Former Miami-Dade County Commissioner Eileen Higgins gained Miami’s mayoral runoff election Tuesday, marking the primary time in practically 30 years that the town has elected a Democrat as mayor.
Higgins secured 59% of the vote versus former Miami Metropolis Supervisor Emilio Gonzalez’s practically 41%, in accordance with unofficial outcomes from the Miami-Dade County Supervisor of Elections. The win marks an finish to a aggressive race that started with a crowded 13-person discipline.
“Our metropolis selected a brand new course,” Higgins informed the cheering crowd at her election night time celebration. “You selected competence over chaos, outcomes over excuses and a metropolis authorities that lastly works for you.”
The marketing campaign centered on points equivalent to immigration, housing, flooding, metropolis progress and the tone of management Miami wants. Higgins and Gonzalez confronted off in a CBS Information Miami debate moderated by Jim DeFede on Nov. 25, giving voters an opportunity to match their visions for the town.
Whereas the race was formally nonpartisan, Higgins had the backing of distinguished Democrats, whereas Republicans, together with Gov. Ron DeSantis and President Trump, endorsed Gonzalez.
Out of 175,692 registered voters, 37,496 forged ballots on Tuesday, a turnout of 21.3%, in accordance with official information.
Higgins’ imaginative and prescient for Miami
Higgins served eight years on the Miami-Dade County Fee and campaigned on restoring public belief and bringing what she described as calmer, extra collaborative management to Metropolis Corridor. Inexpensive housing was a cornerstone of her platform. She pledged to make the most of city-owned land to construct housing for working households and criticized Miami’s fast progress with out corresponding enhancements in companies.
She additionally known as for a full overview of metropolis spending and proposed updating rules to permit permeable pavement and speed up park building to enhance drainage citywide. Higgins helps increasing the Metropolis Fee from 5 to 9 members, arguing that Miami’s legislative physique is unusually small in comparison with different main cities and leaves many communities underrepresented.
On immigration enforcement, Higgins voiced robust issues, calling current actions in Miami “inhumane and merciless.”
Higgins vowed to work with the Trump administration on points the place they’ll discover widespread floor, however informed CBS Information, “Once we disagree, I will make my voice heard.”
Higgins celebrates historic victory
Cheers inside a Miami ballroom grew louder as Higgins stepped to the microphone Tuesday night time, newly elected as the town’s subsequent mayor.
“Nicely, we did it!” she exclaimed, drawing one other spherical of applause.
Higgins framed the night time as a turning level for Miami and reminded supporters that the celebration was additionally a name to motion.
“This is not only a celebration but in addition a promise as a result of Miami is dealing with actual challenges, and tonight marks the start of the work forward,” Higgins mentioned.
She pledged to maneuver Miami ahead.
“No extra countless delays for households making an attempt to repair a house or small enterprise making an attempt to open,” Higgins mentioned. “We are going to reduce crimson tape, restore what’s damaged and modernize Metropolis Corridor. We are going to confront the affordability disaster with the urgency Miami households want. We are going to make our streets safer by supporting legislation enforcement and strengthening group partnerships. We are going to defend Biscayne Bay.”
Eileen Higgins speaks with the media after voting within the runoff election in Miami on Dec. 9, 2025.
Joe Raedle / Getty Pictures
Her imaginative and prescient was inclusive.
“We are going to lead a metropolis that belongs to everybody,” she mentioned to cheers.
“A metropolis the place seniors can keep, youthful individuals can construct a future, immigrants really feel welcome and revered,” she added, as the group roared once more.
Higgins additionally famous that she had spoken along with her opponent.
“I simply spoke with my opponent Emilio Gonzalez, a very good man that I’ve identified for a lot of, a few years and genuinely respect,” Higgins mentioned. “He cares about our group; that’s what unites us.”
Outstanding Miami figures joined Higgins on the celebration, together with Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava, Miami Police Chief Manny Morales, County Commissioner Oliver Gilbert III, Opa-locka Mayor John Taylor and Florida Democratic Social gathering Chair Nikki Fried, underscoring the historic nature of Higgins’ win.
Gonzalez concedes, displays on lawsuit
Earlier than delivering his concession speech, Gonzalez known as Higgins instantly.
“We respect you, and we provides you with all of the latitude that you must do nice issues,” Gonzalez informed her.
At the same time as he conceded, Gonzalez acknowledged the authorized battle that made Tuesday’s vote potential. His lawsuit, filed in July 2025, challenged the Metropolis of Miami’s determination to postpone the mayoral election till 2026.
Requested Tuesday if he felt the lawsuit was value it, Gonzalez replied: “Completely, hear, consider the irony. I filed a lawsuit to have an election that I participated in and misplaced. OK? That ought to inform you that it is a lot larger than me.”
He had argued the postponement was unconstitutional and disenfranchised voters, saying solely the citizens had the authority to alter the date. A decide agreed, ruling the town’s vote to delay was void and unconstitutional. That call ensured the election went ahead in 2025, in the end resulting in the runoff between Gonzalez and Higgins.
Levine Cava hails historic milestone
Miami‑Dade County Mayor Levine Cava congratulated Higgins, noting that Higgins is the primary girl ever elected mayor of Miami.
In an announcement, Levine Cava known as the win a milestone for illustration and mentioned voters despatched a transparent message that they’re uninterested in chaos, corruption and rising prices.
She pledged to work alongside Higgins to ship a metropolis that “works for everybody.”
“For practically 130 years since Julia Tuttle based this metropolis, Miami has by no means elected a girl as mayor,” Levine Cava mentioned. “That modifications tonight.”
What’s subsequent?
Higgins will take workplace with a mandate to deal with housing affordability, local weather resilience and authorities transparency. Her win indicators a shift in Miami’s political panorama and units the stage for important coverage modifications within the years forward.