Not Done Voting: Two Runoffs Are on the November Ballot for Miami Gardens
The August election is over, but Miami Gardens voters aren't done. Two runoffs will be decided on November 3, one for City Council and one for the school board.
If you thought voting was finished after August, think again. Miami Gardens voters have two important runoff races to decide on November 3. One will fill a seat on your City Council, and the other will help decide who represents the area on the Miami-Dade County School Board. Here's a neutral guide to both, so you know what's on your ballot and who's running. As always, we don't endorse candidates. Our goal is simply to help you vote informed.
Why are there runoffs?
In races with more than two candidates, a candidate generally needs more than 50% of the vote to win outright. When no one clears that bar in the first election, the top two finishers advance to a runoff. That's exactly what happened in these two races: crowded first-round fields meant no single candidate reached a majority, so voters get a final, head-to-head decision in November.
Race 1: City Council Residential Area Seat 4
As we reported after the August election, the race for City Council Seat 4, an open seat, was the most competitive of the night. No candidate reached a majority among the three running, so the top two advanced. Angela Maria Wynter did not advance. The runoff is between:
Mykita Cherry-Prime
Cherry-Prime is a department chair at Miami Norland Senior High. According to local reporting, her campaign has centered on education, traffic and pedestrian safety, college and career readiness, and reviving the city's Progressive Young Advisory Board.
Rod Mack
Roderick "Rod" Mack, a youth mentor and former college football player, has according to local reporting emphasized public safety linked to youth development, and intentional growth that avoids displacing longtime residents while expanding the city's tax base.
Whoever wins will represent Residential Area 4 on the City Council for a four-year term, helping decide the city budget, development, public safety, and services.
Race 2: Miami-Dade School Board District 1
The second runoff isn't a city race, but it hits close to home. The Miami-Dade County School Board District 1 seat, which covers this part of the county, is also headed to a November 3 runoff. According to The Miami Times, the two candidates are:
Katrina Wilson
Wilson is a former Miami Gardens City Councilwoman, having represented the city before term limits. She now seeks a seat on the county school board, bringing local elected experience to a race focused on public education.
Linda Cothiere
Cothiere is described in local reporting as a longtime teacher turned radio host, bringing a background in education and community communication to her campaign for the school board seat.
School board members make decisions that directly affect local students and families, from budgets and school programs to policies across the county's public schools. For a city as young and family-oriented as Miami Gardens, this race carries real weight.
What's at stake, side by side
| Race | Candidates | What it decides |
|---|---|---|
| City Council Seat 4 | Cherry-Prime vs. Mack | City budget, development, services for Area 4 |
| School Board District 1 | Wilson vs. Cothiere | Local public education policy and budgets |
How to be ready for November 3
You have plenty of time to prepare, so use it. Confirm your voter registration is current and your information is up to date. Check whether your address falls within Residential Area 4 and School Board District 1, since that determines which of these races appear on your specific ballot. And research each candidate's full platform through their own campaign materials and local news coverage before you decide.
Frequently asked questions
What runoffs are on the November 3 ballot in Miami Gardens?
Miami Gardens voters have two runoffs on November 3, 2026: the City Council Residential Area Seat 4 runoff between Mykita Cherry-Prime and Rod Mack, and the Miami-Dade County School Board District 1 runoff between Katrina Wilson and Linda Cothiere. Which races appear on your ballot depends on your address.
Who is Katrina Wilson?
Katrina Wilson is a former Miami Gardens City Councilwoman who is now running for the Miami-Dade County School Board District 1 seat. She faces Linda Cothiere, a longtime teacher and radio host, in a runoff on November 3, 2026, according to local reporting.
When is the runoff election?
The runoff election is Tuesday, November 3, 2026, held on the same day as the state general election. Early voting and vote-by-mail options will be available beforehand. Check votemiamidade.gov for dates, sites, and your sample ballot.
Candidate details based on public reporting from The Miami Times and Miami-Dade County election information. This guide is neutral and non-partisan; MiamiGardens.com does not endorse candidates. Confirm all ballot and voting details at votemiamidade.gov. Published: August 27, 2026.
