Miami-Dade County Commissioner Eileen Higgins might be shaping up her campaign for Miami mayor to be similar to other Democratic Socialist, left-leaning candidates that are taking power in cities like New York, Los Angeles, and Portland. But while her messaging leans into an ideological rebrand for Miami, questions linger about her actual commitment to the race—and her silence during one of the city’s biggest political showdowns in years.
Though Miami’s mayoral contest is officially nonpartisan, Higgins has brought a distinctly Democrat-aligned, Democratic Socialist tone to her campaign. Her priorities—government-controlled solutions to affordable housing, expanded transit, resiliency, and green infrastructure—mirror those of Democratic Socialist city leaders nationwide. Supporters see her as the candidate to break the GOP’s hold on the office following Republican Mayor Francis Suarez’s tenure.
But critics warn that she is attempting to make the race ideological—a shift they argue will polarize Miami politics and move City Hall closer to Leftist agendas seen in other major U.S. cities.
Higgins has not yet officially qualified for the ballot. Under Florida’s “resign-to-run” law, she would need to submit an irrevocable letter of resignation by September 10 to legally secure a place in the race. This delay has fueled speculation that Higgins is still “testing the waters” and could pull back if political winds shift—especially given Miami’s volatile electoral climate.
If she does move forward, Higgins would be leaving the Miami-Dade County Commission with three years left in her term—and at a time when the county is facing its largest budget deficit in decades—north of $400 million. It’s the biggest budget hole since the housing crisis, yet with no housing crisis to blame.
Critics say the county budgets she voted for over the years, which grew government spending significantly, have now “come home to roost.”
When the City of Miami Commission attempted to cancel the 2025 election for mayor and commissioner—a move ruled unconstitutional by two courts—Higgins offered her support in quotes for the plan. She never publicly displayed concern about illegality and election integrity, even as the proposal drew sharp condemnation from across the political spectrum.
Strong political rumors swirled that Democratic Miami Commissioner Damian Pardo, who sponsored the ordinance to move the election, was considering a mayoral run himself if the date change went through. For many Democrats, the move was less about governance and more about tilting the field in their favor. But those plans collapsed when Emilio Gonzalez sued the city and won, restoring the 2025 election and guaranteeing Miami voters the right to choose a new mayor this November.
In a recent interview with The Hill, Florida Democratic Party Chairwoman Nikki Fried openly acknowledged the party’s gains at the local level, implying this is part of a broader strategy to take back Florida:
“Fried pointed to an 8 percent increase in Democratic voter turnout from the 2020 election to the 2024 election. She also credited work the state party has done to generate gains on school boards and county commissions. Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava (D) was also able to win reelection by a wide margin even as the county went in the other direction in 2024," read the article.
That strategy is likely to materialize in the City of Miami race as organizations tied to the Florida Democratic Party, like Florida Rising, are already engaging in the contest.
Associated political PACs supporting Higgins have already begun attacking Republicans—primarily Emilio Gonzalez—with partisan messaging designed to rally liberal voters ahead of November.
Higgins now faces a dual challenge: convincing voters she’s committed to the race and defending her muted response during a pivotal fight for Miami’s election integrity. If she does file to run, she would probably be considered progressive Democratic Socialist standard-bearer in a race already charged with ideological tension—making Miami the next battleground.
