Coral Gables Magazine
PoliticsSide FeatureStreetwise

The 2026 Coral Gables City Elections

Staff
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AND THE WINNERS ARE…

FOR THE FIRST TIME in its history, Coral Gables voters decided their choices for Mayor and City Commission at the same time as the general election. All previous elections were held in April. One big reason for the change was to increase voter turnout, which in fact occurred: This year more than 20,000 voters participated, twice as many as in the 2025 elections (10,123) and three times as many as in 2023 elections (6,905).

This year the office of Mayor was voted on (for a two-year term) as well as two City Commission seats (each to be occupied for four years) and four referendum items. Here are the results:

For the Office of Mayor, incumbent Vince Lago beat labor attorney Laureano Cancio and downtown property owner Jackson “Rip” Holmes.

Vince Lago 11,298 votes, for 56.76%
Laureano Cancio 5,119 votes, for 25.72%
Jackson Rip Holmes 3,487 votes, for 17.52%

For Commission Group IV, attorney and long-time Gables board volunteer Nestor Menendez beat incumbent permit expeditor Commissioner Melissa Castro.

Nestor Menendez 10,032 votes, for 50.30%
Melissa Castro 9,911 votes, for 49.70%

For Commission Group V, government affairs communications professional Dominique “Niki” Whiting beat real estate investor Gonzalo Sanabria.

Nikki Whiting 10,801votes, for 56.02%
Gonzalo Sanabria 8,479 votes, for 43.98%

Referendum Questions for Changes to the City Charter:

SHALL SECTION 24 of the City Charter be amended to increase the threshold for public works projects requiring formal solicitation from $25,000 to $300,000?

NO 55.67%             Yes 44.33%

SHALL SECTION 3 of the City Charter be amended to require continuous residency in the City of Coral Gables for a minimum of one year immediately preceding the end of the qualifying period for candidates running for City Commissioner or City Mayor? 

YES 92.01%            No 7.99%

SHALL THE CITY CHARTER be amended to increase the Mayor’s term of office from two year to four years to be consistent with the term of office for City Commissioners?

NO 53.31%             Yes 46.69%

SHALL THE CITY CHARTER be amended to require that the sale or lease of any City-owned park or recreational facility be approved by sixty percent (60%) of the City’s voters?

YES 82.38% No 17.62 %

Thank all those who voted for participating in the election. We look forward to working with our newly elected officials, and to continue providing our readers with award winning coverage of the civic life of Coral Gables.