MIAMI, FLORIDA – Eileen Higgins was elected mayor of Miami on Tuesday, becoming the first Democrat to hold the office in nearly 30 years and defeating the candidate endorsed by former President Donald Trump. The victory marks a major political win in South Florida, where Republican gains have been rising in recent years. Higgins, a former county commissioner, also becomes the first woman elected to lead the city.
Higgins, backed by the Democratic National Committee, campaigned on anti-corruption, streamlining the city’s permitting process, upgrading public transit, and investing in environmental resilience. Her opponent, Emilio González, a Republican and Trump-backed candidate, focused on rolling back property taxes, expanding police presence, and reforming licensing and permitting. Local and national leaders praised Higgins’ win, highlighting it as a signal of voter dissatisfaction with Republican policies and as part of a broader wave of pro-choice women taking leadership roles in cities across Florida.
Tuesday’s elections also included other local races. In Miami District 3, Rolando Escalona led with 53% over former commissioner Frank Carollo. Miami Beach voters chose Monica Matteo-Salinas for an at-large commission seat with 71% of the vote. In Hialeah, Gelien Perez won Group 3 with 80%, while William “Willy” Marrero took Group 4 with 71%.