Democrat Eileen Higgins shatters glass ceiling with runoff victory in Miami Mayor's race over Republican Emilio Gonzalez

https://floridapolitics.com/archives/769041-eileen-higgins-shatters-glass-ceiling-with-runoff-victory-in-miami-mayors-race/

The runoff drew national attention. Eileen Higgins just made history, becoming the first woman ever elected Miami Mayor. With 108 of 139 precincts reporting and full tallies of mail-in and early votes, Higgins — a former Miami-Dade County Commissioner — had 59% of the vote to defeat ex-City Manager Emilio González.

Higgins is a Democrat, while González is a Republican, though their party affiliations did not appear on Tuesday’s runoff ballot; still, most voters no doubt knew which side of the aisle the candidates stood on, considering the activity and interest that surrounded the race ahead of Election Day.

Pete Buttigieg, U.S. Sen. Ruben Gallego of Arizona, and Orange County Mayor-turned-gubernatorial candidate Jerry Demings and his wife, former U.S. Rep. Val Demings. Meanwhile, high-profile Republicans like President Donald Trump, Gov. Ron DeSantis, U.S. Sens. Rick Scott and Ted Cruz, and U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds, who is running to succeed DeSantis, lined up behind González.

For many, Tuesday’s outcome in a city where growth, climate challenges and governance failures remain top concerns for nearly 500,000 residents will be viewed as a bellwether heading toward what is expected to be a volatile 2026 cycle. The two candidates rose from a 13-person field Nov. 4, with Higgins winning about 36% of the vote and González taking 19.5%. Because neither surpassed 50%, they advanced to a runoff, each pitching their visions for a city grappling with affordability, rising seas, political dysfunction and rapid growth.

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