In a historic election, Rosie Cordero-Stutz, a Republican and the current Deputy Director of Investigative Services for the Miami-Dade Police Department, has been elected as the new sheriff of Miami-Dade. She triumphed over James Reyes, a Cuban-born Democrat who serves as the county's Director of Public Safety. This marks the first time in six decades that the position was open for election, and voters chose a woman to lead the law enforcement agency.
Cordero-Stutz captured 55% of the vote, surpassing Reyes, who secured 45%. Both candidates received significant endorsements for their campaigns. Reyes had the backing of Miami-Dade Mayor Levine-Cava, while Cordero-Stutz was supported by Congressman Carlos Giménez, Governor Ron DeSantis, former President Donald Trump, 27 current sheriffs, and two former Florida sheriffs, as reported by Telemundo 51.
At 46, James Reyes is the son of a political prisoner and immigrated to the United States with his family in the late 1970s. Despite his political connections, his lack of direct policing experience was seen as a disadvantage, having never served as a police officer. In contrast, Cordero-Stutz boasts 28 years with the Miami-Dade Police Department, having grown up in Miami and built a 25-year law enforcement career in the Broward County Sheriff's Office. She holds a degree in Criminology and a master's in Criminal Justice. Married with three children, Reyes credits Miami-Dade as the place that granted his family freedom and opportunity after escaping the perils of communism to start anew in Hialeah.
The re-establishment of the sheriff’s position follows the approval of Amendment 10 by Florida voters in 2018, which allows for the direct election of this role in the region.