# Alina Garcia

Alina Garcia is a Cuban American businesswoman, civil servant, and politician serving as the first Miami-Dade County supervisor of elections since 2025. A member of the Republican Party, she previously served as a member of the Florida House of Representatives from 2022 to 2024.

## Early life and career

Garcia was born in Havana, Cuba, and immigrated to the United States. She graduated from Miami-Dade County Public Schools and Miami Dade College.
Alina Garcia has worked in the public sector for over 30 years. She was a Legislative Aide in Tallahassee beginning in 1992. Garcia has worked for Republican leaders such as Jimmy Patronis, Esteban Bovo, the mayor of Hialeah, and many more public servants in Miami-Dade County. When U.S. Senator Marco Rubio was chosen to serve in the Florida House of Representatives in 1999, she was his first legislative assistant.

## Florida House of Representatives

In May 2022, Garcia announced her candidacy for the Florida House of Representatives from the 115th District. After winning the Republican primary, she defeated Democratic nominee Christie Davis in the general election with 59% of the vote.
While in office, Garcia voted for Florida House Bill 999.
In February 2024, Garcia announced she would not seek re-election to the state house.

## Miami-Dade County Supervisor of Elections

For 66 years, the Miami-Dade County supervisor of elections was appointed by the county's mayor. In 2018, a state constitutional amendment was passed that made the position an independent, elected office, along with the roles of Miami-Dade County tax collector, property appraiser, and sheriff.
On February 15, 2024, Garcia announced that she would run for Miami-Dade County supervisor of elections. Her Democratic opponent was former Republican state representative Juan-Carlos Planas. During the course of the campaign, in late October 2024, she made headlines for heckling former US Rep. Debbie Mucarsel-Powell apparently in response to Mucarsel-Powell and her teams remarks to Senator Rick Scott. She was quoted as having said: "But I am not the Supervisor of Elections and I have a right to my own opinion, everybody has the right to an opinion." She and Planas had both stated they were committed to a nonpartisan elections department. During her campaign, she was endorsed by President Donald Trump. Garcia ultimately won the race with 55.84% of the vote.
On January 7, 2025, Garcia was sworn into office as the first elected supervisor of elections of Miami-Dade County.

## Personal life

Garcia is a Roman Catholic. She is a mother of three and grandmother of 11. Her brother, Monsignor Willie Peña, serves as the pastor of Saint Bernardita in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

## Electoral history

Miami-Dade County Supervisor of Elections election, 2024 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Alina Garcia | 579,770 | 55.8 |
| | Democratic | Juan-Carlos Planas | 458,337 | 44.2 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 1,038,107 | 100.00 |
Florida House of Representatives District 115 election, 2022 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Alina Garcia | 40,393 | 58.5 |
| | Democratic | Christie Davis | 28,696 | 41.5 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 69,089 | 100.00 |