Miami-Dade County, Florida

Miami-Dade County Commission — District 5

Lopez and Piper are on the November 3, 2026 ballot. Names follow official Miami Dade County election filings.

About this race

August 18 result: incumbent Vicki Lopez (42.3 percent) fell short of a majority and meets Rob Piper (29.5 percent) in a November 3 runoff; Joe Sanchez (28.1 percent) was eliminated, per the county canvassing board's official certificate.

What this office does

County commissioner. The county board is the county's legislative and, in most states, executive body. Commissioners adopt the county budget and property tax rate, oversee roads, the jail, public health, planning and zoning in unincorporated areas, and appoint or confirm department heads. In counties with an elected county executive or judge, the board's role is mainly the budget and ordinances.

This race. Nonpartisan: candidates appear without party labels. The sitting officeholder, Vicki Lopez, is on the ballot.

Florida › Miami Dade County › Miami-Dade County Commission — District 5

Vicki Lopez

NonpartisanIncumbent

Top priorities

Move faster on affordable housing
Keep waterways clean
A transit plan that works

Per the Florida Politics.

Biography

Vicki Lopez is the appointed incumbent District 5 commissioner; she led the August 18 primary and meets Rob Piper in the November 3 runoff, per the county's official results. A former state legislator, she was appointed in late 2025 after Eileen Higgins resigned to run for Miami mayor, and has drawn endorsements from the Miami-Dade Sheriff, the county firefighters union, and the South Florida PBA while raising nearly $1.2 million, per Florida Politics coverage. No campaign website was found as of September 8, 2026.

Rob Piper

Nonpartisan

Top priorities

Transparency and accountability in county government
Lower housing costs and expand affordable housing
Climate resilience and flood protection

Per the campaign site.

Biography

Rob Piper is a retired Marine Corps officer who served from 1993 to 2016 with three combat tours in Iraq, later a Florida House legislative aide with a PhD in international relations, per his campaign site. The Miami-Dade Democratic Party endorsed him in this race, per the party's voter guide.

Campaign site (opens in a new tab)

Next on your ballotMiami-Dade School Board — District 1

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Questions about this race

Who is running for Miami-Dade County Commission — District 5 in 2026?

2 candidates are tracked for Miami-Dade County Commission — District 5, headed to a November 3, 2026 runoff: Vicki Lopez and Rob Piper. Candidate information follows official Miami Dade County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.

When is the Miami-Dade County Commission — District 5 election in Florida?

Election Day is Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Registration deadlines, early voting dates and mail ballot rules for Florida are on the Florida election hub at theballotbrief.com.

How do I see my exact Miami-Dade County ballot?

Enter your ZIP code in the lookup at theballotbrief.com for the statewide and congressional races, or a full street address to add the county, city and district contests for that location.

Verify this race

Candidate roster from official Miami-Dade County Supervisor of Elections filings, last verified October 13, 2026. Bios and priorities carry their attribution inline.

Cross-check with the official Florida election office, or see the full Miami Dade County sample ballot and your exact ballot by address.

The rest of your Miami-Dade County ballot

16 tracked races in Miami-Dade County, Florida. Landed here from another county's search? Look up your own ballot below.

Also on your ballot

Circuit Judge, 11th Judicial Circuit, Group 5 Circuit Judge, 11th Judicial Circuit, Group 69 Florida Senate District 34 See all 16 Miami-Dade County races

Candidate profiles

Vicki Lopez, full profile Rob Piper, full profile Official Florida election office