Eileen Higgins becomes Miami’s first Democratic mayor in 30 years

In stunning upset victory, Higgins also becomes first woman in post and first non-Hispanic candidate since 90s

Democrat Eileen Higgins was elected mayor of Miami on Tuesday night in a stunning upset victory that reversed a run of recent Republican successes in Florida.

The election of Higgins, 61, a former county commissioner, also added to a string of Democratic wins across the country that have served to highlight the growing level of resistance to Donald Trump in his second presidential term.

Miami-Dade, a county with a significant immigrant population, voted for Trump in historic numbers in 2024, making him the first Republican presidential candidate to win it since 1988.

That majority melted away in Tuesday’s run-off as Higgins became the first Democrat in 30 years to become mayor of the city of Miami. After winning 36% of the vote in last month’s election after which the top two candidates moved forward, she bested Republican Emilio González, a former city manager.

Republicans’ determination to retain the office in what was, in theory at least, a nonpartisan race was reflected in the number of party heavyweights who lined up to back González. Trump posted two fulsome endorsements on Truth Social, both spelling González’s name incorrectly, and aligning him with the Trump agenda for “secure borders” and cracking down on “migrant crime”.

Higgins, too, focused much of her campaign on immigration.  (snip-a bit MORE)