Miami-Dade County Commissioner Vicki Lopez is heading into May with a new endorsement from the South Florida Police Benevolent Association (PBA).
Lopez’s campaign announced the new nod, which represents her first organizational endorsement in the 2026 contest.
South Florida PBA President Steadman Stahl praised Lopez’s public service in an accompanying letter.
“You have made law and order a priority throughout your illustrious public service career and have been dedicated to ensuring the safety and security of the residents you represent and our members protect,” he wrote.
The South Florida PBA represents more than 7,000 law enforcement and corrections officers, according to the group’s website.
Its endorsement of Lopez this week adds to four other cross-aisle nods from Miami Beach Commissioners Tanya Katzoff Bhatt, Laura Dominguez, Alex Fernandez and Monica Matteo-Salinas.
All four city officials are Democrats. Lopez is a Republican, though both Miami Beach and Miami-Dade Commission seats are technically nonpartisan.
Lopez said in a statement that she is “honored” to have support from the PBA “and the brave men and women they represent.”
“Public safety is foundational to a strong community, and I will always stand with those who put their lives on the line to protect our residents,” she said. “I look forward to continuing our work together to keep Miami-Dade County safe and thriving.”
Lopez, who was appointed by her County Commission peers last year to represent District 5, raised nearly $589,000 last quarter, far outpacing her lone challenger, Florida Highway Patrol trooper and former Miami City Commissioner Joe Sanchez, a Republican.
District 5 includes the cities of Miami and Miami Beach.
All County Commission candidates will be on the Aug. 18 Primary ballot, as those races and others in the county are technically nonpartisan.
If no candidate in a given contest receives more than 50% of the vote, the top two candidates will compete in a Nov. 3 runoff.