Oliver Gilbert

Oliver Gilbert is the Democratic nominee for the open U.S. House seat in Florida's 24th District, running to succeed retiring Rep. Frederica Wilson. A Miami Gardens native and attorney, he served as mayor of Miami Gardens from 2012 to 2020 and has served on the Miami-Dade County Commission since 2020, including as its chairman.[1][2][3]

Gilbert was born on August 15, 1972, in Miami Gardens, Florida. According to the county's official biography, he received a B.A. in Criminal Justice from Florida A&M University and a J.D. from the University of Miami School of Law, having first enrolled at St. Thomas University School of Law.[2][3] He began in politics in 2000 as a legislative aide to then-state Rep. Dorothy Bendross-Mindingall, then worked as a prosecutor and in private practice. The county's biography says he is licensed to practice law in Florida and has served as an adjunct professor at Miami Dade College.[2][3]

Gilbert lost a 2003 bid for mayor of the newly incorporated City of Miami Gardens, was appointed to the city council in 2008, and was elected mayor in 2012, serving as the city's second African-American mayor until 2020.[2] As mayor he served as president of the African American Mayors Association and held roles with the Florida League of Mayors, the National League of Cities and the U.S. Conference of Mayors Advisory Board, according to the county's biography.[3]

In 2020 Gilbert was elected to the Miami-Dade County Commission (District 1), defeating Sybrina Fulton, and he has served since November 17, 2020.[1][2] He was voted chairman of the county commission on December 6, 2022, and the county's biography says he chairs the International Trade Consortium and the Transportation Committee. It also lists him as a member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity and Leadership Florida.[3] He announced his congressional campaign in June 2026 after Rep. Frederica Wilson's retirement and won the August 18, 2026 Democratic primary with 34.4% of the vote in a seven-candidate field.[1][2]

Researched from the cited sources on 2026-10-21.