The union representing workers at Miami-Dade’s public hospital network is backing County Commissioner Oliver Gilbert’s bid for Florida’s 24th Congressional District.
SEIU Healthcare Florida, Local 1991, which collectively bargains for more than 6,800 nurses, physicians and other healthcare professionals at Jackson Health System, has endorsed Gilbert to succeed retiring U.S. Rep. Frederica Wilson, a fellow Democrat.
“We believe we share a common vision for Miami-Dade County, one in which working families have respect and the right to fair representation,” SEIU 1991 President Martha Baker, a registered nurse, said in a letter announcing the endorsement.
The union’s nod adds to the others Gilbert has received since launching his campaign early last month, including those from Wilson, Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava, UNITE HERE! Local 355 and the Florida AFL-CIO, which has also endorsed Gilbert’s opponent, Miami Gardens Democratic Sen. Shevrin Jones.
A lawyer and former Miami Gardens Mayor, Gilbert won re-election unopposed in 2024 to the County Commission.
He served as Miami Gardens Mayor from 2012 to 2020 — during which the city earned its first-ever All-America City designation — before winning his County Commission seat in 2020 and serving as Board Chair during the 2022-24 term.
CD 24 — as redrawn under a mid-decade redistricting plan drafted by Gov. Ron DeSantis’ Office, passed by the Legislature in late April, and signed in early May — covers Miami Gardens in Miami-Dade and Hollywood, Miramar and Pembroke Park in Broward County.
More than 68.7% of voters there backed former Vice President Kamala Harris in 2024, making the Democratic Primary the race that will effectively determine who replaces Wilson.
Nine other candidates have qualified for the race. Democrats running include Gilbert, Jones, former Miami-Dade Commissioner Jean Monestime, physician and veteran Rudy Moise, cultural leader Marshall Davis, civil rights leader Roderick Vereen and lawyer Kendrick Meek Jr., whose grandmother and father previously served in Congress.
Republican Te Mayonna Brown, independent Andy Daro and write-in candidate Patricia Gonzalez are also running.
The Primary is on Aug. 18, followed by the General Election on Nov. 3.