Miami-Dade Clerk Juan Fernandez-Barquin\u2019s Office has approved a recall petition against Mayor Daniella Levine Cava, launching a 120-day signature-gathering window that could trigger her removal.<\/p>\n
Levine Cava now faces a determined opposition effort as organizers race to collect nearly 66,000 signatures, representing 4% of the county\u2019s more than 1.64 million registered voters, by the May 14 deadline.<\/p>\n
Levine Cava, first elected in 2020 and re-elected in 2024 with 58% of the vote<\/a>, responded to the Clerk\u2019s approval by calling the campaign \u201cfrivolous and politically-motivated,\u201d but stressed it won\u2019t change her focus at County Hall.<\/p>\n \u201cMiami-Dade residents from every corner of our community have overwhelmingly entrusted me as their Mayor to lead and deliver results, and that\u2019s exactly what I will continue to do,\u201d she said in a statement.<\/p>\n \u201cThis political sideshow will not distract from the work we\u2019re focused on every day: creating a future-ready Miami-Dade that is safer, more affordable, and more resilient. Our residents expect a Mayor who shows up, works hard, and delivers. That is where my full attention remains.\u201d<\/p>\n The current push has been promoted by critics including Alex Otaola, a former mayoral candidate and conservative media personality, and organizers like Mercy Perez, who told NBC 6<\/a> last month that the county\u2019s basic services are faltering.<\/p>\n \u201cThe potholes, every day they get bigger,\u201d Perez told the outlet, complaining also of issues with flooding, breakdowns<\/a> at Miami International Airport and poor conditions at the county\u2019s animal<\/a> shelters<\/a>.<\/p>\n The recall effort has already hit procedural turbulence. In early December, elections officials said the Clerk could not accept<\/a> a recall petition because the county needed to clarify responsibilities tied to the now-elected Supervisor of Elections \u2014 an issue the County Commission later addressed by approving a resolution aimed at clearing the path.<\/p>\n Fernandez-Barquin\u2019s approval of the petition Thursday came after Supervisor of Elections Alina Garcia certified the size of the voter rolls.<\/p>\n If organizers reach the signature threshold, the county would move toward a rare, stand-alone recall vote asking whether Levine Cava should remain Mayor.<\/p>\n