰 3 fines for breaking Florida election law; 🏛️ 19 ethics complaints and a large archive of 📢 Headlines dealing with all the investigations, scandals and fines dating to when he was mayor. He is currently running for Miami-Dade County Property Appraiser.
• Raquel Regalado: (current Miami-Dade County Commissioner; running for re-election) Tomas’s daughter, Raquel, entered politics by running for a School Board seat in 2010. Both Tomas and Raquel have faced multiple scandals, including fines for breaking Florida’s election laws and investigations for misusing official funds.
  • Our research on Raquel Regalado found 💰 6 fines for breaking Florida election law; and a series of 📢 Headlines relating to her many quixotic political campaigns and her predictable votes in favor of developers on the Miami-Dade County Commission.
• Tomás N. “Tommy” Regalado: Raquel’s older brother, Tommy, ran for city commission in 2017 but lost. He now works for the Latin Builders Association, according to a listing on their website. The Latin Builders Association is a powerful association of local developers, contractors and construction groups that is a powerful force in lobbying state and local government.
  • Our research on Tommy Regalado found a series of 📢 Headlines about scandals relating to his campaign for city commission and his subsequent work for TV Martí, where he allegedly faked a mortar attack.
• Their younger brother, Jose Regalado, has worked on campaigns and earned hundreds of thousands of dollars as a social media expert from campaign funds. According to the City of Miami website, he now works as an assistant director in the city’s building department.

3. The Suárez Family

0 up for election in 2024

• Xavier Suárez: Xavier served as mayor of Miami in the 1980s and is known for his clash with Joe Carollo. Their 1997 mayoral race ended dramatically when a federal judge overturned the election results due to “overwhelming fraud.”
  • Our research found a stunning number of 📢 Headlines around the shocking 1997 City of Miami mayoral race, including allegations of votes being bought for $10 a vote in a Miami parking lot and more…
• Francis Suárez (current Mayor of the City of Miami): Xavier’s son, Francis, is the current mayor of Miami and is under investigation for his dealings with troubled developer Rishi Kapoor.
  • Our research into Francis Suarez found 🏛️ 2 ethics complaints and a series of well-reported 📢 Headlines dealing with everything from free Formula 1 tickets to how Francis Suarez’s team allegedly helped pass a law to favor a developer who was paying him $170,000.

4. The Diaz de la Portilla Family

0 up for election in 2024

Miguel, Alex, and Renier Diaz de la Portilla: The three brothers have held various offices since the early 1990s. 

• Miguel Diaz de la Portilla served as a state senator but ended his career in public office after losing a race in 2016. He now works in a law practice, which includes extensive lobbying.
  • Our research found 💰 2 fines for breaking Florida election law; 🏛️ 1 ethics complaint; and a number of 📢 Headlines about his career.
• Renier Diaz de la Portilla has been a school board member, state representative, and multiple-time judicial candidate.
  • Our research found 💰 5 fines for breaking Florida election law; and a number of 📢 Headlines relating to his brothers’ use of PAC money to support his campaigns, as well as the immunity deal he received as part of the investigation into his brother Alex Diaz de la Portilla
• Alex Diaz de la Portilla, after serving as a state representative and state senator, was a Miami City Commissioner until he was suspended from office by the Governor and subsequently re-ran for his seat but was defeated in 2023 amidst his arrest for corruption and bribery charges.
  • Our research found 🚨 14 criminal charges; 💰 17 fines for breaking Florida election law; 🏛️ 2 ethics complaints; and a variety of 📢 Headlines relating to his arrest and corruption case.

5. The Hardemons

3 up for election 2024

Known for their civil rights leadership in the 1980s, the Hardemon family has produced a number of family members who have gone on to work in County and City government, representing large Black populations near Liberty City.

• William "Billy" Hardemon: Ran for a county commission seat in the 1990s, but was charged for campaign-finance related crimes. He was also part of a federal criminal case known as Project Greenpalm, where he was acquitted by a jury, while his former boss, Miami-Dade County Commissioner James Burke was found guilty of one bribery count.
  • Our research into Billy Hardemon found: 🚨 70 criminal charges; 🏛️ 2 ethics complaints; and a series of 📢 Headlines relating to Project Greenpalm and his current lobbying practices with his wife, Barbara.
• Roy Hardemon (running for election to State House). Roy Hardemon has run for office at least 10 times (he is currently running for a state house seat). He served one term in the State House.
  • Our research into Roy Hardemon found 🚨 14 criminal charges; 💰 20 fines for breaking Florida election law; 🏛️ 1 ethics complaint; and a number of 📢 Headlines.
• Keon Hardemon: (current Miami-Dade County Commissioner; running for re-election) Nephew Keon is the most electorally successful, currently serving as a Miami-Dade County Commissioner. He is part of the legal team defending Alex Diaz de la Portilla against corruption charges.
  • Our research into Keon Hardemon found 🏛️ 1 ethics complaint and a number of 📢 Headlines relating to allegations of family members lobbying him.
• Monique Barley Mayo: (running for election to State House). Daughter of Roy Hardemon and cousin of Keon Hardemon, Monique Barley Mayo is running for a State House seat in 2024.

6. The Gimenez Family

1 up for election in 2024

• Carlos Gimenez: (current Congressman; running for re-election): The current U.S. Congressman and former Miami-Dade County Mayor is also the brother-in-law of Mari Tere Rojas, the school board chair. Carlos Gimenez’s sons have benefited from lucrative lobbying contracts lobbying county and city governments.
  • Our research into Carlos Gimenez found 💰 1 fine for breaking Florida election law; 🏛️ 10 ethics complaints; and a series of 📢 Headlines concerning ethical concerns over his family’s lobbying contracts.
• Mari Tere Rojas: (Current School Board Chair): Sister-in-law of Carlos Gimenez, she ran for a school board seat at the same time he was running for re-election as Miami-Dade County Mayor in 2016.
  • Our research into Mari Tere Rojas found 📢 Headlines surrounding her fundraising and family members’ involvement in her campaigns.
• Tania Cruz Gimenez: Married to Carlos Gimenez’s son CJ Gimenez Jr., she ran unsuccessfully for a City of Coral Gables commission seat in 2021.

These families continue to exert considerable power over policy, governance, and the lives of Miami residents. Understanding these dynasties is crucial for anyone following Miami politics and making informed choices about elections that are happening this August and November.

What are the consequences of having a major metropolitan area dominated by a small group of well-connected families? It depends on who you ask. We all pay a price in the legal bills local municipalities and counties rack up in the face of ongoing investigations, civil lawsuits, and even criminal charges. Then, there is a more abstract notion of fairness in what is supposed to be a democracy.

From the 2017 Miami Herald article, we hear from other candidates who are passionate about running for office and serving the community. "Alex Dominguez, an outspoken District 3 commission candidate who ran four years ago against Frank Carollo and now is running against his brother, said it’s “crazy” how a small group of families are dominating Miami’s elections.

“It’s embarrassing for those families to continue to run when Miami year after year makes the “worst of” list for every category,” he said, accusing Miami’s business community and political donor base of being part of the problem. “Our so-called business leaders contribute money to these guys, and then they go out and cry about bad government.”

-Alex Dominguez

If you agree that reforms are needed to clean up the corruption we see in Miami politics, please consider visiting and signing our petition for a renewed Public Corruption Bureau in the Miami-Dade Police Department.