The Democrat Eileen Higgins became the new mayor of Miami this Tuesday (12/09/2025) with almost 60% of the vote, after winning in the second round over the Republican Emilio T. González, supported by President Donald Trump, in local elections that took place in the intense shadow of national politics and with a view to the important midterm elections of 2026 in the United States.
After receiving just over 59% of the vote, Higgins became the first woman and the first non-Hispanic person to become mayor of Miami, as well as the first Democrat in 24 years elected to govern the community, which has historically been dominated by Cuban-American Republicans, a major setback for Trump’s party.
The Democrat, a 61-year-old former county commissioner, defeated the 68-year-old González, who had received the support of Trump and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, receiving just 40.5% of the vote.
“Tonight, the people of Miami made history. Together, we put years of chaos and corruption behind us and opened the door to a new era for our city – an era defined by ethical, responsible leadership and focused on real results for our people,” Higging said in a statement after learning the preliminary results.
The race drew national attention after Republicans sought to extend the electoral dominance they cemented in 2024 to the city of Miami, as Trump surprisingly won Miami-Dade County by more than 10 points over Kamala Harris.
A symbolic and strategic victory for the Democrats
For Democrats, Higgins’ victory represents a symbolic and strategic boost. The Democratic National Committee had focused its efforts on her campaign, and Sen. Rubén Gallego traveled to Miami over the weekend to support her, at a time when the party is trying to regain its footing in Florida after years of setbacks.
However, the election took place in a complex local context. Although Miami-Dade County moved firmly toward Republicans in 2024, some reports suggest Harris won the city of Miami by a minimal margin, making this race an important thermometer for measuring Democrats’ ability to reconnect with a changing electorate.
The city of Miami, with nearly half a million residents, has a Hispanic population of about 70%. Higgins based his campaign on tackling the rising cost of living, improving municipal services and increasing transparency in local government.
Opposing views on migration
In contrast, González, a retired Air Force colonel and former director of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), focused his message on public safety, economic growth and emergency preparedness, supported by his military and administrative experience.
Both candidates also held opposing views on migration. González defended the strict measures taken by the Trump administration, which in recent weeks imposed new restrictions on Cubans and Venezuelans applying for citizenship. Higgins called the policy “immoral.”
The second round was called after neither received more than 50% of the vote in the November 4 election, when Higgins received 36% of the vote and González 19%.
The Republicans are piling up a series of defeats
The local Times Union newspaper noted that “Florida Republicans have received strong support from voters from Cuba, Venezuela and Nicaragua as they compare some members of the Democratic Party’s progressive wing to politicians from the administrations they fled. Trump and other Republicans have exploited this feeling over the past eight years.”
But frustration has gripped some Republicans since last November, the Times Union added, after Democrats won victories in gubernatorial elections in New Jersey and Virginia, where the winning candidates performed well among ethnic minority voters.
Trump’s party also lost in the election for mayor of New York, the country’s most important city and the president’s hometown.
jc (efe, afp, reuters, ap)
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