Candidates for Miami-Dade Democratic Party Leadership

Leadership elections will be held on April 26 and active members of the Executive Committee will be voting.

Chair candidate – Shevrin Jones

Shevrin “Shev” Jones, a Florida State Senator, is a champion of education and community empowerment. Starting as a teacher, Jones nurtured students in A.P. Chemistry before founding L.E.A.D. Nation, promoting youth leadership and social entrepreneurship. Elected to the Florida House in 2012, his bipartisan efforts included advocating for incarcerated women, clean syringe exchange, youth sports safety, and police body cameras.

Now representing Florida’s 34th Senate District, Jones remains dedicated to serving the community. Engaged in organizations like Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc. and Leadership Florida, his leadership extends beyond legislative roles. Recognized as Florida Young Democrat of the Year, Jones continues to receive accolades for his service, such as Legislator of the Year by the Broward Parent Teachers Association and inclusion in ICABA’s 100 Most Accomplished Caribbean Americans.

Jones’ commitment to education and community building is exemplified through his involvement in programs like Leadership Broward and the Council of State Governments TOLLS fellowship. His leadership and advocacy for meaningful change make him a prominent figure in Florida’s political landscape, embodying the values of service, empowerment, and progress.

Why are you running for this position?

As a candidate vying for the Chair position of the Miami-Dade Democrats, my fervor is rooted in a profound belief in community engagement and inclusive leadership. To fortify the success of notable Democratic figures like Mayor Daniella Levine Cava and to support the re-election of President Biden and Vice President Harris, a strategic recalibration is paramount. I am dedicated to proactive outreach, authentic engagement, and responsive leadership, recognizing the importance of reflecting on past missteps and amplifying the voices of all Miami-Dade residents.

Unity and collaboration are fundamental, rallying party organizers, activists, and leaders to rebuild trust, register voters, and re-engage marginalized individuals. By prioritizing transparency and respect, we aim to cultivate a more robust and inclusive Democratic Party that resonates with every member of the Miami-Dade community. The upcoming election cycle presents a critical opportunity to address escalating costs, economic disparities, and threats to personal freedoms posed by extremist factions. Our solidarity is pivotal in securing the re-election of President Biden and lifting up down-ballot candidates who align with our core values.

With November approaching, I am eager to join forces with advocates and grassroots organizers, leaving no stone unturned in our endeavor to strengthen the Democratic Party in Miami-Dade. Through collaborative efforts, innovative approaches, and a commitment to inclusivity, we can confront challenges head-on, ensuring a brighter future for all Miami-Dade residents. Together, with dedication, empathy, and a shared aspiration for progress, we can pave the way for a more vibrant, inclusive, and responsive Democratic Party in Miami-Dade, shaping a promising tomorrow for our community.

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Chair candidate – William Cohen

Emmy, Peabody, and Edward R. Murrow Award-winner William Cohen, known professionally as Billy Corben, is the co-founder of the Miami-based documentary production company Rakontur.

He has directed and co-produced some of the most popular nonfiction titles of the last 20 years including the Cocaine Cowboys franchise (2006-present), the ESPN 30 for 30s The U (2019), The U Part 2 (2014), and Broke (2012). 537 Votes (2020) with HBO and Oscar-winning filmmaker Adam McKay, God Forbid: The Sex Scandal That Brought Down a Dynasty (2022), the most watched doc in Hulu history, and his upcoming feature doc, From Russia with Lev, executive produced by Rachel Maddow and slated to premiere on MSNBC in September, make up a trilogy of election eve docs that entertain, raise awareness and activate voters.

Corben is a prominent accountability journalist and good government advocate in Miami known for frequent appearances at city hall, speaking truth to power. His direct action has helped shape elections and reform local governments.

He is the host of the weekly #BecauseMiami podcast on Dan LeBatard’s Meadowlark Media network where he talks all things Florida F*ckery.

Why are you running for this position?

With the election just one week away, I was concerned that the race for Miami-Dade Democratic Party Chair remained uncontested. 

State Senator Shevrin Jones is a good man and a more than capable candidate, but competition is good for the consumer. It is, in fact, essential for democracy: no options, no election. Voters need a robust marketplace of ideas. We deserve an opportunity to hear our candidates propose their plans and lay out of a vision for the future.

The Democratic Party in Miami-Dade — the whole state of Florida, really — is a shambles. We can’t solve a problem until we acknowledge we have one. That starts with open and honest dialogue about what has gone wrong over the last quarter-century and what the hell to do next to avoid repeating those mistakes.

The local Party has been hijacked by a consultant cartel that does not care about getting Democrats elected; they only care about lining their pockets. And they have run the Party right into the ground — for profit. They exploit our bank accounts to pass through unlimited contributions to their candidates and abuse our passionate, dedicated, and hard-working volunteers for the sole benefit of their monopoly. They have perverted the very essence of what it means to be a Miami-Dade Democrat.

We are trying to save our Party; they are trying to preserve their business model.

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First Vice Chair candidate – Ricky Junquera

Ricky Junquera is the former First Vice Chair and Acting Chair in charge of the 2018 General Election and the 2017-2019 Miami Dade Democratic Galas. While in DEC leadership he oversaw some of the most successful programs and fundraising of the past decade. Professionally, Ricky has been the National Senior Press Secretary for the Sierra Club, where he has worked since 2015. Prior to that, Ricky was a Press Secretary in Congress. As a candidate, Ricky raised over half a million dollars for his 2020 campaign for Florida State House 118 while teaming up with the campaigns of the two House seats next to him in Javier Estevez and Franccesca Cesti-Browne, the three becoming known as the “Win the “Westsiders.” Ricky has been a strong communicator with elected officials and candidates, helping them organize and fundraise over the past four years. In 2022, Ricky worked with four other community leaders through Rise Up in Coral Gables to put on the very successful unity rally with every elected running for office from Val Demings and Charlie Christ down to every State House candidate. He provided them a platform to showcase their race and to obtain real media attention for their races in front of a packed crowd with every television news crew and media outlet in Miami. Ricky also currently sits on the steering committee of the Miami Climate Alliance, as their Legislative Chair.

Why are you running for this position?

I am running for First Vice Chair because I believe that I am very well suited in this very small window of time to build back up and fund the core programs that used to be staples of the local party’s resources to elected officials, candidates, and our clubs and caucuses. I believe that I have the ability to connect with every single elected official, candidate, and head of all aligned organizations to create a line of communication to effectively coordinate and build up capacity to help specifically for this presidential election cycle. On day one, I can call that full coalition and have their trust and confidence to produce successful programs and funding to help win now in 2024. I oversaw our last successful election cycle, where we had club and caucus volunteers staffing every single early voting location from 7 am-7 pm every day so that candidates could focus on the doors and phones. I know I can inspire others to put in the work with a simple vision of getting back to doing the basics well. We can do this, and I will put in the work to do this in a collaborative way that considers every corner of our county, every club and caucus, every race, and every aligned organization. We’ve done it before and we can do it again!