Eileen Higgins Elected Miami's First Democratic Mayor in Nearly 30 Years

Eileen Higgins has made history by becoming Miami's first Democratic mayor in nearly three decades. Higgins, who received approximately 60% of the votes in Tuesday's runoff election, defeated Republican candidate Emilio T. Gonzalez, who was endorsed by former President Donald Trump. Despite her decisive victory, voter turnout for the off-year election was low, with only about 20% of registered voters participating. Miami, with its high Latino population, has been politically dominated by Republicans, particularly those of Cuban descent, for much of the past three decades. Higgins' victory marks a significant shift in the city's political landscape. 'Together, we turned the page on years of chaos and corruption and opened the door to a new era for our city—one defined by ethical, accountable leadership that delivers real results for the people,' Higgins said in a statement. Alongside being the first Democrat to win the Miami mayoral race since the 1990s, Higgins, 61, is also the first woman ever elected to the office. Her win adds to a series of Democratic victories this year, including major state-level races in Virginia, New Jersey, and the mayoralty of New York. Higgins' triumph is widely seen as a rebuke to Trump's political influence, particularly after he publicly endorsed her opponent on Truth Social. The Democratic National Committee, along with prominent Democrats like Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, rallied behind Higgins, signaling a growing tide of Democratic support in traditionally Republican strongholds.