Eileen Higgins won Miami's mayoral runoff election, defeating opponent Emilio Gonzalez 59%-41% with all 139 precincts reporting on Tuesday night. Higgins is the first woman ever elected mayor of Miami in the city's nearly 130-year history.
Although technically nonpartisan, Higgins is the first Democrat elected mayor of the city in nearly three decades. The last Democrat to hold the position was Xavier Suarez in 1997.
"Congratulations to Eileen Higgins on her victory in Miami’s Mayoral race!" the Florida Democratic Party wrote. "Tonight, she shattered Miami’s glass ceiling and became the first woman elected Mayor of the city and the first Democrat in 28 years! Tonight’s victory is proof that when Democrats commit to relentless, year-round organizing and invest in local candidates, we can win."
Miami-Dade Democratic Party Chair Laura Kelly also congratulated Higgins on her victory in a press statement.
“Tonight, Eileen Higgins made history. For the first time ever, the City of Miami has elected a woman to serve as Mayor — and for the first time since the 1990s, Miami voters have chosen a Democrat to lead the city," Kelly wrote.
Higgins' win is a significant victory for Democrats and a bad defeat for Gonzalez and Republicans, who flipped Miami-Dade County red in the 2024 presidential election. Gonzalez, who previously served as Miami’s city manager, was endorsed by President Donald Trump for mayor in November.
Gov. Ron DeSantis also endorsed Gonzalez in the race a few months prior. Notably, both DeSantis and Trump won Miami-Dade by double digits in 2022 and 2024, respectively.
On the flip side, Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava endorsed Higgins in the race back in October. Higgins is a former Miami-Dade County Commissioner.
This is also essentially the second time Higgins defeated Gonzalez following the general election in November. Higgins earned 36% of the vote to Gonzalez's 19% that time out, but failed to cross the 50% threshold required to win the race outright.
She replaces Mayor Francis Suarez, who was term-limited and couldn't run for reelection.
Another prominent Democratic voice, David Jolly, congratulated Higgins on social media. Jolly is running for governor of Florida in 2026.
"A huge congratulations to Mayor-elect Eileen Higgins! For the first time in decades, a Democrat has won in Miami," Jolly wrote. "Change is here and there’s a brighter future waiting for Florida! Join us next November to keep the momentum up!"
