Miami has elected its first Democratic mayor in nearly 30 years — and the city is buzzing. On Tuesday, former county commissioner Eileen Higgins won the runoff for mayor of Miami, Florida, defeating former city manager Emilio González. With roughly 59 percent of the vote to González’s 41, Higgins clinched the victory decisively.
Higgins’ win ends a three-decade streak of Republican control over Miami’s top office — the last Democrat to hold the post did so briefly in the late 1990s. She also becomes the city’s first woman mayor, and the first non-Hispanic in the role in decades.
“Together, we turned the page on years of chaos and corruption and opened the door to a new era for our city — one defined by ethical, accountable leadership that delivers real results for the people,” Ms. Higgins said in a statement declaring victory, promising to lead a government “that finally earns the public’s trust.”
Although the mayoralty in Miami is technically nonpartisan, the race had become a high-stakes symbol nationally, with Republicans backing González and national Democrats — including major party groups — rallying behind Higgins. Higgins ran on a platform of affordable housing, city-services improvement, and immigrant-friendly policies, resonating with many in Miami’s diverse, largely Hispanic population.
Her election marks a significant political shift for Miami — long viewed as a conservative stronghold within South Florida — and gives Democrats a rare foothold ahead of the 2026 midterms.