Your guide to Miami-Dade's August primaries

Voters will head to the polls Aug. 20 to decide which candidates go on to the general election in a few high-profile federal races.

• They'll also weigh in on school board seats and determine which candidate will represent their party on the November ballot for down-ballot races.

The big picture: Florida has closed primaries, meaning only voters who are registered with a political party affiliation may vote for that party's candidates.

• There are several nonpartisan races, including as county judges, mayor and commissioners, in which all registered voters can vote.

U.S. Representative

District 27: Two Democrats — school board member Lucia Baez-Geller and former Key Biscayne mayor Mike Davey — are in the primary to face incumbent Republican Maria Elvira Salazar in the general election.

District 24: Longtime incumbent Democrat Frederica Wilson will face one of two potential Republican challengers in November: Patricia Gonzalez or Jesus Gabriel Navarro.

Miami-Dade mayor

State of play: Incumbent Daniella Levine-Cava, a one-term Democrat, is facing five Republican challengers and one independent. No Democrats are challenging her. (The mayoral race is officially nonpartisan.)

• If no candidate receives more than 50% of the vote, the top two would face a runoff in November.

Zoom in: The challengers include two mayors of small municipalities, two Spanish-language show hosts, a former Democrat, and the owner of a valet-parking company, according to the Miami Herald .

Sheriff

Why it matters: This is the first time an independent sheriff will be elected since 1960, when the post was abolished. In 2018, voters approved an amendment to reintroduce the elected position, according to the Herald.

• There are 11 Republicans and four Democrats in the race.

Commissioner

State of play: Seven Miami-Dade county commission seats were up for grabs this year, but three incumbents were automatically reelected to serve new four-year terms because they faced no challengers.

• District 3, 7 and 11 are still undecided.

What's next: Each incumbent faces two challengers. If one candidate gets more than 50% of the vote, they win. If not, the top two finishers will face off in November.

School board

Why it matters: Miami-Dade's School Board became decisively conservative with the election of two Gov. Ron DeSantis-backed candidates in 2022 and two of his appointees who joined later.

• The board was Florida's first to introduce chaplains in schools and has repeatedly rejected efforts to recognize LGBTQ+ history month.

State of play: Two incumbents, Steve Gallon III and Danny Espino, were automatically reelected without opposition. Three other seats are up for grabs.

• The District 3 seat to replace Lucia Baez-Geller, who is challenging Salazar, is the most crowded race, with five candidates.

Elections supervisor

Why it matters: This is the first time since the 1950s the post will be elected, not appointed.

State of play: Supervisor Christina White, who's helmed elections since 2015, announced last summer that she would not run to lead the agency, per the Miami Herald .

• Now, two Democrats and two Republicans are vying to succeed her.
• The winners of each party will face off in November.

Zoom in: Former President Donald Trump endorsed Republican state Rep. Alina Garcia for the role.

Tax collector

Why it matters: The role, which is partisan, processes taxes for the county government. It also issues licenses, processes motor vehicle tags and registrations.

State of play: Two Republicans are vying to make the general against a Democrat.