Republicans in Florida have taken the unprecedented step of canceling local elections in the city of Miami—confirming long-held fears about the GOP’s willingness to undermine democratic norms in order to cling to power.
The decision, made by the Republican-led Miami-Dade County Commission, will delay scheduled city elections by a full year. That includes elections for mayor and other key local offices that were supposed to take place in 2025. The justification offered? To align local elections with federal election cycles, which officials claim will increase voter turnout.
But critics argue the real motive is far more self-serving—and dangerous.
All the officials who pushed for the change are Republicans who are term-limited and set to leave office at the end of their current terms. By postponing the elections, they are essentially extending their own power by another year without the consent of voters. No public referendum was held, and Miami residents were given no say in the matter.
Voters have been overwhelmingly concerned that Republican leadership in America could end up cancelling future elections in order to remain in power. These were largely written off as unhinged fears, but it turns out that those fears were both valid and accurate – The city of Miami in Florida made the decision to CANCEL elections this year, pushing them until next year, if we’re lucky. This decision was made by Republicans without voter approval in order to keep term-limited Republicans in power longer. Farron Cousins explains what happened.
The implications are staggering. For the first time in modern American history, a local government has unilaterally canceled elections—not due to natural disaster or emergency—but because those in charge decided it would be more “convenient.”
This isn’t just a story about Miami. It’s a warning sign for the rest of the country.
Until recently, the idea that elections might be canceled by those in power was dismissed as conspiracy theory or political hyperbole. Many commentators—even those critical of the GOP—brushed aside suggestions that Republicans would go so far as to halt democratic processes to stay in power. But now that fear has become reality.
And it may only be the beginning.
Legal experts warn that this move is likely headed for the courts. While lawsuits challenging the decision are expected, the outcome is far from certain—especially given Florida’s increasingly conservative judiciary. If lower courts uphold the delay, the case will almost certainly make its way to the U.S. Supreme Court.
And that’s where things get even more troubling.
Legal scholars suggest that part of the Republican strategy is to provoke a legal battle that could reach the nation’s highest court. If the Supreme Court rules in favor of Miami Republicans, it could establish a dangerous new precedent: that elected officials have the authority to delay or cancel elections in the name of “efficiency” or “turnout.”
The fear is that such a ruling could be weaponized by Republican-controlled jurisdictions across the country, enabling widespread democratic backsliding under the guise of reform.
Let’s be clear—election scheduling and reform should always be a decision made by the people, not by those currently in office. When politicians extend their own terms without public approval, democracy ceases to function as intended.
What makes this move even more brazen is the lack of public support. Miami residents have voiced outrage over the decision, with many accusing the county commission of stripping them of their most fundamental right: the right to vote. But with Republicans no longer accountable to the electorate for another year, there’s little immediate recourse for voters.
The story unfolding in Florida is not an isolated incident—it’s part of a broader pattern of GOP power grabs across the country. From gerrymandering and voter suppression to challenges to mail-in ballots and false claims of election fraud, the Republican Party has consistently shown its willingness to erode democratic institutions when they stand in the way of its agenda.
Now, with this latest move in Miami, the GOP has crossed yet another line.
For anyone still questioning whether the fear of canceled elections is valid—the answer is now undeniably yes. It’s no longer a hypothetical. It’s happening.
And if Americans don’t treat this as the existential threat it is, Miami may be just the first of many cities where elections are no longer guaranteed.
Democracy isn’t just about casting votes—it’s about being allowed to cast them in the first place.