Miami
MIAMI South Florida PBA backs Ralph Rosado for Miami’s 2027 District 4 race
The police union joined two other law enforcement groups in supporting the Miami commissioner. In the 2025 Special Election, it had endorsed his opponent, Jose Regalado.
The South Florida Police Benevolent Association has endorsed Ralph Rosado for a full term on the Miami City Commission in District 4, according to Florida Politics. The move marks a shift from the June 2025 Special Election, when the union supported Jose Regalado instead.
Rosado’s campaign announced the endorsement Tuesday, Florida Politics reported. In a letter cited by the outlet, South Florida PBA President Steadman Stahl said Rosado has made law and order a priority throughout his time in public service and said the union supports candidates who stand with officers and understand their daily challenges.
Florida Politics said the South Florida PBA, founded in 1963 as the Dade County PBA, says it represents more than 7,000 law enforcement and corrections officers across South Florida.
It is the third endorsement from a police organization for Rosado, according to the report. The Miami Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 20 backed him in July, and his campaign also said he has the support of the Hispanic Police Officers Association. The FOP and HPOA each say they represent more than 2,000 active and retired officers.
Florida Politics noted that Rosado won the Special Election with 55% of the vote on 11% turnout, in the race to complete the term of Manolo Reyes, who died in April 2025. In that contest, he was backed by the FOP and AFSCME Local 1907, while the South Florida PBA supported Regalado, along with the South Florida AFL-CIO and the Miami Herald.
District 4 will be on the ballot again in November 2027. Florida Politics reported that although voters approved moving city elections to even-numbered years in August, the change does not apply to sitting officeholders, and the next winner will serve a four-year term.
The article also recalled that in February Rosado told then-Police Chief Manny Morales he had heard from a dozen people that Morales planned to run for the seat. He also accused Morales of campaigning on city time and asked the city manager to remove him, but the rest of the commission did not go along. Morales said he had no plans to run, though he would not rule it out after retiring.
Edwin Lopez was sworn in as chief in June. Morales’ retirement takes effect this month, Florida Politics added.
Sources
About this piece. Written by El Notero with AI assistance, from reporting published by the outlet cited above. El Notero did no original reporting on this story.
