Miami Beach Mayor Steven Meiner and city commissioner Laura Dominguez have both secured reelection, according to results from the November 5, 2025, municipal elections. Meiner won a second term with 51 percent of the vote, defeating his only challenger, commissioner Kristen Rosen Gonzalez, by about 350 ballots. Dominguez achieved a decisive victory over Fred Karlton, receiving more than 60 percent of the vote.
Another incumbent, Alex Fernandez, also maintained his seat on the city commission by winning 84 percent of votes against Luidgi Mary.
The race for the commission seat vacated by Rosen Gonzalez will proceed to a runoff next month. Monica Matteo-Salinas received 23 percent of the vote and will face attorney Monique Pardo Pope, who came in second with 20 percent. However, Pardo Pope led hotel investor Brian Ehrlich by less than one percentage point; if that margin falls below half a percentage point, an automatic recount will be triggered.
Campaign finance played a significant role in this election cycle. Meiner received substantial support from Miami Beach’s real estate and hospitality sectors. Lennar co-CEO Stuart Miller contributed $50,000 to Meiner’s political action committee (PAC), Miami Beach First. Other notable donations included $25,000 from real estate investor Michael Simkins; $20,000 from David Grutman of Groot Hospitality; $18,000 from investor Alex Kleyner; and $10,000 each from developer Scott Robins and New York-based Naftali Group.
Dominguez also attracted maximum individual contributions of $1,000 each from industry figures such as developer Michael Shvo; Jose and Diego Ardid of Key International; James LeFrak of LeFrak Organization; and two executives with OKO Group. Her opponent Karlton self-funded his campaign with a personal contribution of $150,000.
During the campaign period, Karlton and commissioner David Suarez accused Dominguez of voting on legislation benefiting developers who supported her PAC during her initial run in a 2022 special election. However, it was noted that she did not use her PAC to raise funds for this year’s contest.
In the commission race heading to a runoff, Ehrlich emerged as the candidate favored by real estate and hospitality interests. His campaign received maximum individual donations from Arnaud Karsenti of 13th Floor Investments and his wife Rebecca Karsenti; the Catalina Hotel at 1732 Collins Avenue; and two entities managed by investor Jimmy Resnick. Ehrlich’s PAC received $25,000 from hotelier Shawn Vardi and $5,000 from Christopher Cuomo.
