For the first time in nearly three decades, Democrats have claimed the mayorâs office in Miami â a city long viewed as one of the GOPâs most reliable urban strongholds and a political gateway to Latin America.
Eileen Higgins, a former county commissioner with a background in engineering and public service, defeated Republican Emilio GonzĂĄlez in Tuesdayâs runoff election, according to Fox News.
Although the race was officially nonpartisan, it quickly evolved into a high-stakes partisan contest drawing national scrutiny and heavy investment from both parties.
President Donald Trump threw his weight behind GonzĂĄlez, calling the contest âa big and important race!!!â and urging voters on social media to turn out for the Republican candidate. The Republican Party of Florida also pumped resources into the effort to keep the seat in GOP hands.
Democrats, buoyed by last monthâs sweeping wins across the country and a strong showing in a Tennessee special election last week, saw Miami as an opportunity to extend that momentum.
The Democratic National Committee committed significant support, with DNC Chair Ken Martin telling Fox News Digital the party was âlaser focusedâ on the runoff and âall-inâ for Higgins.
Miamiâs political leanings have stood in stark contrast to Floridaâs rightward shift. Gov. Ron DeSantis won re-election by nearly 20 points in 2022, and Trump carried the state by 13 points in last yearâs presidential contest.
But the city of Miami has remained a pocket of Democratic strength, even as the broader Miami-Dade County has shown swings in both directions.
Higgins oriented her campaign around affordability, faster local government response times, and improving basic services.
GonzĂĄlez, a veteran and senior advisor at an asset management firm, centered his pitch on combating overdevelopment and floated eliminating property taxes for primary homes.
In the Nov. 4 initial election, Higgins led the field with 36% of the vote, while GonzĂĄlez finished second with 19%. With no candidate reaching the majority threshold, the race moved to Tuesdayâs runoff, where Higgins secured the decisive win.
She will replace outgoing Republican Mayor Francis Suarez, who is term-limited and previously made a brief â and unsuccessful â bid for the GOP presidential nomination.