Elaine Higgins Elected Next Mayor Of Miami With Real Estate's Backing
More than 120 years after Miami was founded by a woman, the city has elected its first female mayor.
Former Miami-Dade County Commissioner Eileen Higgins won a runoff election Tuesday night by a nearly 20-point margin against former Miami City Manager Emilio Gonzalez.
The outcome was somewhat expected after Higgins gained 36% of the vote in a crowded general election last month. Gonzalez came in second place with 20%, triggering the city's first runoff in more than 20 years. Higgins will be the first registered Democrat to hold the officially nonpartisan office in three decades.
"As Mayor, I will lead a government that works for everyone — one that listens, acts, and delivers," Higgins said in a statement. "From safe neighborhoods and affordable housing to clean parks, thriving small businesses, and a City Hall that finally earns the public’s trust, we’re ready to get to work."
Higgins had become a favorite among the real estate community, from which she pulled in nearly 10 times more campaign donations than her opponent.
Following Election Day and leading up to Tuesday, Higgins had received more than $170K, including from developers Terra Group, Related Group, Swerdlow Group, Pinnacle Housing founder and President David Deutch, Housing Trust Group and Rilea Group.
Gonzalez had only received roughly $25K from individuals and entities that listed their occupations as real estate, including contributions from six entities tied to Little Havana developers Bill Fuller and Martin Pinilla.
However, he received endorsements from Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and President Donald Trump, who posted on his social media to rally voters.
Higgins will be inaugurated next month as the 44th mayor of Miami, succeeding Mayor Francis Suarez, the son of former Miami Mayor Xavier Suarez and a Republican real estate lawyer, who couldn't run again after serving two terms in City Hall.
Higgins centered a large part of her campaign around fighting corruption — a reputation Miami politicians have started to collect in recent years, including investigations into Suarez.
"Tonight, the people of Miami made history," Higgins said in a statement. "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."
She has also criticized Miami’s permitting process for taking too long to approve applications and for low workplace morale for the employees of the city, though she hasn’t detailed how she plans to reform it.
Higgins has said she plans to use city-owned land to build new housing for working families to combat the shortage in affordable housing.
Miami’s mayor is a part-time job with limited power compared to other major hubs. Higgins will have no commission vote but can veto legislation and hire and fire the city manager, who runs day-to-day operations.
Her election came in a race that was politicized and nationalized more than any other in the city's recent memory, the Miami Herald reported. After Trump won Miami-Dade County in the 2024 election, Higgins' victory is being framed by some Democrats as another example of voter backlash against his policies, although state political insiders have downplayed its broader significance.
“I’ve never been prouder to be a Democrat,” Higgins told The Associated Press. “We’re living in the state of Florida, where we have people that are building cages for our residents rather than affordable housing for them.”
