Two prominent public safety endorsements are bolstering Miami-Dade County Commissioner Vicki Lopez’s re-election campaign.
Miami-Dade Sheriff Rosie Cordero-Stutz and the Florida Professional Firefighters union have both announced their support for Lopez, the District 5 Commissioner representing Miami and Miami Beach.
Cordero-Stutz, Miami-Dade’s first elected Sheriff in more than 50 years, commended Lopez’s collaborative approach to public safety.
“Vicki Lopez has been an unwavering advocate for the safety and well-being of every resident in Miami-Dade County,” she said in a statement.
“As Sheriff, I’ve seen firsthand how her leadership strengthens the partnership between our communities and the agencies that serve them. She listens, she acts, and she delivers results. Commissioner Lopez has my full and enthusiastic support — she is exactly the kind of dedicated public servant Miami-Dade needs.”
Wayne Bernoska, President of Florida Professional Firefighters, confirmed the statewide organization’s backing in a letter, saying the group — which represents 31,000 firefighters across Florida — is “proud to endorse Lopez.
“We know that Commissioner Lopez will continue to honorably serve the citizens of Florida and the interests of the men and women employed in Fire and Emergency Medical Services, who have made the protection of life and property their life’s work,” he wrote.
The new nods add to others from AFSCME Florida, Metro-Dade Firefighters IAFF Local 1403, Miami Beach IAFF Local 1510, the Miami-Dade chapter of the Florida State Fraternal Order of Police and South Florida Police Benevolent Association.
“Our local heroes who put their own safety on the line every day to protect our communities deserve leaders who will always have their backs,” Lopez said in a statement Wednesday. “I am proud of the partnerships we’ve built to strengthen public safety, support first responders, and improve quality of life for families throughout Miami-Dade County, and I look forward to continuing that work.”
Lopez, a former Lee County Commissioner and state Representative, won appointment to the Commission in November 2025.
She faces Democrat Rob Piper and fellow Republican Joe Sanchez in the Aug. 18 Primary, as the County Commission and its races are technically nonpartisan. If no candidate receives more than 50% of the vote, the top two vote-getters will advance to a runoff in the Nov. 3 General Election.
District 5 covers parts of Miami and Miami Beach, including the neighborhoods of Brickell, Downtown Miami, Little Havana, Miami River, Mid Beach, The Roads, Silver Bluff, Shenandoah, South Beach and West Flagler.