Miami voters decide fate of housing law in tight state Senate race
A 25-story apartment proposal in Coconut Grove has intensified the debate over the Live Local Act, putting pressure on incumbent Alexis Calatayud in a district that has switched parties three times since 2012.
By Grace Sullivan ·
Voters in Florida’s 38th Senate District face a direct choice on Tuesday between a state legislator who championed a controversial housing law and a challenger who promises to return local control to neighborhoods. The race pits incumbent Republican Alexis Calatayud against Democrat Richard Lamondin, with the outcome determined by voter sentiment regarding rapid development in Miami-Dade County.
Calatayud, 33, won her first term in 2022 with 54 percent of the vote. She serves as chair of the Education Postsecondary committee in Tallahassee. Her most prominent legislative achievement is Senate Bill 102, known as the Live Local Act, which she signed into law in 2023. The statute allows developers to bypass local zoning regulations in exchange for including affordable housing units in their projects.
The act has drawn sharp criticism in District 38, which includes Coral Gables, Key Biscayne, South Miami, Pinecrest, Palmetto Bay, and Cutler Bay. Residents argue the law strips local governments of the power to decide building dimensions and permits construction in areas previously reserved for schools, religious organizations, and businesses. An updated version of the law, designated Live Local 4.0, took effect in July of this year. This revision specifically restricts local government authority over building dimensions and expands eligible land for residential development.
Two high-rise apartment proposals in Coconut Grove have become focal points for the campaign. One proposed building is 25 stories tall. Calatayud defended the developments at a community meeting in August, stating that the projects involve county-owned land and that residents’ voices are part of the process. She noted that the county is partnering with private developers to develop the land.
Lamondin, 39, is the CEO of ecofi, a sustainability company focused on reducing energy and water usage in buildings. He argues that the Live Local Act has removed community say in what is built in their neighborhoods. Lamondin states that local governments must have greater authority over construction in their jurisdictions and that building projects require public approval. He describes his approach as a practical mindset that benefits the bottom line of residents.
A third candidate, chiropractor Jeffrey Solomon, runs as a no-party candidate. Solomon is the past president of the Florida Chiropractic Association. He has proposed a Florida Taxpayer Transparency and Performance Accountability Act, which would create a public dashboard for tracking government agency performance. Solomon opposes the current text of the Live Local Act.
Pollsters predict the race will be close. State Navigate data gives Lamondin a slight edge. District 38 has not been dominated by a single party. Democrats and Republicans have alternated control of the seat since 2012. The last Democrat to hold the position was Jason Pizzo, who won in 2018. The current state legislature is controlled by Republicans in both chambers, and Florida has not elected a Democratic governor in more than 25 years.
Calatayud did not respond to requests for comment regarding her campaign. In a recent interview on the podcast Legally Spanglish, she identified a plan to restore medication access for HIV-positive Floridians as her proudest accomplishment as a freshman senator. She stated that 12,000 residents lost access to medication after federal subsidies were reduced, and she worked with lawmakers to restore funding in less than three weeks. The district’s frequent party shifts and local dissatisfaction with development plans make this contest a key indicator of voter sentiment on housing policy.
