Meet the Candidates 2026 Draws Strong Community Turnout in South Miami-Dade
Community members filled Second Baptist Church on Wednesday, July 22, for Meet the Candidates 2026, an informative evening created to connect voters directly with candidates seeking public office and prepare residents for the upcoming election.
Brandi Scott, editor of The Culture, opened the evening by welcoming guests and emphasizing the importance of providing voters with access to the individuals seeking to represent them. The event was hosted by former Florida Senator Dwight Bullard, host of the Politics for the Culture podcast, who guided the evening’s conversations and helped candidates address issues important to South Miami-Dade residents.
The well-attended forum gave candidates an opportunity to introduce themselves, discuss their qualifications and share their priorities for the offices they are seeking. Attendees listened as candidates addressed community concerns, outlined their visions for leadership and explained how they would respond to the needs of residents.
Candidates who confirmed their attendance included:
U.S. Congress, District 27
Robin Peguero, Democrat
Governor of Florida
Daniel Nokovich, Republican
Evelyn Castillo-Bach, Democrat
Stephann Norman, Democrat
Thomas Eloy Fernandez, Democrat
Gwen Graham, Democratic running mate to David Jolly
Dotie Joseph, Democrat
Rachel Rodriguez, Republican
Florida Chief Financial Officer
Earle Ford, Democrat
Annette Taddeo, Democrat
Miami-Dade County Commission, District 8
John Dubois
Martha Vega Hero
In addition to hearing directly from the candidates, attendees received information to help them better understand what will appear on the ballot and had an opportunity to register to vote. The event encouraged residents to ask questions, learn more about the candidates and become active participants in the electoral process.
The strong turnout reflected the community’s interest in leadership, accountability and civic engagement. The evening demonstrated that South Miami-Dade residents are paying attention, seeking information and preparing to make their voices heard during the 2026 election season.
Meet the Candidates 2026 was presented through the collaborative efforts of The Culture News, Florida Rising, Hip Rock Star Advertising, the NAACP South Dade Branch and Second Baptist Church.
