Democrat elected Miami mayor for first time in nearly three decades

Eileen Higgins Becomes First Democrat in Nearly 30 Years Elected Mayor of Miami. Democrat Eileen Higgins made history on Tuesday by becoming the first member of her party in nearly three decades elected mayor of Miami, defeating Republican Emilio Gonzalez, who was backed by former President Donald Trump, in a predominantly Hispanic city at the heart of Trump's Florida stronghold.

CNN and the Associated Press called the race for Higgins less than an hour after polls closed, as returns showed the former Miami-Dade County commissioner leading Gonzalez by 18 percentage points.

Although Miami’s mayoral contest is officially nonpartisan and typically draws little national attention, this year’s election gained prominence as a key indicator of voter sentiment in Trump’s political backyard.

Higgins’ decisive victory adds momentum to Democrats, following a series of election wins last month that raised doubts about Republican prospects for retaining control in the 2026 midterm elections. It also raises questions about whether Hispanic support that Trump had captured in 2024 is now weakening.

In a statement posted to her Facebook account, Higgins, 61, focused on local issues, describing her win as a chance to “turn the page on years of chaos and corruption.” She did not highlight the national political implications of her victory.

Higgins is the first Democrat to win Miami’s mayoral race since Xavier Suarez in 1997, the father of outgoing Republican Mayor Francis Suarez. She also becomes the first woman and the first non-Hispanic candidate since the 1990s to hold the office in Miami, a city of roughly 487,000 residents in Miami-Dade County.

Tuesday’s results suggest that Republican influence may be softening in Miami-Dade, where many historically left-leaning Hispanic voters supported Trump last year, helping him secure 55% of the county vote in the 2024 presidential election.

In the November 4 first round of voting, Higgins led with 36% of the vote in a crowded field, while Gonzalez, 68, a former city manager and retired U.S. Army colonel, came in second with 18%, setting up the runoff.

While neither candidate initially ran a highly partisan campaign, the runoff took on national significance after Democrats’ recent wins in New Jersey, Virginia, New York City, and California. Former President Trump publicly endorsed Gonzalez on November 17, urging voters to support him. The Democratic National Committee and prominent Democrats, including U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, backed Higgins in response.

Despite local races occasionally reflecting broader political trends, caution is advised in extrapolating results. For example, Daniella Levine Cava, a non-Hispanic Democrat, has served as mayor of Miami-Dade since 2020 and was re-elected last year even though Trump carried the county in the presidential race. -Steve Gorman/Reuters