Victories, defeats, historic firsts, and unfinished electoral battles marked the results of the U.S. midterm elections held on Tuesday, November 3, 2026. For candidates of Haitian descent, the election brought a mixture of political triumphs and disappointments, from local school board and city commission races to the Florida Legislature, Congress, and the governor’s office.
By Le Floridien Staff
As a newspaper committed to informing and serving South Florida’s Haitian community, Le Floridien has compiled the election results of 22 candidates of Haitian descent, the vast majority of whom competed in races across Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach counties. The compilation also includes a candidate who sought Florida’s highest elected office.
Based on the latest reported results from the November 3, 2026, elections, eight candidates emerged victorious, twelve were defeated, one advanced to a runoff scheduled for Tuesday, December 1, 2026, and another remained in a closely contested race awaiting final confirmation. Among the winners were candidates who made history by becoming the first Haitian Americans elected to their respective positions.
Who won? Who lost? Who made history? Here is Le Floridien’s election roundup, highlighting the results, backgrounds, and political journeys of the 22 candidates featured in this report.
1. Moliere “Moe” Dimanche (Independent) — Lost
Moliere “Moe” Dimanche, 38, an Orlando-based FedEx delivery driver and former prisoner, finished last among eight candidates in Florida’s 2026 gubernatorial election. Dimanche received 7,490 votes (0.09%) out of approximately 8.19 million votes cast statewide. Born and raised in Florida to a Haitian immigrant family, Dimanche was sentenced to 10 years in prison for theft at age 19 and served approximately eight and a half years. Following his release, he became an artist, author, and criminal justice reform advocate. His book, It Takes a Criminal to Know One, examines his experiences with the prison system. His unsuccessful gubernatorial campaign focused on government accountability, corruption, and housing affordability.
2. Elizabeth Jeanty (Republican) — Lost
Elizabeth Jeanty was unsuccessful in her bid for Florida Senate District 34, losing to Democrat Ashley Viola Gantt. Jeanty received 30,706 votes (21.20%), while Gantt secured 114,135 votes (78.80%), out of 144,841 votes cast. Born in the Dominican Republic to Haitian parents, Jeanty is an entrepreneur, media personality, and community advocate who has lived in Miami-Dade County for more than 27 years. She has spent more than two decades working in nonprofit leadership, business development, and civic engagement. Her campaign emphasized economic opportunity, education, and community representation.
3. Daphne Campbell (Democrat) — Won
Former Florida State Senator Daphne Campbell secured a return to the Florida Legislature by winning the State House District 108 seat. Campbell received 39,094 votes (80.88%), defeating Republican Wancito Francius, who garnered 9,240 votes (19.12%). Born in Cap-Haïtien, Haiti, Campbell is a registered nurse with more than 30 years of healthcare experience. She previously represented Florida House District 108 from 2010 to 2016 before serving in the Florida Senate from 2016 to 2018. Her victory marks a political comeback after an eight-year absence from elected legislative office, returning her to the same House district she once represented.
4. Wancito Francius (Republican) — Lost
Wancito Francius lost his bid for Florida House District 108 to Democrat Daphne Campbell, receiving 9,240 votes (19.12%) compared with Campbell’s 39,094 votes (80.88%). Born in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Francius is a familiar figure in South Florida’s Haitian political community. He previously ran as a Democrat in the 2022 and 2024 state legislative primaries before switching to the Republican Party for the 2026 election.
5. Linda Cothiere — Won | Historic First
Linda Cothiere made history as the first Haitian-American elected to the Miami-Dade County School Board, winning the District 1 race against Katrina Wilson. With 79 of 80 precincts reporting, Cothiere received 38,070 votes (51.63%), compared with Wilson’s 35,671 votes (48.37%). Born in Cap-Haïtien, Haiti, Cothiere immigrated to Miami as a child and grew up in Carol City. A graduate of Miami Carol City Senior High School, she earned an education degree from St. Thomas University and built a career developing adult education and workforce training programs. She is also a community radio personality and co-host of The Reyni Talk Show. Cothiere is the wife of Florida State Representative Wallace Aristide, who represents House District 107 in the Florida Legislature. Her election represents a milestone for Haitian-American representation in Miami-Dade County’s public education system.
