ELECTION RESULTS ... PRIMARY 2026 .....

THE CAPTAIN REPORTS:

ELECTION NIGHT — THE RESULTS ARE IN … ALMOST

AS OF 1:53 A.M., 100% OF THE VOTES HAVE BEEN COUNTED:

767 of 767 precincts reporting.

A total of 244,454 voters cast ballots in Tuesday's Primary Election, representing approximately 19% of Miami-Dade County's registered voters.

Based on the results as they stand tonight, two judicial races are headed to a runoff on November 3rd, General Election Day.

CIRCUIT COURT — GROUP 5

There will be a runoff between Arthur "Marty" McNeil and Monica Segura.

CIRCUIT COURT — GROUP 69

There will also be a runoff between Rita Baez and Bonita Jones-Peabody.

COUNTY COURT — GROUP 25

And this one is razor thin.

Incumbent Judge Luis Perez-Medina currently trails challenger Maribel Diaz, an attorney with the Miami-Dade County Tax Collector's Office, by just 572 votes.

With the margin well under one-half of one percent, The Captain expects this race will be subject to Florida's recount procedures before anyone starts measuring the drapes in the judge's chambers.

For now, Maribel Diaz leads.

AND THE STUNNER OF THE NIGHT …

Incumbent Circuit Judge Mavel Ruiz appears headed for defeat at the hands of 30-year-old attorney Destiny Goede Alvarez.

Alvarez's candidacy has generated controversy from the beginning.

First came "The Name Game," which Captain Justice previously reported on: Alvarez changed her name shortly before submitting her application to the Judicial Nominating Commission and later changed it again before qualifying to run for judge.

Then came her decision to challenge an incumbent Circuit Judge despite having been a member of The Florida Bar for barely more than five years—and without having tried a single jury trial.

And then came the money.

As we reported, Alvarez received campaign contributions from 25 Political Committees/PACs, with 24 contributing the maximum $1,000.

A substantial amount of political money and support lined up behind Alvarez, much of it from conservative-aligned political committees.

Tonight, that support appears to have paid off.

Barring a significant change in the remaining votes, Destiny Goede Alvarez will become one of Miami-Dade County's newest Circuit Court Judges.

AND FINALLY …

Congratulations to Assistant Public Defender/Judge-Elect Renee Gordon, who wins election to the Circuit Court on her third try.

And congratulations to incumbent Judge Spencer Eig, who has won another term on the Circuit Court bench.

Two runoffs. One race separated by just a few hundred votes. And an incumbent Circuit Judge apparently headed for defeat.

Not a boring night in Miami-Dade judicial politics.

CIRCUIT COURT

GROUP 5

Arthur "Marty" McNeil - 42%

Monica Segura - 36%

Alex Annunziato - 22%

GROUP 35

Renee Gordon - 63%

Cristobal Padron - 37%

GROUP 67

Judge Mavel Ruiz - 111,142 (49.54%)

Destiny Alvarez - 113,215 (50.46%)

(Alvarez leads by 2,073 votes)

GROUP 69

Rita Baez - 37%

Bonita Jones-Peabody - 35%

Yaneth Baez - 28%

GROUP 76

Spencer Eig - 56%

Yenly Dominguez - 44%

COUNTY COURT

GROUP 25

Judge Luis Perez-Medina - 109,982 (49.87%)

Maribel Diaz - 110,554 (50.13%)

(Diaz leads by 572 votes)

CAPTAIN OUT .......
Captain4Justice@gmail.com