The more progressive candidate Daneilla Levine Cava emerged from the primary to face Republican Steve Bovo in November. I struggled with the primary choice for a few days but ended up voting for Cava above fellow Democrat and former Miami mayor Alex Penelas, who was attempting a comeback after a long absence. Penelas came in a close third. It was basically 29% apiece for Bovo and Cava to 25% for Penelas. Republicans realized they couldn't send another strong candidate and risk splitting the vote, enabling the two Democrats to square off in November.
Cava did a very good job finding me and contacting me early in the process. She is only the second Democrat besides Donna Shalala who seems to have her act together in that regard, compared to what I experienced while living in Clark County, Nevada where every Democrat found me and contacted regularly.
To be fair, the Penelas campaign got its act together late in the process and made contact many times. I think he was sluggish and hadn't adjusted to the new realities after being away for 15 years or thereabouts. Penelas' wife did not want him to run. I think he sensed if he was going to make a comeback it needed to be now, in a cycle favoring Democrats.
The dilemma was due to ideology and potential impact up ballot. No doubt Cava will be attacked as too liberal, with many of the same scare tactics used successfully against Gillum two years ago. Penelas is more moderate. There are already Bovo signs all over my suburban neighborhood. The homes I know to be Republican don't all have Trump signs but they are plastered with Bovo signs. Biden needs a huge margin out of Miami-Dade. I know Cava will be described as socialist to scare local Cubans but it seemed worth it to align with her. If this had been a higher profile race like governor I would not have taken the same gamble. I would have sided with Penelas.
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