Video shows Miami-Dade election candidate yelling at and touching US Senate candidate

Many would agree that at a time of shaky faith in the integrity of elections in America, it is important that election officials be as outwardly apolitical as possible.

Republican state of Miami Alina Garciathe Republican candidate for Miami-Dade Supervisor of Elections (SOE) apparently disagrees.

She was caught on camera joining a group opposing the Democratic US Senate candidate Debbie Mukarsel-Powell chanting “socialista” (socialist). At one point, she puts her hand on Mukarsel-Powell’s shoulder, prompting a police officer standing nearby to tell her, “Don’t touch.”

According to Garcia, the confrontation was fabricated and the video was misleading. She told Florida Politics that the confrontation, which occurred Sunday at a rally she and other Republican candidates held at an early voting site in the Hummocks area, occurred after Mukarsel-Powell and other Democrats showed up to disrupt it. .

Hialeah Rep. Alex Rizochairman of the Miami-Dade Republican Party, agreed with Garcia and said Mucarcel-Powell had engaged in a “dangerous and shameful display of political thuggery.”

AND 23-second clippublished on X Monday by a Miami Herald reporter Doug Hanksshowed Garcia and others accusing Mucarcel-Powell of being a socialist, and Garcia briefly making physical contact with Mucarcel-Powell. This drew some critical comments.

But other videos were published by a communications consultant Chris Hartline suggest that Mukarsel-Powell prompted the exchange. One shows her campaign bus arrives at the early voting site. Another shows Mukarsel-Powell walking towards crowd of republican demonstrators. As she does so, she bumps into a woman wearing a Republican Party USA t-shirt. Carlos Jimenezwho ousted her in 2020.

Democratic candidate for the Florida House of Representatives Marco Reyeswho was with Mucarcel-Powell when the early voting incident occurred, said Garcia should withdraw from the race.

Lissette Fernandezco-founder Moms for Libroswrote: “What kind of supervisor will (Garcia) be if she can easily engage in these culture wars and spread this kind of misinformation?”

The misinformation referred to by Fernandez is partly there advertised in ads endorsing the man Macarcell-Powell hopes to unseat, Republican U.S. Sen. Rick Scott. One such announcement indicated her support for the proposed Green New Deal, which would reorient some of America’s economic policies toward renewable and clean energy, and Kamala Harris plans to impose a 28% tax on long-term capital gains earned by millionaires and billionaires.

The video also caught the attention of Garcia’s opponent, an attorney JC Planasa Republican-turned-Democrat former legislator who specializes in election law and ethics. He called Garcia’s actions “deeply troubling” and “disqualifying for a candidate for supervisor of elections who is supposed to be fair and impartial.”

At the very least, he said, Garcia should apologize to Mucarcel-Powell and Miami-Dade voters.

“This behavior is troubling and extremely unacceptable from someone who is running to hold elections for all voters in Miami-Dade County,” he said in a prepared statement.

“During early voting last week, I encountered many candidates, including some from the opposite party, and I warmly welcomed them to convey to everyone that I intend to be an election observer for all. While we know there can be healthy debate at polling stations, intimidation, harassment and any physical contact is never acceptable.”

Garcia said Mucarcel-Powell took a page from the “communist play” on Sunday and was met with an appropriate response.

“They pushed. We had a press conference and they managed to stop it because the cameras went to follow her instead of continuing with the press conference, so we closed it and left to get on with our day,” she said by phone. “She went there to campaign. They had a camera, a whole bunch of stuff. So everyone started yelling, “Debbie’s a communist,” because that’s what communists do. They come when you are having a peaceful event with your people and they try to stir you up and shut you down.”

Rizo said the event was a “well-attended rally” in support of Scott and “focused on positive messages that encouraged Miami-Dade voters to come to the polls. Then, he said, Mukarsel-Powell appeared and “was seen inciting the crowd, pushing agitators against Senator Scott’s supporters, risking injury and endangering life.”

“There is no place in American politics for these Castro-style scare tactics,” he said by email, adding that Mucarcel-Powell, not Garcia, should apologize to voters. “Miami-Dade wants leaders to protect our community, not destroy it.”

In this election, Miami-Dade voters will elect for the first time a Supervisor of Elections and a Tax Collector, both of whom are appointed by the mayor, in accordance with the county’s 1957 charter. In 2018, Florida voters are included 58% of Miami-Dade voters — approved a constitutional amendment requiring each county in the state to elect the offices of sheriff and assessor by January 7, 2025.

General elections will be held on November 5.

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