Carollo dynasty crumbles in Miami as newbie Rolando Escalona takes D3 seat

Did you feel the shockwave? The Carollo era is officially over. Kaput. Finito. Ciao pescao.
Rolando Escalona — the 34-year-old restaurant manager whose political résumé could fit on the back of a Sexy Fish cocktail napkin — just beat former Miami Commissioner Frank Carollo in Miami’s District 3 commission runoff, ending four decades of one Carollo or another haunting Little Havana like a family curse.
This wasn’t just a loss. This was an exorcism.
Five weeks ago, in the general election, Frank Carollo led the first round Nov. 4 with a comfy 38%. Escalona came in a distant second at 17% — barely edging out a field of six other hopefuls who all vowed they weren’t Carollo but couldn’t convince voters they were the one to take him out.
But that was before the runoff. Before residents had five full weeks to remember every lawsuit, every controversy, and every cringe-inducing meltdown courtesy of the candidate’s older brother, termed out Commissioner Joe Carollo, who got booted from the mayor’s race last month with a humiliating fourth-place finish.
It was also before political consultant extraordinaire Christian Ulvert really took over the Espinosa campaign after the first round.
Read related: Rolando Escalona picks up two anti-Carollo endorsements in Miami D3 race
So when the first votes flashed up on the screens at the Tower Hotel — yes, Bill Fuller’s Tower Hotel, the ultimate Carollo revenge venue — the room of a couple dozen die-hard supporters erupted. The include a few members of the Miami Young Republicans, who are balding and in their 40s and, Ladra suspects, were angling for a city job. Escalona was wiping tears, trying to stay composed, while grown men whispered “Felicidades” into his ear like a secret code.
When the final precinct dropped, the place shook like Cuba after a 7.0. Even the candidate couldn’t believe it. He said that he got discouraged when he saw the number of voters saying hi to Frank Carollo and hugging him and kissing him on the check at the polling place at Jose Marti Park.
“I knew some of these people, I saw them at their homes. But I didn’t have a relationship with these people,” Escalona told Political Cortadito Wednesday morning, after the realization of his victory actually struck him, he said. “Right there, I told my mom, ‘I think we lost.’ Because they have a name that everybody over 60 loves.”
Well, apparently not everybody.
“I think it works both way. They had the name recognition, but at the same time there was a lot of negative associated with it,” Escalona told Ladra.
The Carollo camp apparently knew that and panicked, sending misleading mailers in the last rally, with Escalona pictured with Donald Trump and the words “Rolando is ready to bring Trump’s policies to the city of Miami and drill, drill, drill.” It was sent only to Dems — trying to scare them off.
Thankfully, they didn’t bite. And Escalona was focused on the NPAs anyway. Ladra can’t wait to see the breakdown by party and voter age.

Now, Frank — who only won the early voting race — is out too. And, thanks to lifetime term limits voters passed on Nov. 4, neither brother can claw their way back onto a Miami ballot ever again. Well, Frank can run for mayor — but let’s not tell him, okay?
District 3 — once the most Carollo place on Earth — just slammed the door shut behind them.
“It’s the end of the Carollo reign,” Escalona told the Herald. Ladra would only add: Por fin.
Read related: Miami voters sue to keep Frank Carollo off the runoff ballot after term-limit win
This race wasn’t just decided at the ballot box. It was a legal novela — because nothing happens in Miami without a judge. Escalona survived a bizarre residency challenge in October that involved a three-hour trial, multiple leases, and even his Amazon order history. Frank Carollo only stayed on the ballot because a judge ruled removing him would “disenfranchise voters,” even after residents argued the new lifetime term limits barred him.
Those plaintiffs? They were already appealing. They were so sick of the Carollo saga, they were ready to take the fight all the way to SCOTUS if they had to.
One of them, Victor Milanes, hugged Escalona at the victory party and said, “We are tired of it… We did everything we could to make sure the system changes.”
Translation: Se acabó el abuso.
And Bill Fuller wasn’t just hosting an election night each party. He was baptizing a new political era at the scene of his greatest courtroom victory.
Fuller and partner Martin Pinilla — owners of Ball & Chain — won a $63.5 million verdict against Joe Carollo for weaponizing the city government against them. The City of Miami later settled its part of the case for $12.5 million. That’s your tax dollars, by the way.
“This feels like the ultimate chapter in redemption,” Fuller said after he gave Escalona a full bear hug.
Read related: Miami Commissioner Joe Carollo loses appeal on $63.5 million jury award
But who is Rolando Escalona? Even voters admit they don’t know much about him yet. All they know is he isn’t a Carollo, which seems to have been the magic password to City Hall this year.
His story is compelling. He came from Cuba 11 years ago and worked his way up the restaurant business — bussing tables, running food, waiting, managing — until he became general manager of Sexy Fish, a popular touristy eatery in downtown Miami. Meanwhile, he got political science degree from Florida International University in 2023 and a real estate license. And he became a father of twins during the campaign.
According to his campaign finance reports, Escalona raised about $110,000 — peanuts compared to Carollo’s $501,000 war chest — and still won comfortably.
“Nothing has been given to me,” Escalona says. And honestly, Miami loves a bootstrap story almost as much as it loves a corruption scandal.
Just how long will Miami’s newest commissioner keep his shine? Escalona campaigned on transparency (a novelty in District 3), better basic services (good luck), lower taxes for seniors, fixing the permitting disaster, adding affordable housing, public safety and economic development and real fiscal responsibility. Whether he delivers, we’ll find out.
He says he’s quitting Sexy Fish to focus on the job full time, but Ladra suspects he will still dabble in real estate.
“I’m not a politician. I have never been in politics,” Escalona told Political Cortadito. “I genuinely want to work to make the city of Miami a better place. I’m going to work for the residents of District 3 and Miami and I do’t care if they’re Democrat or Republican or neither.
“We’re done with that.”
Read related: Judge: Rolando Escalona belongs on Miami ballot for D3 commissioner
With Escalona’s win, four out of five commissioners are first-termers. Chairwoman Christine King is now the “senior member” with a whopping four years under her belt. Ralph Rosado joked he’s no longer the youngest on the dais. Commissioner Miguel Gabela declared, “The old guard is gone.”
Of course, none of them arrived at the watch party until they knew the Carollos were safely gone for good.
For the first time in forever, Miami has a commission without the Carollo gravitational pull.
“I’m very, very, very grateful to the residents of my district for giving a nobody a chance,” Escalona told Ladra. “And I will tell you, I will work very hard for them every day.”
Yes, we’ll see who Escalona really is soon enough. We’ll see who starts whispering in his ear. We’ll see which developer buys him a cafecito first. We’ll see who he hires. We’ll see if his “fresh start” survives his first zoning meeting.
But on Wednesday, District 3 voters are celebrating that they pulled off something people said was impossible: They sent Frank Carollo packing. They sealed the dynasty’s tomb. They chose the newcomer with tears in his eyes over the accountant with 40 years of baggage.
And Ladra has just one thing to say: ¡Por fin, Little Havana! Por fin.

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