6. Kerby J. Altidor — Won
Kerby J. Altidor won the El Portal Village Council Seat 1 election, securing 392 votes (41.18%) out of 952 votes cast. He defeated three opponents, including runner-up Edna Edelman, who received 264 votes (27.73%). A business consultant and strategic management professional, Altidor studied at the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School and has professional experience in business strategy and consulting. Fluent in Haitian Creole, he has also participated in community leadership initiatives, including a fellowship associated with Sant La, the Haitian Neighborhood Center. His election brings a business-oriented professional background to the El Portal Village Council.
7. Kassandra Timothe — Reelected
North Miami Vice Mayor Kassandra Timothe won reelection to the City Council’s District 2 seat, receiving 1,918 votes (66.16%) against Brian Jinks, who garnered 981 votes (33.84%). Born and raised in North Miami, Timothe earned a political science degree from the University of South Florida and a master’s degree in public administration from Florida International University. Before entering elected office, she worked as a legislative aide and later served as North Miami’s public information officer. First elected in 2021, she became the first Black person, first woman of Haitian descent, and youngest person elected to represent District 2. Her latest victory secures another four-year term through 2030.
8. Mary Estimé-Irvin — Reelected
North Miami Councilwoman Mary Estimé-Irvin secured reelection to District 3 with 1,987 votes (52.87%), defeating Jobans Jules, who received 1,342 votes (35.71%), and Carolina Matamoros, who garnered 429 votes (11.42%). Born in New York City to a family that later settled in North Miami, Estimé-Irvin is a businesswoman and former president and CEO of a South Florida staffing agency. She currently leads Estimé & Irvin Consulting and has been active in municipal leadership organizations, including the National Haitian American Elected Officials Network (NHAEON). First elected to the North Miami City Council in 2019, she has emphasized youth empowerment, minority businesses, and community development. Her reelection extends her service through 2030.
9. Linda Joseph — Runoff Election December 1
Linda Joseph will face Dayanara Torres in a runoff election on Tuesday, December 1, 2026, for the North Miami Beach City Commission Group 4 seat. Joseph led the four-candidate race with 4,769 votes (47.94%), followed by Torres with 3,016 votes (30.32%), out of 9,948 votes cast. Born in Haiti and raised in Miami, Joseph, also known as Linda Joseph-Noel, is a political organizer, labor advocate, and graduate of Barry University, where she earned a degree in political science. She previously served as political director for Florida’s Fight for $15 campaign and has worked on workers’ rights and civic engagement initiatives. Despite finishing first, she fell short of the majority required to win outright, making the December runoff necessary.
10. Kedner Maxime (Independent) — Lost
Kedner Maxime finished third in the race for Florida’s 25th Congressional District seat in the U.S. House of Representatives, receiving 9,495 votes (3.89%). Democratic incumbent Debbie Wasserman Schultz won reelection with 181,250 votes (74.34%), while Republican Brent Andersen received 53,051 votes (21.76%). Born in Haiti, Maxime immigrated to the United States in 1981 at age 18. He is a pastor, businessman, tax consultant, and longtime community radio personality. In 1996, he established a tax and consulting business in Oakland Park, and in 2010, he became pastor of L’Eglise la Voix du Salut in Fort Lauderdale. Maxime previously sought municipal office in Oakland Park in 2022.
