Democrat Eileen Higgins has won the Miami mayoral race, NBC News projects, giving the party control of the office for the first time in nearly three decades.
Higgins defeated Republican Emilio González, a businessman and former city manager endorsed by former President Donald Trump, securing 59% of the vote to González’s 41%.
Higgins, a former Miami-Dade County commissioner, framed her campaign around quality-of-life issues, including affordable housing, infrastructure improvements, and streamlined city processes. She stated ethical and accountable leadership, pledging to break from previous administrations’ practices.
“Tonight, the people of Miami made history. Together, we turned the page on years of chaos and corruption and opened the door to a new era for our city,” Higgins said after her victory.
While technically a nonpartisan election, Republicans have held the mayor’s office since 2008, making Higgins’ win a significant political milestone for Democrats in a city that has trended Republican in recent elections. Political analysts view the outcome as a potential indicator of Democratic momentum heading into the pivotal 2026 midterm elections.
The campaign became nationalized in its final weeks, focusing on issues such as affordability, local economic concerns, and Trump’s immigration and deportation policies, which resonated particularly with Miami’s large Hispanic and Haitian communities.
Higgins criticized the former president’s policies, highlighting fears expressed by voters in these communities, while González focused on local governance issues, including overdevelopment and property taxes.
National Democratic figures, including former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg and former Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel, supported Higgins’ campaign.
The Democratic National Committee also provided organizational assistance, signaling the importance of the race as a bellwether for the 2026 midterms. DNC finance chair Chris Korge described the victory as proof that “a pragmatic Democratic leader who addresses the electorate’s everyday concerns can rewrite electoral history.”
Analysts note that Higgins’ win could reenergize Democratic campaigns in urban centers nationwide, demonstrating that local elections may carry broader implications for party strategy in the upcoming midterm cycle.
