Eileen Higgins and the recent Miami mayoral election

What happened, why it matters, and what it may mean for the future of Miami, Florida.  

Who is Eileen Higgins Eileen Higgins is an American politician. She was born in Ohio and raised in Albuquerque, New Mexico.  She studied mechanical engineering at University of New Mexico (BS) and earned an MBA from Cornell University.  Before entering city-level elective politics, she worked in international development and consulting — focusing especially on infrastructure and transportation in Latin America. She also served as Country Director of the Peace Corps in Belize and later worked as a foreign-service officer at the U.S. Department of State.  Later, she worked in the private sector (marketing roles) before moving more directly into local public service.  In 2018 she was elected to the Miami‑Dade County Commission representing District 5. She served in that position until 2025, when she stepped down to run for mayor.  

Thus, by the time of the 2025 mayoral race, Higgins combined a technical education, international development and public-service experience, and several years of local governance with knowledge of Miami-Dade’s issues.   

Context: The 2025 Miami Mayoral Election Why this election was unusual and important The 2025 mayoral election was nonpartisan in name — meaning candidates didn’t appear on the ballot with explicit party labels.  But in practice, the race became intensely partisan and highly watched nationally.  The outgoing mayor, Francis Suarez, a Republican, was term-limited and could not run again.  Historically, the city had been governed by Republicans for nearly three decades, and no Democrat had held the mayor’s office since 1997.  

In addition, Miami’s demographics

A large immigrant population, many Hispanic residents — gave weight to debates over immigration policy, affordable housing, equity, and cost of living — issues that played a crucial role in the campaign.  

Thus, this election was widely seen as a potential turning point — for Miami’s internal governance and for broader political trends in Florida (especially around changing voter behavior among immigrant and Hispanic communities).   

The Candidates: Eileen Higgins vs. Emilio Gonzalez Eileen Higgins As noted, Higgins had local governance experience as a Miami-Dade County Commissioner. She used that background to position herself as a candidate focused on practical solutions: affordable housing, efficient city government, improved public services, transit, and tackling cost-of-living pressures.  Her campaign also emphasized inclusivity, immigration, and supporting Miami’s immigrant and diverse communities.  Higgins gained support from national Democrats and organizations — effectively aligning her, informally, with the Democratic Party, even though the race was officially nonpartisan.  

Emilio Gonzalez Emilio Gonzalez is a former city manager of Miami and a retired U.S. Air Force colonel.  He ran as the main Republican-aligned contender. His campaign emphasized public safety, reducing bureaucratic red tape, government efficiency, and structural reform of city governance. He also proposed property-tax relief for primary residences.  Gonzalez had high-level endorsements: from former U.S. President Donald J. Trump and Florida’s then-Governor Ron DeSantis, reflecting national Republican investment in the race.  

Given this backdrop — a Democrat with local-service credentials vs. a Republican backed by national political heavyweights — the election effectively became a referendum on Miami’s future direction: local governance, inclusivity, affordability vs. conservative policy, property-tax relief, and administrative reform.  

The 2025 Mayoral Race & Election Results First round (November 4, 2025) The initial ballot included a large field — over a dozen candidates. No one achieved the majority needed to win outright.  In that round, Higgins got about 36% of the vote, leading the field. Gonzalez received around 19–20%, placing second.  Because no candidate crossed the 50% threshold, a runoff between the top two — Higgins and Gonzalez — was scheduled for December 9, 2025.  

Runoff election (December 9, 2025) On December 9, voters cast ballots in the runoff between Higgins and Gonzalez.  

Higgins won decisively: 

she secured 59% of the vote to Gonzalez’s ≈ 41%.  This victory makes Higgins the mayor-elect of Miami.  

Significance of the Result Higgins becomes the first Democrat to be elected mayor of Miami in nearly 30 years.  She also becomes the first woman ever to hold the office.  Moreover — according to several reports — she is the first non-Hispanic candidate in decades to win the post.  Her win ends a long stretch of Republican (GOP) control over city leadership.  

This is not just a personal victory for Higgins — it's a symbolic political shift for Miami. Many observers view the result as a sign that the city (and perhaps broader South Florida) might be moving away from Republican dominance, especially in the context of shifting attitudes around immigration, cost of living, housing, and demographic change.   

What Higgins Campaigned On — Key Themes & Issues Higgins’s campaign emphasized practical issues that resonate with many everyday Miami residents. Some of the key themes: Affordable housing & housing access: She argued that Miami should use its own land and resources to build housing for working-class and middle-class families. She said the city’s growth had outpaced its capacity to provide affordable homes.  Government efficiency and services: As a former county commissioner, she pitched herself as someone who knows the system and can cut bureaucratic red tape, delivering better services to citizens.  Support for immigrant communities and inclusive policies: Given Miami’s large immigrant and Hispanic population, she highlighted immigrant rights and stood against aggressive deportation or immigration-enforcement policies (which had been part of Republican platforms).  Climate resilience and future growth with equity: 

As Miami faces environmental challenges 

Sea-level rise, coastal flooding, etc, stability and inclusive planning were part of her appeal.  

Her campaign message often emphasized restoring public trust, transparency, and accountability — framing the race as a choice between “competence” over “chaos.”   

What This Means — For Miami and Beyond A shift in political alignment: With Higgins’s win, a major U.S. city long held by Republicans has flipped to Democratic control. This could signal broader demographic and political changes — especially in cities with large immigrant and minority populations.  A test for national politics: The race attracted attention from national figures and parties (both Republican and Democratic). Observers see it as a sort of bellwether for voter sentiment ahead of the 2026 midterms.  Local changes ahead: On the ground in Miami, a new mayor with a focus on housing, inclusion, and government reforms could shift policies — potentially addressing long-standing community concerns around affordability, immigration, equality, and representation. Since Higgins has a background in public service and governance, many expect pragmatic, even technocratic leadership rather than simply partisan politics.  Symbolic significance: Her becoming Miami’s first woman mayor — and first Democrat in nearly 30 years — marks important progress in representation and diversity in the city’s leadership.    What Happens Next — What to Watch Implementation of her campaign promises: housing initiatives, reforms to city governance, support for immigrant and minority communities, improvements in public services. Residents and observers will watch to see how quickly and effectively she delivers. Broader political reactions: Given the high profile of this election, parties — both Democratic and Republican — may respond nationally: adjusting strategies in Florida and similar urban, diverse areas. Impact on other races: The result may motivate more progressive or Democratic candidates to run for local offices in other traditionally Republican-controlled cities. Might influence future state or congressional election dynamics in Florida. Civic engagement and voter mobilization: Given that Higgins’s win was helped by grassroots organizing and support from immigrant and working-class communities, this may encourage greater community participation in local elections — signaling a possible shift in how local politics is conducted.