Politics
North Miami mayor plans appeal after election filing disqualification
A court ruling bars Mayor Alix Desulme from seeking another term in November over how he paid qualifying fees. His attorney says Desulme will appeal, arguing he followed city election rules and that voters should be able to decide the race.
North Miami Mayor Alix Desulme has been disqualified from running for re-election in November after a dispute over his candidate qualifying fees, according to court records and a Miami-Dade County elections notice published Oct. 20, 2026.
The records say Desulme paid the fees with a cashier’s check rather than a check drawn directly from his campaign account, as required by state law. The payment was also 80 cents short.
The county notice says the mayor’s disqualification leaves the race unopposed. Under the notice, the remaining candidate is considered elected by law, and votes cast in the mayoral race will not change the result.
Desulme’s attorney, Benedict P. Kuehne, said the mayor intends to appeal. Kuehne said Desulme followed North Miami’s election code and objected to his opponent’s filing after the qualifying period had ended, characterizing it as an attempt to interfere with the election and keep voters from choosing their mayor.
The ruling means the November contest may be decided without a vote for mayor unless Desulme’s appeal changes his eligibility.