Democrat Eileen Higgins has won the Miami mayoral race, defeating a Republican candidate endorsed by former President Donald Trump and ending her party’s nearly three-decade losing streak in the city. The victory provides Democrats with momentum heading into the 2026 midterm elections.
Eileen Higgins Makes History in Miami
“Tonight, the people of Miami made history,” Higgins said in a statement after the results were announced on Tuesday evening. “Together, we turned the page on years of chaos and corruption, and opened the door to a new era for our city, one defined by ethical, accountable leadership that delivers real results for the people.”
Higgins, 61, will be the first woman to lead the city of Miami. She frequently spoke about Trump’s immigration crackdown while campaigning in the Hispanic-majority city, noting concerns from residents about family members being detained.
Campaigning as a Democrat in the officially nonpartisan race, Higgins defeated Emilio Gonzalez, a former city manager who received Trump’s endorsement. Gonzalez congratulated Higgins, pledging to support her administration.
“I just got off the phone with our new mayor,” Gonzalez told supporters.
Before her victory, Higgins told the Associated Press, “We’re living in the state of Florida, where people are building cages for our residents rather than affordable housing for them.”
Republican Anxiety Grows
Florida Republicans have traditionally found strong support from voters with heritage from Cuba, Venezuela and Nicaragua, due to concerns about progressive elements within the Democratic Party. Trump and other Republican leaders have leveraged these sentiments over the past eight years.
However, some local Republicans are growing increasingly frustrated following November’s elections, where Democrats secured wins in New Jersey and Virginia, with winning gubernatorial candidates performing strongly with non-white voters. These results were seen as a reflection of concerns over rising prices and the Trump administration’s immigration policies.
Florida’s Second-Largest City
The mayoral position in Miami is largely ceremonial, but Higgins has promised to approach it as a full-time job.
Miami, part of Miami-Dade County, was flipped by Trump in the previous election, a significant change from his 30-percentage-point loss to Hillary Clinton in 2016. As Florida’s second-largest city, Miami serves as a gateway to Latin America and attracts millions of tourists, providing Higgins with a prominent platform as mayor.
Her campaign focused on identifying city-owned land for affordable housing development and reducing unnecessary spending.
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