11. Marly Metayer — Lost
Marly Metayer was unsuccessful in her bid for Coral Springs City Commission Seat 3, finishing second with 13,984 votes (35.00%), behind William “Bill” Capplis, who won with 15,561 votes (38.95%). Born in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Metayer immigrated to the United States as a teenager and graduated from Dillard High School. She is a registered nurse with decades of experience in healthcare, including mental health, hospice care, and patient advocacy. She is also the mother of the late Coral Springs Vice Mayor Nancy Metayer Bowen, who was found dead on April 1, 2026. Nancy’s husband, Stephen Bowen, was subsequently charged with her murder. Marly Metayer entered the race seeking to continue her daughter’s legacy of public service by pursuing the commission seat Nancy once held.
12. Tristan Celestin — Lost
Tristan Celestin, 27, finished third in the Coral Springs City Commission Seat 4 election with 4,968 votes (12.37%). Jennifer Levi won the race with 17,877 votes (44.51%), narrowly defeating Jeffrey “Jeff” Adelman, who received 17,321 votes (43.12%). The son of Haitian immigrants, Celestin graduated from Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in 2017 before attending Broward College and George Washington University. His professional interests include business, consulting, and international affairs. One of the younger candidates in the election, Celestin said his interest in public service was influenced partly by his mother, a retired elementary school counselor, and his desire to encourage younger generations to participate in local government.
13. Madline Noel — Lost
Madline Noel finished third in the four-candidate race for Lauderhill City Commission Seat 4, receiving 3,449 votes (17.10%), while incumbent Richard Campbell won reelection with 10,972 votes (54.39%). A longtime community organizer, Noel is the founder and chairperson of the Haitian Mobilization Committee of Broward, established in 2023 to promote cultural preservation and civic participation. She has also served as a court-appointed guardian ad litem, a community liaison, a volunteer chaplain with the Broward Sheriff’s Office, and a leader in the Lauderhill Proud Ambassadors program.
14. Samson Borgelin — Reelected
Samson Borgelin won reelection as mayor of North Lauderdale, receiving 5,971 votes (57.75%) against Willnae LaCroix, who garnered 3,143 votes (30.40%), and Tosha Chambers, who received 1,225 votes (11.85%). Born in Haiti, Borgelin spent part of his childhood in an orphanage in Les Cayes after losing family members at a young age. He later pursued higher education in the United States, earning two master’s degrees from Trinity International University and becoming an ordained minister. First elected to the North Lauderdale City Commission in 2016, he made history in 2022 as the city’s first Haitian-American mayor. His latest victory secures a second four-year mayoral term.
15. Willnae LaCroix — Lost
Willnae LaCroix finished second in North Lauderdale’s mayoral election, receiving 3,143 votes (30.40%), compared with 5,971 votes (57.75%) for incumbent Mayor Samson Borgelin. A North Lauderdale resident for more than 23 years, LaCroix is an attorney, entrepreneur, and founder of The Legal Connection law firm. She became a mother as a teenager and later became the first member of her family to graduate from college and earn a law degree. With nearly 18 years of legal experience, she has also participated in charitable activities supporting homeless individuals, foster children, and families in need. Her campaign emphasized government transparency, public services, and community accountability.
16. Mack Bernard (Democrat) — Reelected
State Senator Mack Bernard won reelection to Florida Senate District 24 with 98,423 votes (64.51%), defeating Republican Jackie Green, who received 54,136 votes (35.49%), out of 152,559 votes cast. Born in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Bernard immigrated to Florida in 1986 and later earned a law degree and a master’s degree in taxation from the University of Florida. An attorney by profession, he has held several elected offices, including Delray Beach city commissioner, Florida state representative, Palm Beach County commissioner, and county mayor. First elected to the Florida Senate in 2024, Bernard is among the more experienced Haitian-born elected officials in South Florida. His reelection extends his legislative service in Tallahassee.
