Miami-Dade Democrats elected state senator. Shevrin Jones Friday to lead their flagging party, placing a rising political star and ally of President Joe Biden at the helm of the state’s largest county Democratic organization.
Jones’ victory over three other candidates — Biscayne Gardens Chamber of Commerce President Bernard Jennings, Miami-Dade College Democrats President Manuel Fernandez and Angel Montalvo of the Miami-Dade Progressive Caucus — caps a month chaotic for the Miami-Dade Democratic Party that has now seen…former Speaker Robert Dempster fired from office and a tumultuous race to succeed him.
In choosing Jones to lead the party, Miami-Dade Democrats opted for a well-liked and well-connected politician widely considered the preferred candidate of state party leaders. Jones’ term will continue until December, when the party is expected to hold its regular presidential election.
Still, the job is probably far from glamorous. With major local, state and federal elections just months away, Jones will be tasked with ramping up the party’s fundraising and voter registration operations, and trying to unify a deeply fragmented Democratic organization.
“Whether you supported me or not, what matters now is building trust and understanding,” Jones said. “I recognize your frustrations, I recognize your struggles.”
Jones, Florida’s first openly gay state senator, ran for chair of the Miami-Dade Democratic Party last week, drawing support from some of the county’s most prominent Democrats, including the mayor of Miami-Dade, Daniella Levine Cava, and U.S. Rep. Frederica. Wilson.
However, this did not save him from a challenge. Filmmaker Billy Corben followed Jones into the competition, framing his candidacy as an effort to prevent a “coronation” of Jones as party chairman and force an “honest” conversation among Miami-Dade Democrats about future direction party.
In the days that followed, the presidential race was rife with controversy and infighting. Corben sought to organize an in-person forum between Jones and himself, but that event was scrapped due to disagreements over the moderator.
Jones, Corben, Jennings and Fernandez ultimately agreed to participate in a virtual forum Wednesday evening. In his closing speech at that event, which was closed to the public and the press, Corben withdrew from the race, arguing that the odds of him becoming president were against him all along.
He noted that Miami-Dade Democratic Party Acting Chairwoman Laura Wagner supported Jones early in his campaign.
“I was prepared for the dysfunction, but I am disappointed by the bad faith and hypocrisy,” Corben said at the forum.
There was also a dispute over the timing of the Friday evening election, which coincided with the Passover Sabbath. Corben and other Jewish members urged party leaders to postpone the election. These requests went…
