Miami Elects Its First Democratic Mayor in Nearly 30 Years

Democrat Eileen Higgins won Miami’s mayoral race on Tuesday, the first Democrat to win the seat in nearly 30 years.

“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,” Higgins said in a statement declaring victory, promising to lead a government “that finally earns the public’s trust.”

Higgins, a 61-year-old mechanical engineer and a former Peace Corps director, represented what she characterized as a Republican-leaning district on the county commission. Her campaign, backed by the Democratic National Committee, focused on local issues including affordable housing and promoting small businesses.

Higgins is set to become Miami’s first female mayor and its first non-Hispanic mayor since the 1990s. She bested Republican candidate Emilio T. González, who had been endorsed by President Donald Trump, with 59.3% of the vote to González’s 40.7%.

The city’s outgoing mayor, Francis X. Suarez, who attempted a 2024 presidential bid, is term-limited.

Congressional Democrats took note of Higgins’ win Tuesday as a sign of Democratic momentum ahead of next year’s midterm elections.

“We are soooo going to flip the House next year,” Rep. Ted Lieu, a California Democrat, said in a post to X congratulating Higgins.

“After nearly 30 years, the good people of Miami have flipped this seat blue,” New Mexico Rep. Melanie Stansbury posted. “This is a big deal for our democracy, our communities, and what comes next.”

Ken Martin, chairman of the Democratic National Committee, agreed with the sentiment in a statement to NOTUS Tuesday night.

“Mayor-elect Eileen Higgins’ win is a testament to what Democrats can accomplish when we organize and compete everywhere,” Martin said. “While her opponent was ready to rubber-stamp Donald Trump’s inflationary agenda, Higgins remained laser-focused on lowering costs and improving the lives of Miami families. Tonight’s result is yet another warning sign to Republicans that voters are fed up with their out-of-touch agenda that is raising costs for working families across the country.”