A judge has dismissed North Miami Mayor Alix Desulme’s counterclaim against mayoral opponent George Morgan, rejecting Desulme’s effort to disqualify Morgan over an 80-cent shortfall in his qualifying fee. The Oct. 22 ruling came days after Desulme himself was disqualified from the ballot over an error involving the payment of his qualifying fees.
“Basically, it’s like the judge just appointed Mr. Morgan as the mayor by default,” said Desulme. “She dismissed our claim to challenge his qualification. He clearly [is] not qualified because he didn’t pay the full fee, but she did not hear that argument.”
Much of the hearing on Thursday focused on whether Desulme was even eligible to file a counterclaim, seeing as he had been disqualified as a candidate just a few days earlier over the use of two cashier’s checks to pay his candidate qualifying fees. Florida law asserts that qualifying fees must be paid from the official campaign account and signed by the campaign treasurer. Neither requirement was met.
On Oct. 22, 2026, the courts held a special hearing for Alix Desulme’s counterclaim against George Morgan.
(Local 10)
Desulme, who has served as mayor since 2022, was removed from the ballot on the first day of early voting.
During Thursday’s hearing, Circuit Judge Beatrice Butchko Sanchez noted that time for filing the counterclaim had passed.
She argued that when she issued her initial ruling disqualifying Desulme last Monday, she had suggested that the defendants file a counterclaim — and that they should have done so immediately. The counterclaim was not filed until nearly six hours later, Butchko Sanchez said.
Attorney Ben Kuehne speaks to the judge as Alix Desulme’s legal counsel.
(Local 10)
“Therefore, the counterclaim is untimely, and I’m granting the motion to dismiss,” she said.
She also said that she did not have the authority to set a special election for Dec. 1, as Desulme had requested.
Desulme expressed his disappointment in the outcome of the hearing.
Alix Desulme’s opponent, George Morgan, is currently the only qualified candidate for North Miami mayor.
(Local 10)
“We thought we would get a fair hearing on the fact that [Morgan] was not a qualified candidate — which the court knew, which we mentioned in our response from the get-go — but she denied it, and she granted them the motion to dismiss,” said Desulme. “The word ‘fair’ shouldn’t even come near that. The bottom line is we all know the guy did not fully pay his qualification fee, and the judge did not even hear that.”
“It was an argument that the counterclaim wasn’t filed in a timely manner,” added Desulme. “She’s saying it should have been filed before she made her final ruling.”
Alix Desulme has been disqualified from the ballot.
(Local 10)
This ruling leaves Morgan, an engineer by trade, as the only candidate in the race. Signage has been posted at polling centers indicating that any votes for Desulme on the ballot will not count toward his election.
Morgan said he wasn’t celebrating the win, despite the judge ruling in his favor.
“Everything stands as of the last order of the judge,” said Morgan. “I don’t believe or feel that my priorities have changed. I entered the race in order to provide service to all the residents in North Miami. That’s been my goal, and that remains the same.”
Circuit Judge Beatrice Butchko Sanchez ruled to disqualify Alix Desulme from the ballot and dismiss his counterclaim against opponent George Morgan.
(Local 10)
As previously reported by The Miami Times, Morgan is campaigning on the slogan of a “safer, fairer and stronger” city. He hopes to address North Miami’s infrastructural problems while in office, tackling increased traffic issues, flooding and the need for a new water plant. He also vowed to advocate for a review from the state to address the allocation of funds within the government, emphasizing fiscal accountability.
As Nov. 3 approaches, Morgan highlights the need to adhere to the judge’s ruling and the formal election process.
“We have to follow the electoral process as defined through the supervisor of elections,” said Morgan. “I’m still a candidate, and in that position, we will go all the way through, including to the end of the general election.”
According to Morgan, the City of North Miami Council has already chosen a date for the swearing-in.
“Our council in the city of North Miami has previously decided that based on the calendar going into the end of the year… there would be a swearing-in ceremony on the 11th of November,” said Morgan.
As for what he wants the residents of North Miami to know, Morgan highlights that he is a mayor “for all the city.”
“First and foremost, no one needs to worry or feel at a loss, nor should anyone feel extremely pleased,” said Morgan. “I think we just need to go through the process. [The residents of North Miami] have a mayor that’s going to be the mayor for all — not for a few, but for all.”