Eileen Higgins was in Miami on Monday. AP
Eileen Higgins delivered one of Miami’s most unexpected political results in decades on Tuesday night. The 61-year-old Democrat won the city’s mayoral race, ending a long Republican hold on the office and becoming Miami’s first Democratic mayor in 30 years. Her victory marked a sharp change for a region that backed Donald Trump in record numbers during the 2024 election.
Higgins previously served as a Miami-Dade County commissioner. She finished second in last month’s vote, which forced a run-off between her and Republican candidate Emilio González, a former city manager. On Tuesday, she won by a wide margin, surprising analysts and energizing Democrats across the country.
A Race Shaped by Immigration Concerns
Miami-Dade holds one of the largest immigrant populations in the United States. More than half of its residents were born outside the country. Higgins focused her campaign on immigration issues and positioned herself as a clear alternative to Trump’s policies.
She criticized the president’s support for Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, including the creation of the controversial “Alligator Alcatraz” immigration jail and efforts to end protected programs for groups such as Venezuelans, Haitians, and Cubans. Higgins told one publication this week, “That is the strength of this community. We are an immigrant-based place. That’s our uniqueness. That’s what makes us special.”
Her message resonated in Miami’s diverse neighbourhoods. She argued that local families felt the impact of harsh immigration enforcement, rising living costs, and ongoing financial pressure.
Republicans Fight to Hold the Office
Although the race was officially nonpartisan, party politics played a clear role. GOP leaders invested significant time and energy in supporting González. Trump posted two endorsements on social media, linking González to his national agenda. But his messages failed to shift voter opinion.
González tried to present himself as a steady, experienced leader, but Higgins’s campaign built a large coalition of supporters. The Democratic Party saw the race as an important test of voter sentiment. Organizers made more than 300,000 phone calls in the final weeks.
Laura Kelley, chair of the Miami-Dade Democratic Party, said Higgins’s win “solidified a backlash” against Trump’s handling of immigration and the economy. She said residents see the impact of deportations, high costs and housing struggles every day. “It matters who the mayor is of this city,” she said.
A New First for Miami
Higgins will also become Miami’s first woman mayor and its first non-Hispanic mayor in nearly 30 years. She replaces Francis Suarez, a Republican whose father, Xavier Suarez, was the last Democrat to hold the office in the 1990s.
Her victory comes after a strong run of Democratic gains in other state and local elections nationwide. Party leaders say the result shows renewed energy among Democratic voters, even in states where Republicans have recently dominated.
Early results showed Higgins ahead by nearly 19 percentage points, a margin that underlined the scale of her upset win.
