Democrat Eileen Higgins Favored to Win Miami Mayoral Runoff

Al Jazeera
Al Jazeera
2h ago • 2 views
Democrat Eileen Higgins is favored to win Miami’s mayoral runoff against Trump-backed Republican Emilio Gonzalez, potentially breaking a nearly 30-year Republican hold on the office.
Democrat Eileen Higgins Favored to Win Miami Mayoral Runoff
A What happened
The Miami mayoral runoff election on December 10, 2025, is notable because a Democrat has a strong chance to win for the first time in almost three decades in a city that has leaned Republican and serves as a strategic base for former President Donald Trump. Democrat Eileen Higgins, a former county commissioner and candidate with strong local ties including Spanish-speaking credentials and prior representation of the conservative Cuban-American district of Little Havana, is competing against Emilio Gonzalez, a Republican former Miami City Manager and U.S. Army colonel endorsed by Trump. Both candidates address local and national concerns: Higgins focuses on housing affordability and immigration with a nuanced approach in a Hispanic-majority city, while Gonzalez emphasizes repealing property taxes and supports crime-related immigration enforcement. The race has drawn support from major political figures on both sides, including Florida Governor Ron DeSantis for Gonzalez and high-profile Democrats like Senator Ruben Gallego and Rahm Emanuel for Higgins, reflecting its significance as a bellwether for upcoming midterm elections.
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Key insights

  • 1

    Partisan Support Despite Nonpartisan Ballot

    Although party affiliation is absent from the ballot by law, this Miami mayoral race has attracted explicit national endorsements, highlighting the political stakes in Florida.

  • 2

    Historic Candidacy of Eileen Higgins

    Higgins stands to become Miami’s first Democrat mayor in nearly 30 years, as well as its first female and first non-Hispanic mayor, marking a significant demographic and political milestone.

  • 3

    Focus on Local and National Issues

    Campaign platforms tackle housing affordability, tax changes, and immigration enforcement, reflecting both local voter priorities and broader national debates in this Hispanic-majority city.

Takeaways

The Miami mayoral runoff serves as a critical indicator of shifting political dynamics in Florida, with Democrat Eileen Higgins positioned to break decades of Republican control and influence broader electoral trends.