Carlos Gimenez
Carlos Gimenez, a former Miami fire chief and Miami-Dade County mayor (2011-2020), has represented the 28th District since January 2021 (elected in the old 26th). He was unopposed in the Aug. 18, 2026 Republican primary. In 2026 he has publicly urged the administration to change its ICE enforcement strategy and to 'normalize' longtime immigrants, while supporting the administration's tax bill and tariff proposals.
How they got on the ballot: Unopposed in Aug 18, 2026 Republican primary (CBS Miami)
Positions on the major issues
Compare with opponents →Each entry describes what the candidate has said or done, and what they say they will do, in neutral terms with sources. The chip shows how that relates to the statement voters rate in the matching tool.
Taxes & spending Strongly agrees· based on record
Gimenez co-signed the Florida Republican letter supporting H.R. 1 and voted for the bill, which extended the 2017 tax cuts and reduced Medicaid and SNAP spending.
Immigration Mixed / neutral· stated position
Gimenez voted for the Laken Riley Act and petitioned DHS to deport Castro-regime agents, but in 2026 said the administration's ICE enforcement strategy 'was a mistake,' that detention should be reserved for criminals, gang members and people with deportation orders rather than 20-year residents, that deporting Haitian TPS holders 'would be a huge mistake,' and that longtime immigrants should be 'normalized' along the lines of DACA.
"we need to find a way to normalize them"
Abortion Strongly disagrees· based on record
SBA Pro-Life America's scorecard says Gimenez has voted consistently to 'defend the lives of the unborn' and to block tax dollars from paying for abortion, including abortion travel expenses.
Guns Leans agree· based on record
Gimenez voted for the Bipartisan Background Checks Act (H.R. 8, 2021), which would extend background checks to private-party firearm transfers; no position on red-flag laws or the 21 purchase age was found.
Health care Leans disagree· based on record
Gimenez voted for H.R. 1 (2025); the Florida GOP letter he signed says the bill protects Medicaid 'for American citizens' by adding work requirements and removing waste, fraud and abuse, while CBO projected coverage losses.
Elections & voting Leans disagree· based on record
Gimenez voted for the SAVE Act (H.R. 22, April 2025), which would require documentary proof of citizenship to register to vote (passed 220-208 with every voting Republican in favor).
Energy & utilities Strongly disagrees· based on record
Voted for H.R. 1 (2025), which phased out most Inflation Reduction Act clean-energy tax credits and expanded oil and gas leasing.
Tariffs & trade Leans agree· stated position
In November 2024 Gimenez applauded President-elect Trump's proposed 25% tariff on Mexico and Canada as leverage until the drug and border crises are resolved; a broader statement on tariffs' economic effects was not found.
Ukraine Strongly agrees· based on record
Gimenez voted for the $60.8 billion Ukraine Security Supplemental (H.R. 8035, April 2024), one of five Florida Republicans to do so.
Trump administration Leans agree· stated position
Gimenez supported the administration's 2025 tax bill and tariff proposals and praised the January 2026 capture of Nicolas Maduro, but has said the administration's ICE enforcement strategy 'was a mistake' and needed a course correction.
"was a mistake"
No public position found on 7 issues
We searched campaign sites, questionnaires, interviews, votes and official actions and did not find a clear stance on: Housing affordability, Social Security & Medicare, Education & school choice, Environment & water, Crime & policing, Gender identity laws, Veterans. This is reported as unknown rather than guessed from party affiliation; these issues are excluded from this candidate's match score.
Other issues this candidate has raised
- ICE detention oversight — He conducted a fact-finding visit to an ICE facility in June 2025 and in 2026 questioned the need for more detention centers, saying they should hold criminals and people with deportation orders.
- Normalizing longtime immigrants / DACA — He urged the administration to find a way to 'normalize' immigrants who have worked and lived in the U.S. for years, citing DACA as a model.
- Venezuela and Cuba — He issued statements on the capture of Nicolas Maduro, said 'we are ready for Cuba,' petitioned DHS to deport Castro-regime agents, and applauded TPS extensions for Venezuelans.
- Haitian TPS — He said deporting Haitians currently under TPS back to Haiti 'would be a huge mistake.'
- Tariffs as border leverage — He backed proposed 25% tariffs on Mexico and Canada tied to the drug and border crises.
Record: votes, actions and documented facts
- Voted YES on H.R. 1, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (final passage July 3, 2025), and co-signed the Florida GOP delegation letter supporting it.Sources: Buchanan leads Florida Republican letter in support of One … (2025-06) · Webster and Florida Republicans support passage of One Big … (2025-07) · House Roll Call 190 on H.R. 1 (final passage, 218-214), Jul… (2025-07-03) · H.R.1 - One Big Beautiful Bill Act (119th Congress) - Congr… (2025-07-04)
- Voted YES on the Laken Riley Act (S. 5, Jan. 22, 2025).
- Voted YES on the SAVE Act (H.R. 22, April 10, 2025).
- Voted YES on the Ukraine Security Supplemental Appropriations Act (H.R. 8035, April 20, 2024).
- Voted YES on the Bipartisan Background Checks Act (H.R. 8, 2021).
- Publicly said in 2026 that the administration's ICE enforcement strategy 'was a mistake.'
- Miami-Dade County Mayor 2011-2020; former Miami fire chief.Sources: Carlos Gimenez - Ballotpedia (2026)
- Voted for H.R. 1 (2025), the budget reconciliation law that extended the 2017 tax cuts, added Medicaid work requirements, reduced clean-energy tax credits and funded expanded immigration enforcement.