Daniella Levine Cava

Daniella Levine Cava

Nonpartisan

Mayor of Miami-Dade County

Tenure

2020 - Present

Term ends

2028

Years in position

4

Predecessor

Carlos Gimenez

Prior offices

Miami-Dade County Commission District 8

Successor: Danielle Cohen Higgins

---

Report an officeholder change

Elections and appointments

Last elected

August 20, 2024

Education

Bachelor's

Yale University

Graduate

Columbia University

Law

University of Miami

Personal

Birthplace

New York, N.Y.

Profession

Attorney

Contact

Campaign website

Campaign Facebook

Campaign Twitter

Campaign Instagram

Campaign YouTube

Personal Twitter

Personal LinkedIn

Daniella Levine Cava is the Mayor of Miami-Dade County in Florida. She assumed office on November 17, 2020. Her current term ends on November 21, 2028.

Cava won re-election for Mayor of Miami-Dade County in Florida outright in the primary on August 20, 2024, after the general election was canceled.

Biography

Daniella Levine Cava was born in New York, New York. Cava earned a bachelor's degree in psychology from Yale University, graduate degrees in law and social work from Columbia University, and a law degree from the University of Miami. Her career experience includes working as an attorney with Legal Services of Greater Miami and as a Guardian Ad Litem. Cava oversaw the South Florida Regional Planning Council (SFRPC) and founded Catalyst Miami.

Elections

2024

See also: Municipal elections in Miami-Dade County, Florida (2024)

Nonpartisan primary election

Nonpartisan primary for Mayor of Miami-Dade County

The following candidates ran in the primary for Mayor of Miami-Dade County on August 20, 2024.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Daniella Levine Cava (Nonpartisan)	57.9	163,668
	Submit photo	Manny Cid (Nonpartisan)	23.0	64,996
		Alex Otaola (Nonpartisan)	11.8	33,259
		Carlos Garin (Nonpartisan)	3.0	8,336
	Submit photo	Shlomo Danzinger (Nonpartisan)	1.9	5,300
	Submit photo	Eddy Rojas (Nonpartisan)	1.3	3,609
		Miguel Quintero (Nonpartisan)	1.2	3,314

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 282,482
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• Monique Barley-Mayo (Nonpartisan)

Endorsements

Cava received the following endorsements.

• Ruth's List Florida

2020

See also: Municipal elections in Miami-Dade County, Florida (2020)

General election

General election for Mayor of Miami-Dade County

Daniella Levine Cava defeated Esteban Bovo Jr. in the general election for Mayor of Miami-Dade County on November 3, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Daniella Levine Cava (Nonpartisan)	54.0	576,970
		Esteban Bovo Jr. (Nonpartisan)	46.0	492,053

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 1,069,023
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Nonpartisan primary election

Nonpartisan primary for Mayor of Miami-Dade County

The following candidates ran in the primary for Mayor of Miami-Dade County on August 18, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Esteban Bovo Jr. (Nonpartisan)	29.3	122,135
✔		Daniella Levine Cava (Nonpartisan)	28.8	120,089
		Alexander Penelas (Nonpartisan)	24.5	102,338
		Xavier Suarez (Nonpartisan)	10.5	43,831
	Submit photo	Monique Barley (Nonpartisan)	5.5	22,823
	Submit photo	Ludmilla Domond (Nonpartisan)	1.3	5,230
	Submit photo	Carlos De Armas (Nonpartisan) (Write-in)	0.0	0
		Other/Write-in votes	0.2	715

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 417,161
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• Robert Ingram Burke (Nonpartisan)
• Williams Armbrister Sr. (Nonpartisan)
• Jean Monestime (Nonpartisan)
• Juan Zapata (Nonpartisan)

2018

See also: Municipal elections in Miami-Dade County, Florida (2018)

Nonpartisan primary election

Nonpartisan primary for Miami-Dade County Commission District 8

Incumbent Daniella Levine Cava won election outright against Gus Barreiro and Johnathan Burke in the primary for Miami-Dade County Commission District 8 on August 28, 2018.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Daniella Levine Cava (Nonpartisan)	61.2	15,289
	Submit photo	Gus Barreiro (Nonpartisan)	21.7	5,431
	Submit photo	Johnathan Burke (Nonpartisan)	17.1	4,278

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 24,998
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Campaign themes

2024

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Daniella Levine Cava did not complete Ballotpedia's 2024 Candidate Connection survey.

