Welcome the New City of Miami Mayor Eileen Higgins

Miami has a new mayor.

Eileen Higgins achieved a historic victory in Miami’s mayoral runoff election, becoming the first woman elected to the office in the city’s history.

She is also the first Democrat to win the mayor’s seat in nearly 30 years, defeating Emilio González, who had been endorsed by President Donald Trump.

“We did it,” Higgins told supporters at her victory party at the Miami Women’s Club. “Tonight, history was made.”

Higgins led the field during Miami’s first mayoral race on Nov. 4, receiving roughly 35% of the vote. González finished second with 19%. Because no candidate received more than 50%, the top two advanced to Tuesday’s runoff.

Higgins has said the city is experiencing unprecedented growth — a positive development, she noted, but one that underscores the need to address Miami’s housing affordability crisis. She also pointed to climate change as a factor in the city’s recent flooding and said rising sea levels and extreme weather make long-term resiliency planning essential.

“Being mayor is a great responsibility, and I am going to do it with integrity and hard work,” Higgins said. “I will keep the residents of this city in mind as I serve them.”

Throughout her campaign, Higgins focused heavily on housing affordability. She highlighted the influx of residents moving to Miami from New York and California following the COVID-19 pandemic, saying population growth has driven up living and housing costs across the city.

Higgins, 61, has served on the Miami-Dade County Commission since 2018 and brings years of governmental experience to her new role as mayor.

Her election marks a turning point for Miami, signaling both historic firsts and a shift in political leadership for the city.