Daijiworld Media Network - Miami
Miami, Dec 10: Miami voters have elected Democrat Eileen Higgins as the city’s first woman mayor, marking the first time in nearly 30 years that a Democrat has won the office. In Tuesday’s runoff, Higgins—formerly a county commissioner—defeated Republican Emilio González, a former city manager who had the backing of both President Donald Trump and Florida governor Ron DeSantis.
Celebrating her victory, Higgins said the city had “turned the page on years of chaos and corruption” and was stepping into “a new era of ethical, accountable leadership that delivers real results for the people.” She pledged to build a government that “finally earns the public’s trust,” according to the New York Times.
Although Miami elections are officially nonpartisan, both parties invested heavily in the race. Trump endorsed González, while the Democratic National Committee backed Higgins. Several prominent national Democrats even traveled to Miami in the final days of the campaign—an uncommon show of involvement in a low-turnout, off-year municipal election. Higgins secured her win after leading the first round of voting on November 4 with 35 percent, compared to González’s 19 percent.
Higgins’ victory is historic on multiple fronts. She becomes Miami’s first female mayor and the city’s first non-Hispanic mayor in over three decades, ending a long era of Cuban American Republican leadership. A mechanical engineer by training and former Peace Corps director in Belize, Higgins also holds an MBA from Cornell University’s Johnson Graduate School of Management. She previously served eight years as a county commissioner representing what she described as a Republican-leaning district that included downtown Miami.
On the campaign trail, she promised to prioritize the everyday concerns of residents, as reported by Politico. Her candidacy drew support from notable figures, including former U.S. transportation secretary and ex-presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg, who endorsed her on social media. In the November 4 election, she topped the vote count in all five of Miami’s commission districts, a performance she repeated in the runoff.
Higgins will replace outgoing Mayor Francis Suarez, who briefly pursued the Republican presidential nomination. Her win is significant in a city that, like much of Florida, has trended Republican in recent years. With a population of about half a million, Miami remains the state’s second-largest city after Jacksonville, making her victory stand out even more in the current political climate.