2020

Daniella Levine Cava did not complete Ballotpedia's 2020 Candidate Connection survey.

Campaign website

Cava's campaign website stated the following:

“	SECURE Miami-Dade We need bold action to stop this virus. That means investing in our healthcare infrastructure, expanding access to care, and supporting healthcare workers. And if we support our most vulnerable residents and embrace science, we can build back stronger in the wake of COVID-19. SAFETY NET INVESTMENTS We need to invest in services for residents who are struggling to stay in their homes and put food on the table. That means rent relief, food assistance, and stronger social programs. EXPAND MASS TESTING We can’t control this virus if we don’t know who has it. Daniella has called for expanded testing since this crisis began, and it needs to be a staple of our response until a vaccine is widely available. ADDRESS THE AFFORDABILITY CRISIS Before COVID-19 hit, Daniella proposed requiring all county contractors to provide at least 14 days of paid leave to their employees. We need earned leave now more than ever—it’s hard to stop COVID-19 if we make people choose between staying home when they’re sick and putting food on the table. It’s time to act. UNEMPLOYMENT RESPONSE Florida’s unemployment system is a national disgrace. Daniella will fight for expanded benefits and demand reform from Tallahassee. REBUILDING INFRASTRUCTURE Miami-Dade has faced a transit and infrastructure crisis for far too long. Now, we have no choice but to rebuild With the help of stimulus funding from Tallahassee and Washington, Daniella will address long-term challenges and create jobs to get people back on their feet. ECONOMIC RECOVERY Daniella will help our economy rebuild on the principles of justice and equality. We have a chance to jumpstart our economy by supporting small businesses and making investments in underserved communities. RECOVER Miami-Dade As Mayor, my priority will be to get us through these unprecedented times with strong collaboration and a united front to ensure Miami-Dade recovers. Our economy has been uniquely affected and the small businesses that make up the backbone of our community’s economic engine are struggling. This is our moment to double-down on coming back better and stronger by making our small business community a core pillar of our County’s economic development plan. As Mayor, my RECOVER Miami-Dade Plan will focus on building a new economy for startups and entrepreneurs, one that fosters innovation and economic growth from the ground up by investing in you. REOPEN​ Daniella understands that our economic recovery begins with a sustainable, data-driven responsible reopening plan that avoids disruption and the failed stop-and-go efforts by the current administration. This is achieved by working with our business leaders and diverse industry sectors and sharing real-time data from both public health and economic forecasters. This ensures we stay ahead of the virus and plan accordingly with subject matter expertise guiding our decision-making processes. EXPAND Our community’s next economic expansion will come from the ground up, and Daniella has a detailed set of plans to channel investment to our small business community by redirecting economic development dollars to prioritize assistance for small businesses, developing a permanent financing vehicle for contract-based loans, and building equipment banks to share resources among small businesses. Daniella will take her successful Small Business Academy and Business Accelerator in District 8 countywide to lift up opportunities for businesses throughout Miami-Dade County. COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP Daniella’s economic recovery plan will bring our community together to support local startups and entrepreneurs. Through strong collaboration with our many local economic development organizations like Chambers of Commerce, Beacon Council, CareerSource, and the nonprofit community, we can maximize our resources to hire and deploy staff to help small businesses apply for SBA loans and other publicly and privately available loan and grant opportunities. Additionally, she will ensure that local institutions that receive public funding include local small businesses in their purchasing pools. OPPORTUNITY In her effort to create an economic recovery for all, Daniella will make sure that Miami-Dade County leads by example by dedicating 5% of county procurement contracts to businesses under 5 years old, with special considerations for Minority-, Women-, and Veteran-Owned Business Enterprises, strengthening our local preference measures, and build a local marketplace for small businesses in Miami-Dade County. Finally, Daniella will build an Office for Equity and Inclusion to ensure that previously underserved communities are no longer left behind. VERTICAL INTEGRATION OF COUNTY RESOURCES Daniella will put the full resources of Miami-Dade County behind our small business community by forming a consortium of academic institutions that can assign students and faculty to work with small businesses and entrepreneurs to provide them with marketing, accounting, sales, and technical assistance. She will continue to expand our SCORE and Small Business Development Center at Florida International University to incentivize a robust mentoring program as part of the procurement process, and will champion business ecosystems to streamline and help our business community pool resources, lower costs, and increase productivity. ENTREPRENEUERSHIP AND JOBS Daniella knows that Miami-Dade County has the potential to be a global hub of new business, and will invest in the entrepreneurial spirit of our community by making Miami-Dade County’s