The election results have put a Democrat in Miami’s top post for the first time in nearly three decades. While Florida has always swung red, Miami has Democratic backers for being home to many immigrant communities
Florida’s Miami, which has been a red state for years, has chosen a Democratic candidate to run its mayoral office. Former County Commissioner Eileen Higgins has won the election, beating President Donald Trump’s Republican candidate, Emilio González.
The election results have put a Democrat in Miami’s top post for the first time in nearly three decades. While Florida has always swung red, Miami has Democratic backers for being home to many immigrant communities.
With Zohran Mamdani’s win in New York and Higgins’ victory in Miami and several other blue gains in other states, Trump’s Republican Party is entering murky waters ahead of the 2026 Midterm elections.
Higgins gains historic win
Higgins, 61, will be the first woman to lead the city of Miami. She spoke frequently in the Hispanic-majority city about Trump’s immigration crackdown, saying she has heard of many people in Miami who were worried about family members being detained.
She campaigned as a proud Democrat despite the race being officially nonpartisan and beat Trump-backed candidate Emilio Gonzalez, a former city manager, who said he called Higgins to congratulate her.
“We are facing rhetoric from elected officials that is so dehumanising and cruel, especially against immigrant populations,” Higgins told The Associated Press after her victory speech. “The residents of Miami were ready to be done with that.”
With nearly all votes counted Tuesday, Higgins led the Republicans by about 19 percentage points.
How it matters
With the midterms approaching, Republicans aim to build on the momentum from 2024 and retain control of both chambers in Congress, while Democrats will be searching for any opportunities to challenge that majority.
Miami is expected to remain a fiercely contested area. The city narrowly went to former Vice President Kamala Harris by just one point in 2024, even as Miami-Dade County swung red for Trump.
As Florida’s second-largest and highly diverse city, Democrats cannot afford to dismiss the mayoral race as they might in other regions, particularly given Trump’s endorsement of Gonzalez.
With inputs from agencies
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