After weeks of speculation over whether Miami-Dade Commissioner Eileen Higgins would actually jump into the race for Miami mayor, her latest maneuver leaves little doubt.
In a startling development first reported by Political Cortadito, Higgins allegedly leaned on the Sierra Club to force out former City Commissioner Ken Russell, one of her fellow Democrats and a declared candidate for mayor. Russell, who had recently taken a leadership post with the national environmental group, was abruptly ousted, with political insiders now saying it came at Higgins’ urging.
The move has quickly sparked questions about whether Higgins is weaponizing her position and political networks against rivals. Critics argue the episode highlights a troubling pattern in Miami politics, where those in office leverage influence behind closed doors to gain an edge before voters ever have their say.
The timing could not be clearer. Just last week, residents and political observers were openly questioning whether Higgins would “pull the trigger” on a mayoral run. Now this aggressive play signals that Higgins is not only preparing for battle but willing to clear the field of Democratic rivals by any means necessary.
While the City of Miami’s mayoral election is officially nonpartisan, Higgins’ maneuver underscores her intent to turn the contest into a Democratic power struggle. By sidelining Russell, a longtime progressive voice in the city, Higgins appears to be staking her hopes on consolidating the Democratic base and driving turnout in November.
That approach could deepen partisan lines in Miami politics, something voters historically push back against in local races. Yet by making it clear that the elbows and knives are out, Higgins has charted a path that counts on her party to deliver a victory in what is expected to be a bruising fight.
Whether this gambit helps Higgins lock down Democratic support or backfires by painting her as heavy-handed remains to be seen. But one thing is clear: Miami’s mayoral contest just turned sharply more combative, with Higgins making the first cut.
And looming over it all is another question: if Higgins ultimately does pull the trigger, will she resign effective immediately, allowing her constituents in Miami-Dade County Commission District 5 to choose a new representative? Or will she make the ultimate career-politician move, holding onto her commission seat while leveraging the power of office, lobbyists, and contractors to raise money for her mayoral bid?