revolving small business loan program, RISE, permanent. For the next generation of job creators, Daniella will work with MDCPS and local universities to continue integrating entrepreneurship into K-16 education to expand immersive, hands-on, programs for young entrepreneurs. Her initiative to move high school graduates into trade programs will also be expanded in order to make sure that every resident in our community has a shot at the American Dream. REINVEST Providing resources to our small businesses is not a handout, it’s an investment. Daniella will grow Miami-Dade County’s Economic Advocacy Trust grant program for Black-owned small business enterprises to subsidize the tax payments of qualified entities and will create a pooled lending consortium amongst banks and credit unions with an underlying government guarantee that will help write down the cost of risk and expand access to capital for our business community. EMPOWER Miami-Dade Miami-Dade County has ignored Black residents for far too long. We need to do better, and Daniella has a plan to empower marginalized communities that has earned her the support of Black leaders across Miami-Dade. EXPAND ENTREPRENEURSHIP & BLACK-OWNED SMALL BUSINESSES​ Daniella will empower entrepreneurs across our community by opening small business accelerators using available federal funds and matching private dollars. The program will be modeled after the successful initiative launched in District 8 under Daniella’s leadership. Over 60% of those benefitting from the program are Black and women-owned businesses. MAJOR INVESTMENTS IN UNDERSERVED NEIGHBORHOODS​ As the founder of Catalyst Miami, Daniella believes we need to invest in neighborhoods to give every resident a path to prosperity. Daniella will reprioritize neighborhood investments so we stop leaving Miami-Dade’s Black community behind. She will build successful initiatives such as providing each kindergartener with a children’s savings account that could be used for college savings and post-secondary job training. POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY & REFORMS​ Daniella released a 5-pillar plan for police reform, including a ban on chokeholds and a fully funded Independent Community Panel to hold police accountable. She’d also demand transparency and conduct a community audit of Miami-Dade Police policies and practices. OPPORTUNITIES FOR COLLABORATION WITH COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS​ As a community leader and founder of Catalyst Miami, Daniella has seen the value of partnering with community organizations and area nonprofits to address our many challenges. As Mayor, she will seek robust opportunities for collaboration with area organizations to deliver solutions to communities that are so often left behind. WAGE GROWTH AND RENEWED SUMMER JOBS PROGRAMS​ Our Black communities feel the brunt of our affordability crisis, and Daniella knows that we need to grow wages to tackle this crisis. As Mayor, she’ll work to expand summer job programs for young people and support small businesses as we recover from COVID-19. ESTABLISH THE MAYOR'S OFFICE OF EQUITY & INCLUSION​ Miami-Dade needs to consider equity and inclusion in every policy. The new Office of Equity & Inclusion will coordinate the County’s various economic development activities and ensure equity in County decision-making. This office would also prepare the Social Equity Impact statements for all ordinances presented to the Board of County Commissioners to provide an in-depth analysis on how policies will improve or exacerbate racial, gender, and economic disparities. REINVEST IN HOMEOWNERSHIP PROGRAMS​ Daniella knows the best tool to close the wealth gap in Black communities is to reinvest in homeownership programs that help first-time homebuyers pursue the American Dream. As Mayor, Daniella will streamline Miami-Dade County’s many homeownership programs to improve the success rate for minority homebuyers. In addition, she’ll support expanded Community Land Trusts initiatives to make more housing available and reform the Surtax program to support more homeowners. TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY IN COUNTY GOVERNMENT The murder of George Floyd reminded everyone how much work remains in the fight for just policing. Daniella will engage community leaders, listen to residents, and fight for transparency and accountability in county government. She’ll also work tirelessly to stomp out corruption, fight wasteful spending, and protect YOUR tax dollars from being wasted. AN AGENDA FOR WORKING FAMILIES Working families shouldn’t go broke when someone gets sick, especially during a worldwide pandemic. Daniella will continue her fight for paid leave to make sure our workers are protected. And as Florida’s unemployment system continues to fail us, Daniella will bring relief to unemployed residents and residents facing food insecurity and eviction. INVEST IN INFRASTRUCTURE From an outdated water system to unreliable transit, decades of broken promises have left Miami-Dade with crumbling infrastructure. Daniella has a plan to help us rebuild together. She’ll partner with leaders across all levels of government to modernize our infrastructure and create jobs for our community. EXPAND AFFORDABLE HOUSING The COVID-19 crisis will only exacerbate our county’s affordability crisis. Now more than ever, Miami-Dade needs rapid expansion of affordable housing; Daniella is committed to making that happen. ENVIRONMENTAL CHAMPION Daniella is our “water warrior” because she’s taken over 30 direct actions to protect our environment. Daniella will make Miami-Dade a national leader in the fight against climate change.	”
—Daniella Levine Cava’s campaign website (2020)

