Steven Meiner

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Wikipedia

Steven Meiner
39th Mayor of Miami Beach, Florida
Incumbent
Assumed office
November 28, 2023
Preceded byDan Gelber
Personal details
Born1970 or 1971 (age 54–55)[1]
Brooklyn, New York, U.S.
PartyRepublican prior to 2018[2] [better source needed]
Independent since 2018[2] [better source needed]
Residence(s)Miami Beach, Florida, U.S.
EducationBrooklyn Law School, Brooklyn College[3]
WebsiteOfficial website

Steven Meiner (born 1970 or 1971) is an American politician and mayor of Miami Beach. He previously served as a Commissioner of Miami Beach and an attorney for the Securities and Exchange Commission, which he left amidst sexual misconduct allegations.

Early life and family

Meiner was born in a Jewish family in Brooklyn, New York. His father, Sheldon Meiner, worked as an agent for the Internal Revenue Service. His mother, Dorothy Weiss, was a public school teacher.[4]

Career

In 2007, Meiner moved to Miami Beach where he joined the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) as a civil law enforcement attorney.[4] During his time in the position, multiple female staff complained about inappropriate behavior and unwanted sexual advances.[5] One of the women lodged an official complaint prompting an internal review in 2016. In an earlier incident, Meiner tried to kiss a female staffer who joined him for dinner.[6] In 2019, Meiner won a seat on the City Commission of Miami Beach.[7] In February 2024, it was reported that the SEC was investigating Meiner over the alleged sexual harassment.[8][9] In July 2024, Meiner resigned from the SEC after 17 years at the agency's Miami office.[10]

Mayor of Miami Beach

Meiner ran for mayor without a party affiliation to succeed Dan Gelber, who was term limited.[7] After the general election, he was opposed by former City Commissioner Michael Góngora.[1] When asked during the campaign about allegations of inappropriate workplace sexual activity, Meiner blamed the reports on antisemitism and claimed that colleagues were motivated by his pro-Israel stance.[5] Meiner won with approximately 54% of the votes, with approximately 10,000 ballots cast.[7]

In March 2024, following several pro-Palestinian demonstrations, Meiner successfully pushed for a resolution for the city to set stricter parameters on planned protests, sparking criticism.[11] In March 2025, Meiner attempted to end the lease of a cinema that met in Miami Beach's Old City Hall after they screened the film "No Other Land", a documentary about the Israel-Palestine conflict.[12] Meiner criticized the film as a "false one-sided propaganda attack on the Jewish people", before freedom of speech concerns prompted him to back down from his threat against the lease.[13]

On November 4, 2025, Meiner was reelected to a second consecutive term.[14]

In January 2026, following a complaint from the mayor's office,[15] Miami Beach Police Department officers visited a resident who criticized Meiner via a Facebook comment.[16] The resident commented that Meiner had "call[ed] for the death of all Palestinians".[17] According to the officers, they were looking for the commenter because that person's words could "probably incite somebody to do something bad." The resident who made the comment told The Washington Post that having police visit her over the comment "felt like such a foreign, alien feeling."[13] The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression said the visit chilled "the exercise of First Amendment rights and undermines public confidence in the department’s commitment to respecting civil liberties and the United States Constitution."[18]

In January 2026, Meiner condemned right-wing influencers including Nick Fuentes, Clavicular, Sneako, Myron Gaines and Andrew Tate singing along to "Heil Hitler" at the Miami Beach nightclub Vendôme and questioned how they gained access to the venue.[19][20][21]

