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Democrat Eileen Higgins won Miami’s mayoral race on Tuesday, NBC News projected, breaking nearly three decades of Republican control of the office and delivering another key victory for Democrats ahead of next year’s midterm elections.
Higgins, a former Miami-Dade County commissioner, secured 59% of the vote to 41% for Republican Emilio González, a businessman and former city manager who was endorsed by President Donald Trump. González conceded Tuesday night, his campaign confirmed.
“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.”
Though the mayoral contest is officially nonpartisan, candidates aligned with the GOP have won every race since 2008, and Democrats had not held the office since 1997. The broader Miami-Dade region has shifted sharply toward Republicans in recent years, though former Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris narrowly carried the city last year.
Both Higgins and González campaigned on affordability, development pressures and a reset after years of turbulence in City Hall. But the race took on a national tone in its closing weeks, shaped by the same issues expected to dominate the 2026 elections — including rising living costs, Trump’s weakening political standing and his hard-line deportation plans, which have drawn scrutiny in Miami’s diverse Hispanic and Haitian communities.
Higgins highlighted her work on the county commission and cast herself as an advocate for affordable housing, infrastructure improvements and government efficiency. She also criticized Trump’s tariff policies, arguing they have worsened Miami’s affordability crisis. “There are many approaches to affordability that local governments have in their own hands,” she told NBC News before Election Day.
She was sharply critical of Trump’s deportation agenda, saying she heard from Hispanic and Haitian residents who fear the federal government’s approach. González, though endorsed by Trump, ran a locally focused campaign centered on curbing overdevelopment and lowering living costs. He aligned himself with Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ push to eliminate homestead property taxes and downplayed the impact of national immigration politics on the mayor’s office.
In an interview with WPLG Local 10 News, González said he called Higgins to congratulate her, adding, “If she’s successful, Miami is successful.”
The race drew national attention as both parties sought momentum. Democrats, encouraged by recent overperformances in special elections, invested organizing resources in support of Higgins. High-profile party figures — including Arizona Sen. Ruben Gallego, former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg and former Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel — also signaled support.
Republicans saw the race as an opportunity to defend a long-held seat after a series of GOP underperformances in recent special House elections, as well as gubernatorial contests in New Jersey and Virginia. Higgins’ win now stands as the latest sign of Democratic strength in competitive urban and suburban contests heading into 2026.