Noteworthy events

Tested positive for coronavirus on November 30, 2020

See also: Politicians, candidates, and government officials diagnosed with or quarantined due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, 2020

Coronavirus pandemic
Select a topic from the dropdown below to learn more. Political responses overviewState reopening plansDocumenting America's Path to RecoveryElection changesChanges to vote-by-mail and absentee voting proceduresFederal responsesState responsesState executive ordersStay-at-home ordersMultistate agreementsNon-governmental reopening plansEvictions and foreclosures policiesTravel restrictionsEnacted state legislationState legislative session changesSchool closuresState court closuresInmate releasesLocal government responsesDiagnosed or quarantined politiciansBallot measure changesArguments about government responsesThe 1918 influenza pandemicPandemic Response Accountability CommitteeUnemployment filingsLawsuitsBallotpedia's polling on the coronavirus pandemicSubmit

On November 30, 2020, Levine Cava announced that she had tested positive for coronavirus.

See also

2024 Elections

What's on the ballot? U.S. President U.S. Congress U.S. Congress special elections State executives State legislatures State courts Ballot measures Municipal government School boards Election analysis hub

Government

Who represents me? U.S. Congress State executives State legislators State courts Ballot measures Municipal government School boards

Newsletters

The Daily Brew The Weekly Brew The Ballot Bulletin Checks and Balances Economy and Society Hall Pass Number of the Day Robe & Gavel

External links

Search Google News for this topic

Candidate

Mayor of Miami-Dade County

Website

Facebook

Twitter

Instagram

YouTube

Personal

Twitter

LinkedIn

Footnotes

Political offices
Preceded by Carlos Gimenez	Mayor of Miami-Dade County 2020-Present	Succeeded by -
Preceded by -	Miami-Dade County Commission District 8 2014-2020	Succeeded by Danielle Cohen Higgins