Eileen Higgins, a Democrat, secured victory in the Miami mayoral contest on Tuesday, overcoming a Republican candidate backed by President Donald Trump. This win concluded her party's almost thirty-year period without a mayoral win and provided Democrats with encouragement in one of the last electoral battles leading up to the 2026 midterm elections.
TL;DR
- Eileen Higgins, a Democrat, won the Miami mayoral election, ending a nearly 30-year drought for her party.
- Higgins is the first woman to lead Miami and campaigned against Trump's immigration policies.
- Her victory offers Democrats encouragement ahead of the 2026 midterm elections in Florida.
- The race, though nonpartisan, drew national attention and highlighted shifts in the Hispanic vote.
Higgins, 61, will be the first woman to lead the city of Miami. She spoke frequently in the Hispanic-majority city about Trump’s immigration crackdown, saying she has heard of many people in Miami who were worried about family members being detained. She campaigned as a proud Democrat despite the race being officially nonpartisan and beat Trump-backed candidate Emilio Gonzalez, a former city manager, who said he called Higgins to congratulate her.
“We are facing rhetoric from elected officials that is so dehumanizing and cruel, especially against immigrant populations,” Higgins told The Associated Press after her victory speech. “The residents of Miami were ready to be done with that.”
With nearly all votes counted Tuesday, Higgins led the Republican by about 19 percentage points.
This local contest doesn't forecast outcomes for the upcoming year's elections. Nevertheless, it captured the notice of the two primary national political organizations and their principal figures. The win offers Democrats a degree of impetus as they approach a crucial midterm contest, during which the GOP aims to maintain its control in Florida, specifically within a district in Miami-Dade County where the Hispanic population is the majority. This region has seen a growing conservative trend politically over the past few years, and the city might eventually host Trump’s presidential library.
“Tonight’s result is yet another warning sign to Republicans that voters are fed up with their out-of-touch agenda that is raising costs,” said Ken Martin, the chair of the Democratic National Committee, in a statement.
Notable Democrats from across the nation lent their backing to Higgins, with Former Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg among them. U.S. Senator Ruben Gallego and ex-Mayor of Chicago Rahm Emanuel journeyed to Miami over Sunday and Monday to mobilize support for The Democratic candidate, who previously held a position as a Miami-Dade county commissioner for a seven-year tenure.
Higgins, fluent in Spanish, served a district that leans conservative and encompasses the Cuban enclave of Little Havana. Upon entering public service in 2018, she opted to introduce herself to constituents as “La Gringa,”, a designation Spanish speakers employ for White Americans, as numerous individuals found her surname difficult to articulate.
“It just helps people understand who I am, and you know what? I am a ‘gringa,’ so, what am I going to do, deny it?” She told the AP.
Republicans’ anxiety grows
Florida Republicans have garnered considerable backing from electors with origins in Cuba, Venezuela, and Nicaragua, as they've drawn parallels between certain figures in the Democratic party's progressive faction and the leaders of regimes they escaped. Trump and other Republican figures have capitalized on these feelings for the last eight years.
Nonetheless, certain local Republican figures are experiencing mounting dissatisfaction following the November elections, during which Democrats achieved victories in New Jersey and Virginia, with both successful gubernatorial contenders demonstrating robust support among nonwhite constituents.
The outcomes of those contests were viewed as an indication of worries regarding increasing costs and the Trump administration's aggressive immigration policies.
U.S. Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar, a Republican representing a district that Democrats are aiming for and encompassing Miami, characterized the elections in other places as “wake-up call.” She stated that individuals of Hispanic descent also desire a protected border and a robust economy, along with some assistance for “those who have been here for years and do not have a criminal record.”
“The Hispanic vote is not guaranteed,” Salazar said in a video posted on X last month. “Hispanics married President Trump, but they are only dating the GOP.”
David Jolly, a candidate seeking to represent Democrats in next year's Florida gubernatorial contest, stated that the mayoral election offered positive developments for Democrats in a state that was formerly a competitive area.
“Change is here. It’s sweeping the nation, and it’s sweeping Florida,” Jolly said.
Miami mayor-elect gains national platform
Though the mayoral role in Miami carries more symbolic weight, Higgins pledged to approach it as if it were a full-time commitment.
The municipality is situated within Miami-Dade County, which Trump flipped last year, representing a significant advancement compared to his deficit of 30 percentage points against Democrat Hillary Clinton in 2016.
Miami, recognized as Florida's second most populous municipality, is viewed as the entry point to Latin America, drawing in countless visitors. Its worldwide renown affords Higgins a substantial platform in his mayoral capacity.
Her proposal to the electorate involved identifying municipal property suitable for conversion into low-cost residences and reducing non-essential expenditures.
