Jesse Scheckner
Miami-Dade residents with overlapping interests in soccer and politics have something to do Sunday.
Mayor Daniella Levine Cava and former Sen. Anette Taddeo, who is running for county Clerk, are co-hosting a watch party for the Copa América Final between Argentina and Colombia.
Not in attendance — because he’ll be on the field at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens — will be Argentine Inter Miami CF star player and all-time great footballer Lionel Messi.
The big-screen watch party at the historic Teatro Trail Theater in Coral Gables begins with 7 p.m. pregame festivities. Kickoff is at 8 p.m.
Those wanting to attend must register in advance. Food and drink will be available for purchase.
Levine Cava this year faces six challengers for the Miami-Dade mayoralty. Four are Republican: Miami Lakes Mayor Manny Cid, social media influencer Alex Otaola, media personality Carlos Garín and ex-Surfside Mayor Shlomo Danzinger.
Miami-Dade Libertarian Party Vice Chair Miguel Quintero and no-party candidate Eddy Rojas are also running.
Levine Cava is a Democrat. However, the Miami-Dade Mayor’s race is nonpartisan, so all candidates will be on the Aug. 20 Primary ballot.
Taddeo, a Democrat who was born in Colombia, is running to supplant Miami-Dade Clerk Juan Fernandez-Barquin, a Republican and former House member whom Gov. Ron DeSantis appointed in June 2023 after the death of longtime Clerk Harvey Ruvin.
Write-in candidate Rubin Young is also running.
Taddeo’s bid for Clerk is her first run at public office since 2022, when she mounted an unsuccessful campaign for Congress. Before winning a Senate seat in 2017, she served as Chair of the Miami-Dade Democratic Party and was former Gov. Charlie Crist’s running mate in 2014.
Argentina is the odds-on favorite to win the Copa América Final this Sunday. If it does, the team will hold the most wins in the tournament’s 108 years.
Argentina and Uruguay are now tied for that distinction with 15 victories apiece.
