*Democrat Eileen Higgins won Miami’s mayoral runoff on Dec. 9, defeating Republican Emilio González with 60% of the vote and ending nearly three decades of Republican control in the city. The victory marks the first time a woman will serve as mayor in Miami’s history.
“Miami chose a new direction,” Higgins told supporters during her victory speech. “You chose competence over chaos, results over excuses.”
Though the race was officially nonpartisan, it quickly became a proxy battle between national parties. González, a former city manager, was endorsed by President Donald Trump and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis. Democrats, meanwhile, viewed the race as a rare opportunity to gain ground in a state where their influence has waned in recent years.
Florida Democratic Party Chair Nikki Fried hailed the outcome as a testament to grassroots organizing. “When we commit to relentless, year-round organizing… we can, in fact, win,” Fried said in a statement.
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The mayoral race drew national attention, with party leaders treating it as a bellwether for voter sentiment in Trump’s home state. Miami, which is slated to host the future Trump presidential library in nearby Doral, became a symbolic battleground.
Higgins’ win coincided with another Democratic upset in Georgia, where Eric Gisler flipped a Republican-held state House seat in a district Trump won by double digits in 2024. The victories suggest growing Democratic momentum in traditionally conservative areas.
Republican officials downplayed the Miami loss, calling the city “Democratic-leaning.” However, Higgins’ win breaks a 28-year streak of GOP control and signals a potential shift in Florida’s political landscape.
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