Personal life

Meiner is an Orthodox Jew and wears a yarmulke.[4] He is married to his wife, Shayna, and has two children.[3] He has resided in Miami Beach since 2007.[5]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 Scheckner, Jesse (November 19, 2023). "Michael Góngora, Steven Meiner square off for Miami Beach Mayor runoff. Here's where they stand on the issues". Floridapolitics.com. Floridapolitics.com. Archived from the original on November 30, 2024. Retrieved December 5, 2024.
  2. 1 2 Scheckner, Jesse (August 19, 2025). "It's official: Steven Meiner is running for a second term as Miami Beach Mayor". floridapolitics.com. Archived from the original on November 30, 2025. Retrieved January 20, 2026.
  3. 1 2 Bowen, Genevieve (January 30, 2024). "Steven Meiner: Miami Beach mayor targets open government, public safety". Miami Today. Archived from the original on February 9, 2025. Retrieved March 1, 2025.
  4. 1 2 3 "Frum, Yarmulka Wearing Candidate, Wins Election For Miami Beach Mayor". jewishmiami.info. Mmiam: jewishmiami.info. November 21, 2023. Archived from the original on December 4, 2023. Retrieved November 21, 2023.
  5. 1 2 3 Leibowitz, Aaron (November 17, 2023). "Former colleagues say Miami Beach mayor candidate made unwanted advances". Miami Herald. Miami. Archived from the original on June 19, 2024. Retrieved December 5, 2024.
  6. ↑ Leibowitz, Aaron (July 5, 2024). "Miami Beach mayor leaves his federal job. Did misconduct claims play a role?". Miami Herald. Miami. Retrieved December 5, 2024.
  7. 1 2 3 Scheckner, Jesse (November 22, 2023). "Steven Meiner wins runoff race to become new Miami Beach Mayor". Floridapolitics.com. Floridapolitics.com. Archived from the original on November 30, 2024. Retrieved December 5, 2024.
  8. ↑ Brugal, Sommer (February 5, 2024). "Miami Beach's Meiner faces federal investigation over allegations". Axios. Retrieved January 21, 2026.
  9. ↑ Leibowitz, Aaron (February 2, 2024). "SEC investigating allegations of sexual harassment against Miami Beach mayor". Miami Herald. Retrieved January 20, 2026.
  10. ↑ Leibowitz, Aaron (July 31, 2024). "Why did Miami Beach mayor resign from federal job? He's mum — and agency says it's secret". Miami Herald. Retrieved January 20, 2026.
  11. ↑ Leibowitz, Aaron (March 14, 2024). "After pro-Palestinian events, protesters will face new restrictions in Miami Beach". Miami Herald. Retrieved January 20, 2026.
  12. ↑ Timsit, Annabelle (March 13, 2025). "Miami Beach mayor threatens theater's lease over West Bank documentary". The Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Archived from the original on March 16, 2025. Retrieved January 14, 2026.
  13. 1 2 Somasundaram, Praveena (January 14, 2026). "She made a Facebook comment about her mayor. Then the police arrived". The Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Archived from the original on January 14, 2026. Retrieved January 14, 2026.
  14. ↑ Calhoun, Julie; Garcia, Matthew (November 4, 2025). "Steven Meiner wins re-election as Miami Beach mayor, defeating Rosen Gonzalez". WSVN. Archived from the original on December 17, 2025. Retrieved November 6, 2025.
  15. ↑ Leibowitz, Aaron (January 16, 2026). "Complaint by Miami Beach mayor's office led to police visit over Facebook comment". Miami Herald. Archived from the original on January 14, 2026. Retrieved January 20, 2026.
  16. ↑ Liebowitz, Aaron (January 16, 2026). "Miami Beach resident posted online about the mayor. Police showed up at her door". Miami Herald. Archived from the original on January 20, 2026. Retrieved January 19, 2026.
  17. ↑ Vassolo, Martin (January 13, 2026). "Facebook post about Miami Beach mayor's support for Israel sparks police visit". Axios. Archived from the original on January 20, 2026. Retrieved January 19, 2026.
  18. ↑ Leibowitz, Aaron (January 17, 2026). "'Offensive to the First Amendment': Free speech group blasts Miami Beach PD". Miami Herald. Archived from the original on January 20, 2026. Retrieved January 20, 2026.
  19. ↑ Vigdor, Neil; Kwai, Isabella (January 20, 2026). "Miami Beach Nightclub Is Condemned for Playing Ye's Song 'Heil Hitler'". The New York Times. Retrieved January 20, 2026.
  20. ↑ Winslow, Mike (January 20, 2026). "Miami Club Fires Staff After Incels Invade & Play Kanye's Ode To Hitler". AllHipHop. Retrieved January 21, 2026.
  21. ↑ Strong, Nolan (January 19, 2026). "Miami Beach Mayor Slams Club For Playing Banned Kanye Song". AllHipHop. Archived from the original on January 20, 2026. Retrieved January 21, 2026.