MIAMI, FL (LOOTPRESS) – Democrat Eileen Higgins has captured the Miami mayor’s office, according to NBC News projections, marking the party’s first victory in the city’s top job in nearly 30 years — a significant boost for Democrats as they head into next year’s crucial midterm cycle.
Higgins, a former Miami-Dade County commissioner, secured 59% of the vote, defeating Republican contender Emilio González, a businessman and former city manager backed by former President Donald Trump. González conceded Tuesday evening, his campaign confirmed.
“Tonight, Miami made history,” Higgins said in a statement. “Together, we turned the page on years of turmoil and corruption and ushered in a new era — one centered on ethical, accountable leadership that delivers meaningful results for our residents.”
Although the Miami mayoral contest is officially nonpartisan, candidates aligned with the GOP have consistently prevailed since 2008, and an independent won before that. Democrats had not held the office since 1997. Despite Miami-Dade County’s recent shift toward Republicans, Democratic former Vice President Kamala Harris narrowly won the city itself in last year’s election.
Throughout the campaign, both Higgins and González emphasized the need for a clean break from previous administrations and focused heavily on economic anxieties felt by Miami voters. But in its final stretch, the race took on national political overtones. Issues such as affordability, Trump’s eroding political influence and the resonance of his contentious deportation proposals in a heavily Hispanic city became central — all themes expected to shape the 2026 election landscape.
Higgins frequently pointed to her county commission experience, highlighting her efforts to tackle everyday concerns like affordable housing, infrastructure improvements and more efficient city operations — initiatives she argued would lower costs and improve quality of life for Miami residents.
