Guyanese-American Christine King wins second term as Miami District 5 Commissioner

Christine King, a Guyanese-American attorney and Chairwoman of the City Commission, has won a second term as Miami’s District 5 commissioner, securing more than 84% of the vote in preliminary results Tuesday night.

King defeated challengers Marion K. Brown, a construction executive, and Frederick Bryant, a retired teacher and community activist.

Born in Guyana and raised in Miami from the age of five, King has dedicated her career to public service. Before running for office, she served as Chief of Constituent Services for a Miami-Dade County Commissioner and later as an executive with the Community Action Agency (CAA). She earned her Juris Doctor from Nova Southeastern University and practiced law before becoming President and CEO of the Martin Luther King Economic Development Corporation, where she oversaw programs like “Wheels to Work,” designed to help families overcome transportation barriers.

First elected in 2021, King made history as the first Guyanese-American elected to Miami’s government and the first woman to be named Chairwoman of the City Commission. She represents a diverse district encompassing Liberty City, Little Haiti, Model City, Overtown, Wynwood/Edgewater, and the Upper East Side. Her mission has been to ensure District 5 is known for its culture, vibrancy, and diversity rather than poverty or crime.

During her first term, King spearheaded initiatives to address housing, climate, and community services. She launched the First-time Homebuyer Program, co-sponsored legislation to continue the Emergency Rental Assistance Program, and invested over $750,000 in programs supporting employment, education, and wealth-building for District 5 residents. She also supported the Miami Forever Carbon Neutral program, aimed at achieving carbon neutrality by 2050, and championed efforts to combat homelessness through the Functional Zero initiative and partnerships with Lotus House.

King has been unafraid to take strong stances on contentious issues. This summer, she was one of two commissioners to vote against Miami entering an immigration enforcement agreement with ICE.

Tuesday’s election confirms strong support for King’s leadership and her vision for District 5. Meanwhile, in District 3, the race will head to a runoff between Republican candidates Frank Carollo and Rolando Escalona.

Election Results — Miami District 5

• Christine King: 5,186 votes (84.41%)

• Marion K. Brown: 500 votes (8.14%)

• Frederick Bryant: 458 votes (7.45%)