17. William Joseph (Republican) — Lost
William Joseph, a Palm Beach County businessman, lost his bid for Florida House District 88 to Democratic incumbent Jervonte “Tae” Edmonds. Joseph received 8,534 votes (20.13%), compared with Edmonds’ 33,863 votes (79.87%), out of 42,397 votes cast. A longtime resident of the area, Joseph is an entrepreneur who has owned and operated several businesses. He has also described professional experience in investigations and fugitive recovery services. Joseph previously ran for mayor of Lake Worth Beach in 2024 and has participated in community activities, including a Haitian-American cultural festival in Palm Beach County in 2017. His Haitian ancestry has not yet been independently confirmed.
18. Christina L. Romelus — Won | Historic First
As Le Floridien anticipated, Christina L. Romelus made history as the first Haitian-American elected to the Palm Beach County School Board, winning the District 4 seat with 44,426 votes (61.59%). Her opponent, Daniel Zapata, received 27,706 votes (38.41%), out of 72,132 votes cast, with 126 of 129 precincts reporting. Born in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, and raised in Palm Beach County, Romelus is a former nurse, college instructor, businesswoman, and elected official. She previously served as a Boynton Beach city commissioner and vice mayor and taught anatomy and physiology at Palm Beach State College. A graduate of the University of Miami with a master’s degree in biomedical sciences from Barry University, Romelus brings experience in healthcare, education, and municipal government to her new position.
Indony Jean Baptiste — Lost
Indony P. Jean Baptiste, 58, was unsuccessful in his bid for Port St. Lucie City Council District 1, receiving 35,656 votes (43.29%) against Rick Meltzer, who led with 46,707 votes (56.71%), according to preliminary results from the November 3, 2026, election. A pastor and former law enforcement officer, Jean Baptiste previously served as a detention deputy with the Indian River County Sheriff’s Office from 2006 to 2008. He is the founder of the Haitian American Christian Leadership Association (HACLA) and Christian Sanctuary Ministries. Jean Baptiste also ran for the same City Council seat in 2022 and previously explored a campaign for St. Lucie County sheriff.
Rolin Dorsainvil (Independent) — Lost
Rolin Dorsainvil was unsuccessful in his bid for St. Lucie County Commission District 2, receiving 58,683 votes (46.10%) against Republican incumbent Larry Leet, who led with 68,614 votes (53.90%), according to preliminary election results. Running as an independent, Dorsainvil challenged Leet for a four-year term representing a district that includes portions of Port St. Lucie, Hutchinson Island, and unincorporated St. Lucie County. His candidacy offered voters an alternative to the Republican incumbent in a countywide election.
Jean Eddy Leroy — Leading in Preliminary Results
Democrat Jean Eddy Leroy led the closely contested St. Lucie County Commission District 4 race with 65,830 votes (49.29%), narrowly ahead of Republican incumbent Jamie Lee Fowler, who received 64,103 votes (48.00%). Independent candidate Nicholas Burgos finished third with 3,614 votes (2.71%), according to preliminary results from November 3, 2026. Raised in St. Lucie County, Leroy attended local public schools and graduated from Indian River State College. His background includes public service, education, and community engagement. During his campaign, he emphasized public safety, economic development, neighborhood improvements, and greater accountability in county government. With a margin of just 1,727 votes separating the two leading candidates, the outcome remained subject to final election reporting.
Berny Jacques (Republican) — Reelected
Republican Berny Jacques, a Haitian-born attorney and incumbent state representative, won reelection to the Florida House of Representatives, securing another two-year term representing District 59 in Pinellas County. Jacques received 35,818 votes (53.54%), defeating Democrat Susan Rochelle Leff, who garnered 31,078 votes (46.46%), out of 66,896 votes cast, according to election results showing 100% of precincts reporting. His margin of victory was 4,740 votes.
Born in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Jacques immigrated to Florida in 1994 and later pursued a legal career, serving as an assistant state attorney before entering politics. First elected to the Florida Legislature in 2022, he has focused on public safety, economic development, and education. His reelection extends his legislative service and maintains Haitian-American representation in the Tampa Bay region.
