Democratic candidate Eileen Higgins is expected to win in the highly anticipated Miami mayoral runoff election, which will test the sentiments of voters in Florida, President Trump’s home state.
Democrat Eileen Higgins has won the Miami mayoral race, defeating a Republican backed by President Donald Trump, ending the party’s nearly 30-year losing streak and giving Democrats a boost in one of the final campaigns before the 2026 midterm elections.
“Tonight, the people of Miami made history,” Higgins said in a statement after the results were announced Tuesday night.
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“Together, we have turned the page on years of chaos and corruption and opened the door to a new era for our city, defined by ethical and responsible leadership that delivers real results for people,” she said.
Higgins, 61, will be the first woman to lead the city of Miami. She frequently speaks about President Trump’s immigration crackdown in the Hispanic-majority city and said she has heard from many people in Miami who are worried about their families being detained.
Although the race is officially nonpartisan, Higgins is campaigning as a Democrat and defeated Trump-backed candidate and former city official Emilio Gonzalez, who said he called Higgins to congratulate him.
“I just got off the phone with the new mayor,” Gonzalez told supporters, adding that he had pledged to support his administration.
“We live in the state of Florida, and people are building cages for our residents instead of affordable housing,” Higgins told The Associated Press before her victory.
This victory gives the Democratic Party a boost heading into next year’s high-stakes midterm elections.
Eileen Higgins will become Miami’s next mayor after winning tonight’s runoff election. She will be the first woman in the city’s history and the first Democratic councilor in nearly 30 years.
Congratulations, Mayor-elect! pic.twitter.com/lSyZ087Xvc
— Democratic Party (@TheDemocrats) December 10, 2025
Republican anxiety grows
Florida’s Republican Party enjoys strong support from voters of Cuban, Venezuelan and Nicaraguan descent, as they liken some Democratic progressives to politicians in the exiled government.
Trump and other Republicans have exploited these sentiments over the past eight years.
But some local Republicans have grown dissatisfied since the November elections, when Democrats won New Jersey and Virginia, where both gubernatorial candidates performed well with nonwhite voters.
The results of these races were seen as reflecting concerns about rising prices and the Trump administration’s aggressive immigration policies.
Florida’s second city
Although the Miami mayor’s job is more ceremonial, Higgins has promised to treat his duties like a full-time job.
The city is part of Miami-Dade County, which President Trump flipped last year, a dramatic improvement from his 30-point loss to Democrat Hillary Clinton in 2016.
Miami, Florida’s second largest city, is considered the gateway to Latin America and is visited by millions of tourists. Mr. Higgins’ global profile will put him on an important stage as mayor.
Her pitch to voters included finding city-owned land that could be converted into affordable housing and cutting unnecessary spending.
