Historic Victory Shows Democratic Momentum as Eileen Higgins Defeats Trump-Backed Candidate in Florida Battleground
Democrat Eileen Higgins won Miami’s mayoral runoff on December 9, 2025, defeating Trump-backed Republican Emilio González 59% to 40%. This victory ends nearly three decades of Republican control in Florida’s second-largest city and marks a significant shift in a region where President Trump made historic gains with Hispanic voters just one year ago.
The Miami mayor election result sends a clear message. Democrats can win in Republican strongholds when they focus on local issues that matter to everyday families. Higgins ran on affordable housing, infrastructure improvements, and protecting immigrant communities from federal overreach. Her victory adds to a growing list of Democratic wins nationwide that signal potential trouble for Republicans heading into the 2026 midterms.
Breaking the Republican Stronghold in Miami
The city of Miami has not elected a Democratic mayor since the late 1990s. For nearly 30 years, Republicans maintained their grip on City Hall, even as Miami’s diverse immigrant communities grew and changed. That streak ended Tuesday night when Higgins claimed a decisive 19-point victory.
In the first-round election on November 4, Higgins secured 36% of the vote in a crowded field of 13 candidates. González came in second with just 19%. The runoff became a proxy battle between national parties, with heavy investment from both sides.
“Mayor-elect Eileen Higgins’ win is a testament to what Democrats can accomplish when we organize and compete everywhere,” DNC Chair Ken Martin said in a statement to Newsweek. “While her opponent was ready to rubber-stamp Donald Trump’s inflationary agenda, Higgins remained laser-focused on lowering costs and improving the lives of Miami families.”
The Democratic victory is even more remarkable considering Miami-Dade County’s recent political shift. Trump became the first Republican presidential candidate to win the county since 1988 when he carried it by 11 points in 2024. Yet Democrats turned out in force for this local race.
What Made This Election Different
Several factors contributed to Higgins’ historic win:
• Strong Democratic ground game with over 300,000 phone calls made to voters
• Focus on local issues like affordable housing and infrastructure
• Concerns about Trump’s immigration policies affecting Miami families
• Higher Democratic voter turnout despite being an off-year election
• National Democratic support from figures like Pete Buttigieg and Senator Ruben Gallego
Laura Kelley, chair of the Miami-Dade Democratic party, explained the strategy to The Guardian. “The messaging for us is very local because every single one of these issues is pertinent to the daily lives of people who live in south Florida,” she said. “So we’re seeing families torn apart by ICE’s indiscriminate mass deportations. We are seeing prices continue to go up.”
Eileen Higgins: Miami’s First Female Mayor
Higgins, 61, brings years of experience as a former Miami-Dade County commissioner. She also served as Peace Corps director in Belize. Her election breaks multiple barriers. She becomes Miami’s first female mayor and the first non-Hispanic mayor since the 1990s.
During the campaign, Higgins emphasized practical solutions to Miami’s most pressing challenges. She promised to fix the city’s street flooding problems, address the affordable housing crisis, and reform the permitting process to cut costs for residents.
Addressing Immigration Fears
Immigration became a defining issue in the race. With Miami’s population being 57% foreign-born according to the 2024 census, Trump’s deportation policies hit close to home for many residents.
“This year in the Hispanic and Haitian communities, I’m hearing something different. They are afraid. It’s the first time in any of my elections people are telling me they’re afraid of their government,” Higgins told NBC News. She added that voters shared stories of family members sent to the “Alligator Alcatraz” detention center.
Higgins drew a sharp contrast with González on immigration. The Republican served as director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services under President George W. Bush and worked on Trump’s homeland security transition team. While González said immigration enforcement is “a federal issue,” Higgins made protecting immigrant communities a cornerstone of her campaign.
The National Implications for 2026
Both parties watched this race closely as a potential indicator for the 2026 midterm elections. Democrats see the victory as proof their message resonates even in areas Trump carried. Republicans worry about maintaining momentum without Trump on the ballot.
The race attracted major political figures from both sides. Trump posted two endorsements for González on Truth Social. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, Senator Rick Scott, and Representative MarÃa Elvira Salazar all campaigned for the Republican candidate.
Democrats countered with appearances from Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, Senator Ruben Gallego, former Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel, and others. The DNC invested significant resources to flip this seat.
Warning Signs for Trump
Political analysts note this election reveals potential vulnerabilities for Trump’s coalition. In 2024, Trump made historic gains with Hispanic voters in South Florida. His success led many to believe the region had permanently shifted Republican.
Tuesday’s result suggests that shift may not be durable. When Trump is not on the ballot, and when Democrats focus on local quality-of-life issues, they can still win in these communities.
“Tonight’s result is yet another warning sign to Republicans that voters are fed up with their out-of-touch agenda that is raising costs for working families across the country,” DNC Chair Martin said.
However, political strategists caution against reading too much into one local race. A Democratic win in Miami does not necessarily predict congressional districts will flip in 2026. Local factors and candidates matter enormously.
The Issues That Mattered to Voters
Both candidates ran on addressing Miami’s cost-of-living crisis, but they offered different solutions.
