Republican Rosie Cordero-Stutz will be the first Miami-Dade sheriff in almost 60 years

Republican Rosie Cordero-Stutz was elected Tuesday to become Miami-Dade County's first sheriff in nearly 60 years. The long time serving police officer obtained at least 56% of the vote, defeating Democrat and current Miami-Dade Public Safety Chief James Reyes.

During her victory speech at the EB Hotel near Miami International Airport, the 55-year-old Republican thanked her family and fellow party members, including President-Elect Donald Trump and Florida senators Rick Scott and Marco Rubio.

“I will work every day to make sure each and every corner of Miami-Dade feels safe,” Cordero-Stutz told her followers this Tuesday night.

“The sheriff's office will remain open and anyone who wants to contribute to the success of this county will be able to do so,” she added.

Cordero-Stutz will be the first Miami-Dade sheriff in six decades because the position was eliminated after its last occupant, Talmadge T.A. Buchanan was faced with corruption allegations.

That same year, voters responded to those allegations with a referendum that abolished the sheriff’s position that same year. Since then, the head of the department has been an appointed position simply known as “police director.”

But that all changed in 2018 after Florida voters adopted Amendment 10 to the State Constitution, which prohibits counties from abolishing certain local offices, including sheriff, and requires elections for such offices.

As a result of Amendment 10, there will be a total of five constitutional offices operating in Miami-Dade, all of which will be run independently from county government. The offices include the sheriff, the supervisor of elections, the property appraiser, the tax collector, and the clerk of the court and comptroller.

The amendment goes into effect as of Jan. 7, 2025.

Cordero-Stutz celebration party attracted other prominent areas Republicans. Other attendees included were U.S. congressional representatives such as Mario Díaz-Balart and Carlos Giménez, Miami-Dade State Attorney Katherine Fernández Rundle, and Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava.

Cordero-Stutz has worked with Miami-Dade Police for 28 years. She started as a patrol officer, worked on robberies and homicides and rose through the ranks as sergeant, lieutenant and major until now becoming deputy chief.

The race for this position marked a decisive moment for voters in the 2024 elections, who elect a sheriff for the first time in more than half a century.

Cordero-Stutz won the Republican primary for sheriff in August after winning Trump's support. Her victory on Tuesday coincided with Trump's own victory in Miami-Dade, which ended 28 years of Democratic presidential victories in the county.