Coastal Community Election Race Decides New Municipal Leadership Role
Miami held a mayoral runoff election on Tuesday between Democrat Eileen Higgins and Republican Emilio Gonzalez. Higgins, if elected, would become the first Democratic mayor of the city of 487,000 residents in nearly three decades. Gonzalez, a former city manager and former director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services under President George W. Bush, seeks to maintain Republican influence in a city that has shifted politically toward the GOP in recent cycles.
The contest occurs ahead of the 2026 midterm elections and draws attention from both parties as an indicator of voter sentiment, particularly among Hispanic communities. Higgins, a former county commissioner representing parts of Little Havana, emphasizes housing affordability and has addressed immigration policies. Gonzalez’s campaign focuses on eliminating Miami’s homestead property tax and simplifying business permit processes.
Republican leaders including Governor Ron DeSantis and Senator Rick Scott publicly supported Gonzalez, while Democratic figures such as Senator Ruben Gallego and former Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel backed Higgins. Miami-Dade County, where Miami is located, voted for Donald Trump in 2024 after supporting Joe Biden in 2020, underscoring the area’s changing political dynamics.