Affordable Housing Crisis
Higgins focused on building more affordable housing and reforming the city’s permitting system. She argued local governments have tools to address affordability even if they cannot control federal policies like tariffs.
“There are many approaches to affordability that local governments have in their own hands even though we aren’t in control of tariffs which, by the way, is creating a huge affordability crisis,” Higgins told NBC News.
González attacked Higgins’ development plans, telling CNN: “My opponent is keen on building, building, building. She wants to put a skyscraper in every corner then calling it affordable housing, which is a misnomer, because very rarely is it truly affordable.”
Property Taxes and Overdevelopment
González campaigned on fighting overdevelopment and backed Governor DeSantis’ push to end homestead property taxes. “We want people to own their homes, to stay in their homes. Right now, our affordability crisis is to the point that people are being property-taxed out of their homes,” he told Fox News.
González positioned himself as a political outsider despite his experience as city manager. He highlighted how he fought an effort by outgoing Mayor Francis X. Suarez to delay the election by a year.
Infrastructure and Climate Resilience
Miami faces significant challenges from flooding and hurricanes. Higgins emphasized her county commission experience with infrastructure projects. She promised upgrades that could mitigate flooding issues while cutting long-term costs for the city.
How Democrats Rebuilt in Florida
This victory represents more than one candidate’s success. It shows what happens when Democrats invest in organizing and infrastructure even in traditionally Republican areas.
“At the beginning of the year when people said the Democratic party was dead, instead of licking our wounds, we decided to rebuild and that’s what we’ve been doing,” Laura Kelley told The Guardian. “It’s just rebuilding and showing our community that we are not going to let them down.”
The Democratic ground operation made over 300,000 phone calls supporting Higgins. They focused on voter registration, early voting, and getting supporters to the polls. This organizing paid off with a significant turnout advantage.
Democrats also benefited from a united front. After finishing third in the first round, Democrat Ken Russell endorsed Higgins for the runoff. The top two Democratic-affiliated candidates combined for a majority in the November election.
What Happens Next in Miami
Higgins will be sworn in as mayor, replacing term-limited Francis X. Suarez. She faces immediate challenges including:
• The ongoing affordable housing crisis
• Infrastructure improvements needed for flood mitigation
• A legal dispute over Trump’s proposed presidential library site
• Working with a city commission that has been plagued by corruption scandals
• Rebuilding trust in city government
The mayor’s position in Miami has limited powers compared to the city manager and commission. Still, Higgins promised to be a mayor “for all” and to restore integrity to City Hall.
“Don’t steal!” she joked with voters on the campaign trail, referencing past corruption that has plagued Miami politics.
Bipartisan Cooperation Needed
Despite the partisan nature of the campaign, Higgins will need to work with Republicans at the state and federal level to deliver for Miami residents.
Outgoing City Commissioner Joe Carollo noted the importance of bipartisan cooperation. “It is extremely important for a mayor of the city of Miami, or any major city, frankly, to work with both parties,” he said. “The next mayor of the city, if they’re serious about resolving the two major issues that we have which is housing and transportation has to work with whomever is in the White House.”
Looking Ahead to 2026
This election adds to Democratic momentum heading into the midterms. In recent months, Democrats won gubernatorial races in New Jersey and Virginia, showing particular strength with Latino voters. They have over-performed in special elections across multiple states.
Republicans still hold advantages in many areas, particularly in rural regions and among certain demographic groups. But these results suggest Trump’s coattails may not extend to other candidates when he is not on the ballot.
The Miami race also highlights how local issues can override national trends. Voters respond to candidates who address their immediate concerns about housing costs, infrastructure, and community safety.
Miami Republican Committeewoman Angie Wong told the Miami Herald before the election: “This one may be a bellwether to predict what’s going to happen in the midterms.”
She was right. The question now is whether Democrats can replicate this success in congressional races across Florida and the nation.
Conclusion: Democracy in Action
The Miami mayor election demonstrates that democracy works when candidates engage with voters on issues that matter to their daily lives. Eileen Higgins listened to concerns about affordability, immigration enforcement, and local governance. She built a coalition across Miami’s diverse communities.
Her victory proves Democrats can compete and win even in areas where Republicans have recent success. It shows that organizing matters, that local issues resonate, and that voters will reward candidates who focus on practical solutions over partisan talking points.
As we look toward 2026, this race offers important lessons for both parties. Republicans cannot take any district or demographic for granted. Democrats must invest in organizing and recruit strong local candidates who understand their communities.
For Miami residents, this election means change is coming to City Hall. The city’s first female mayor takes office with a mandate to address affordable housing, fix infrastructure, and govern with integrity.
What happens in Miami matters far beyond South Florida. This election sends ripples across American politics that we will feel in the midterms and beyond.
Take Action and Stay Informed
Democracy depends on informed and engaged citizens. If you care about the direction of our country, here’s what you can do:
• Register to vote and encourage friends and family to do the same
• Stay informed about local and national elections
• Support candidates who share your values
• Volunteer for campaigns in your community
• Contact your elected representatives about issues that matter to you
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