Key Takeaways:
- Democrat Eileen Higgins has won the Miami mayoral election, defeating a Republican endorsed by President Donald Trump.
- Higgins will be the first woman to lead the city of Miami, ending the Democratic party’s nearly three-decade losing streak.
- The victory provides Democrats with momentum heading into the 2026 midterms, particularly in Florida, a state that has shifted increasingly rightward in recent years.
- Higgins campaigned on issues such as immigration and affordable housing, and her win is seen as a warning sign to Republicans that voters are fed up with their out-of-touch agenda.
- The mayoral position in Miami is more ceremonial, but Higgins has promised to execute it like a full-time job and use her platform to address the city’s pressing issues.
Introduction to the Election
The city of Miami has a new mayor, Democrat Eileen Higgins, who won the mayoral election on Tuesday, defeating a Republican endorsed by President Donald Trump. This victory marks a significant milestone for the Democratic party, ending their nearly three-decade losing streak in the city. Higgins, 61, will be the first woman to lead the city of Miami, and her win is seen as a boost to Democrats ahead of the 2026 midterms. The election was closely watched by both national parties, with Higgins campaigning on issues such as immigration and affordable housing.
Campaign and Victory
Higgins spoke frequently about Trump’s immigration crackdown, saying she has heard from 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. With nearly all votes counted, Higgins led the Republican by about 19 percentage points. In her victory speech, Higgins told The Associated Press that the residents of Miami were ready to be done with the "rhetoric from elected officials that is so dehumanizing and cruel, especially against immigrant populations."
National Implications
The local race is not predictive of what may happen at the polls next year, but it drew attention from the two major national political parties and their leaders. The victory provides Democrats with some momentum heading into a high-stakes midterm election when the GOP is looking to keep its grip in Florida, including in a Hispanic-majority district in Miami-Dade County. The area has shifted increasingly rightward politically in recent years, and the city may become the home of Trump’s presidential library. Ken Martin, the chair of the Democratic National Committee, said in a statement that "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."
Higgins’ Background and Campaign
Higgins, who speaks Spanish, represented a district that leans conservative and includes the Cuban neighborhood of Little Havana. When she first entered politics in 2018, she chose to present herself to voters as "La Gringa," a term Spanish speakers use for white Americans, because many people did not know how to pronounce her name. Higgins campaigned on issues such as finding city-owned land that could be turned into affordable housing and cutting unnecessary spending. She also spoke about the need to address the city’s pressing issues, such as rising prices and the Trump administration’s aggressive immigration policies.
Republican Anxiety
Republicans in Florida have found strong support from voters with heritage from Cuba, Venezuela, and Nicaragua, because they likened some members of the Democratic party’s progressive wing with politicians from the governments they fled. However, some local Republicans are growing increasingly frustrated since November’s elections when Democrats scored wins in New Jersey and Virginia, where both winning gubernatorial candidates performed strongly with nonwhite voters. U.S. Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar, a Republican whose district is being targeted by Democrats and includes the city of Miami, called the elections elsewhere a "wake-up call." She said Hispanics also want a secure border and a healthy economy but some relief for "those who have been here for years and do not have a criminal record."
Future Implications
The mayoral position in Miami is more ceremonial, but Higgins has promised to execute it like a full-time job. The city is part of Miami-Dade County, which Trump flipped last year, a dramatic improvement from his 30 percentage point loss to Democrat Hillary Clinton in 2016. As Florida’s second-largest city, Miami is considered the gateway to Latin America and attracts millions of tourists. Its global prominence gives Higgins a significant stage as mayor. David Jolly, who is running to represent Democrats in the Florida governor’s race next year, said the mayoral election was good news for Democrats in what used to be a battleground state. "Change is here. It’s sweeping the nation, and it’s sweeping Florida," Jolly said. With Higgins’ victory, Democrats are hoping to build momentum heading into the 2026 midterms, and her win is seen as a significant step in that direction.