Eileen Higgins wins Miami mayor, first woman; first Democratic win in nearly 30 years
Democrat Eileen Higgins defeated Trump‑backed Emilio González in the Miami mayoral runoff, winning roughly 59% to 41% (about a 19‑point margin) in a race AP called Dec. 9, becoming the city’s first woman mayor and the first Democrat elected in nearly 30 years after González conceded. Higgins, backed by national Democrats including Pete Buttigieg, Sen. Ruben Gallego and Rahm Emanuel and praised by DNC Chair Ken Martin as a warning to Republicans, pledged to use city land for affordable housing, launch a full spending review, expand the City Commission from five to nine members and push back on what she called the Trump administration’s “inhumane and cruel” immigration actions.
📌 Key Facts
- Eileen Higgins won the Miami mayoral runoff by roughly 59% to 41% (about an 18–19 point margin); the Associated Press called the race Dec. 9, 2025, and her Trump‑backed opponent Emilio González conceded.
- Higgins is the first woman ever elected mayor of Miami and the first Democrat to win the mayoralty in nearly 30 years.
- The race drew national attention and partisan campaigning: Higgins was endorsed by national Democrats (including Pete Buttigieg), with Sen. Ruben Gallego and Rahm Emanuel traveling to Miami to rally voters; DNC Chair Ken Martin framed the result as a warning sign for Republicans.
- Higgins campaigned strongly against former President Trump’s immigration crackdown, calling recent enforcement actions in Miami “inhumane and cruel,” saying voters were tired of dehumanizing rhetoric and pledging to cooperate with federal authorities where appropriate while speaking out when they disagree.
- Her stated local policy agenda includes using city‑owned land for affordable housing, a full spending review, allowing permeable pavement and accelerating park construction to improve drainage.
- She proposed structural governance reform to expand the Miami City Commission from five to nine members.
- Background: Higgins speaks Spanish, previously branded herself “La Gringa” during earlier campaigns, and represented a district that includes Little Havana.
- The election occurred amid broader local results and national context — reporting noted down‑ballot leaders in races such as Miami District 3, Miami Beach at‑large, and Hialeah council seats, and observers highlighted that Miami may become the site of Trump’s presidential library, underscoring national political attention.
📊 Relevant Data
The City of Miami, Florida, has a population of 442,241, of which 310,472 (70.2%) are Hispanic or Latino.
Miami city, Florida - Census Bureau Profile — U.S. Census Bureau
As of the 2020 census, 129,896 Cuban Americans live in Miami city limits, representing about 29.3% of the city's population.
Cuban migration to Miami - Wikipedia — Wikipedia
In the 2024 presidential election, 68% of likely Cuban American voters in Miami-Dade County planned to vote for Donald Trump.
FIU Cuba Poll 2024: Cuban American voters' support for Trump at an all-time high — Florida International University
Among Latino voters in Florida, 75% of Venezuelan Americans identify as Republican.
FIU LATINO POLL — Jack D. Gordon Institute for Public Policy
Since January 20, 2025, ICE has made about 64 immigration arrests per day in Florida, compared to 20 per day in 2024.
A look at Florida's immigration arrest numbers in 2025 — WUSF
📰 Sources (5)
- Emilio Gonzalez called Eileen Higgins to concede the race.
- With nearly all votes counted, Higgins led by about 19 percentage points.
- National Democrats backed Higgins: Pete Buttigieg endorsed; Sen. Ruben Gallego and Rahm Emanuel traveled to Miami to rally voters.
- DNC Chair Ken Martin framed the result as a warning sign for Republicans in a statement.
- Higgins emphasized opposition to Trump’s immigration crackdown and said voters were 'ready to be done with' dehumanizing rhetoric.
- Background details: Higgins speaks Spanish, branded herself 'La Gringa' in early campaigns, and represented a district including Little Havana.
- Context note: The city may become the home of Trump’s presidential library, underscoring national political attention on Miami.
- Democrats ended a nearly 30-year drought in Miami mayoral races with Higgins’ win.
- DNC Chair Ken Martin called the result a warning sign for Republicans; provided a formal statement.
- National Democrats backed Higgins: Pete Buttigieg endorsed; Sen. Ruben Gallego and Rahm Emanuel traveled to Miami to rally voters.
- Higgins emphasized opposition to Trump’s immigration crackdown, citing fears among Miami families; provided new post-victory quotes.
- Biographical/context details: Higgins speaks Spanish and previously branded herself 'La Gringa' when first running in 2018; NPR notes ~19-point margin.
- AP called the race for Eileen Higgins on Dec. 9, 2025.
- Higgins is the first woman ever elected mayor of Miami.
- Trump’s endorsed opponent identified as Emilio González.
- National reactions: DNC Chair Ken Martin and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries issued statements framing the result as a warning to Republicans.
- Additional local results noted: Miami District 3 (Rolando Escalona leading), Miami Beach at‑large commission (Monica Matteo‑Salinas leading), and Hialeah council Groups 3 and 4 (Gelien Perez and William Marrero leading).
- Unofficial results show Higgins won 59% to 41%, per the Miami-Dade County Supervisor of Elections.
- Higgins’ victory speech quote: “You chose competence over chaos, results over excuses and a city government that finally works for you.”
- Policy agenda details: use city-owned land for affordable housing, full spending review, allow permeable pavement, accelerate park construction to improve drainage.
- Structural governance proposal: expand the City Commission from five to nine members.
- Stance on immigration enforcement: called recent actions in Miami “inhumane and cruel,” pledging cooperation with the Trump administration where possible and to speak out when they disagree.
- Campaign context note: candidates faced off in a CBS News Miami debate on Nov. 25 moderated by Jim DeFede.