MIAMI — Dec. 10, 2025 — Democrat Eileen Higgins has won the Miami mayoral race, NBC News projects, marking the party’s first victory in the city’s top office in almost three decades. The former Miami-Dade County commissioner secured 59% of the vote, defeating Republican Emilio González, a businessman and former city manager who had been endorsed by former President Donald Trump.
González conceded Tuesday night, acknowledging Higgins’ win and praising her campaign. “If she’s successful, Miami is successful,” he said in an interview with WPLG-TV.
Higgins’ victory breaks a long Republican winning streak in Miami’s technically nonpartisan mayoral contests. GOP-aligned candidates have dominated the office since 2008, and Democrats had not held the position since 1997. Despite Miami-Dade County’s recent shift toward Republicans, the city itself has remained more competitive, with Democratic former Vice President Kamala Harris narrowly carrying it last year.
In a statement celebrating her victory, Higgins said, “Tonight, the people of Miami made history. We turned the page on years of chaos and corruption and opened a new era defined by ethical, accountable leadership that delivers real results.”
A Nationalized Contest in Its Final Weeks
Although both candidates focused their campaigns on addressing Miami’s affordability crisis, infrastructure needs, and frustrations over past administrations, national politics loomed large in the closing days.
Higgins criticized Trump’s deportation proposals — and González’s endorsement — saying many Hispanic and Haitian voters expressed fear about federal immigration actions. She argued that local governments still hold meaningful tools to lower costs for residents, pointing to affordable housing, infrastructure improvements, and streamlined city services.
González, however, distanced himself from Trump’s national policies, insisting the mayor’s office has no authority over federal immigration matters. He campaigned on curbing overdevelopment and aligned himself with Gov. Ron DeSantis’ proposal to eliminate homestead property taxes as a way to ease cost-of-living pressures.
Parties Viewed the Race as a 2026 Midterm Bellwether
The Miami mayoral contest drew increasing national attention from both parties. Democrats moved aggressively to secure a win, deploying organizational support through the Democratic National Committee and rallying endorsements from high-profile party figures, including Sen. Ruben Gallego, former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, and former Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel.
Republicans also hoped to hold the office as a counterpoint to recent GOP underperformances in special elections and gubernatorial contests. But Tuesday’s result delivered another signal that Democrats may carry momentum into the 2026 midterms.
As Miami begins a political transition, Higgins has pledged to focus on restoring public trust, improving housing affordability, and refocusing city government on “practical solutions that help families thrive.”
