https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2025/12/09/miami-mayor-election-updates-results/87631398007/Eileen Higgins clinched victory in Miami’s mayoral runoff election, according to multiple reports, marking the first Democrat to win the office in almost 30 years and the first woman ever elected mayor in the city.A roaring chant of “Eileen” erupted at Higgins’ watch party at the Miami Women's Club after she was projected to win.“Well, we did it,” Higgins told her supporters, the Miami Herald reported. “Tonight, history was made.”While the Miami mayoral position is non-partisan, Higgins' success was a major moment for Democrats, who have defeated GOP rivals in several 2025 off-year elections. It could also spell trouble for Republicans and President Donald Trump, who endorsed Higgins’ opponent, Emilio González.Trump flipped Miami-Dade County, which includes the city of Miami, in the 2024 presidential election. But Democrats have pointed to their recent victories as a sign of what’s to come in the midterm elections next year as voters still face high food and housing prices. Ahead of the runoff, Higgins came in first during Miami’s initial mayoral race on Nov. 4, where she garnered roughly 35% of the vote. González came in second with 19%. Since no candidate secured more than 50%, the top two hopefuls went head-to-head on Tuesday.Miami is home to approximately 487,000 people.
>Higgins vows to serve Miami with ‘integrity and hard work’Higgins told USA TODAY on Monday it would be an honor to be the first Democrat elected as Miami's mayor in nearly three decades.“We're facing unprecedented growth, which is a wonderful thing to have, but that means you need a mayor that is focused on the housing affordability crisis,” Higgins said, adding that climate change is also contributing to significant flooding in the city.“It's a great responsibility. I am going to do it with integrity and hard work. Every day I'm going to keep the residents of this city in mind as I serve them as mayor,” she said.Higgins focused much of her campaign on housing affordability. Following the COVID-19 pandemic, Miami saw New Yorkers and Californians flock to the city. That caused living and housing costs to explode for residents – and was a key factor that fueled Trump's win by double digits in Miami-Dade County.When asked what this win means for Democrats ahead of the 2026 midterm elections, Higgins said candidates need to focus on their own communities. What works for residents in Miami may not be effective in a state like Montana, Higgins explained.“That's my advice to anybody running for office. Remember who put you in office, and work for them," she said.>González concedes to Higgins after her upsetGonzález, the Republican candidate, conceded the race around 7:30 p.m., just a half-hour after polls closed, according to the Miami Herald.During his watch party on Tuesday at Meraki Greek Bistro, González told his supporters he called Higgins to congratulate her. He also told her “we’re going to get behind you,” according to the outlet.“This has been the ride of a lifetime,” González told supporters gathered at the restaurant.
>Democrats say victory in mayoral race is ‘warning sign’ to GOPDemocratic National Committee Chair Ken Martin called Higgins' victory in the Miami mayoral election another “warning sign” to Republicans ahead of next year's midterm races.Martin credited Higgins' focus on affordability – an issue many Democrats have emphasized during 2025's off-year elections – as a reason she picked up the seat.“Tonight’s result is yet another warning sign to Republicans that voters are fed up with their out-of-touch agenda that is raising costs for working families across the country,” Martin said in a statement.>When was the last time a Democrat was elected as Miami mayor?Higgins would be the first Democratic mayor since 1997.The last Democratic mayor to be elected was Xavier Suarez, who has switched parties throughout the course of his career in politics, first to become a Republican and then an independent. He’s the father of outgoing incumbent mayor, Francis Suarez, a Republican and key ally to Trump.In the 1997 election, which was the second time Suarez was elected as mayor, his win was brief. The results were challenged in court and ultimately overturned. His opponent, Joe Carollo, a Republican, was declared the new winner. >‘Complete and Total Endorsement.’ Trump backs GonzálezTrump last month endorsed González after he came in second in the Nov. 4 race. While the Miami mayoral position is non-partisan, Trump weighed in to back the Republican.Trump in a post on Truth Social, in which he misspelled González’s last name, said the Florida Republican would “NEVER LET YOU DOWN!”“As Miami’s next Mayor, he will fight tirelessly to Grow the Economy, Cut Taxes and Regulations, Advance MADE IN THE U.S.A., Unleash American Energy DOMINANCE, Keep our now very Secure Border, SECURE, Stop Migrant Crime, and Defend our always under siege Second Amendment,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
>>1464148This is actually a clever ruse by the republicans because they know Trump is more popular than any other president right now.
>>1464156>haha, we'll trick those democrats into thinking we're unpopular by losing tons of elections!>Then, we'll dramatically reveal we've been popular the whole time and win all the elections!Masterful gambit sir. Very real.
>>1464158Nah, I see the logic:>Set the expectation that you'll lose the generic ballot in 2026 by 10 points>(Hopefully) Lose by a mere 8 points>Claim victory
>>1464191trump will claim they're stolen anyway, it's what he always does when he doesn't win.
>>1464202>MAGA loses elections>"Oh uh those were probably rigged or something so we're going to investigate that.">"And we stay in power while we're doing so.">"For months, years maybe, however long it takes to normalize this.">courts say "no">supreme court says "lol ok :)"Calling it.
>>1464215Considering how long the republicans are willing to block legally elected officials, I could see that happening. The only way to stop trump's coup from using congress like he tried during his failed coup is for republicans to lose both chambers of congress in the midterms.
>>1464292You can see anything happening when you just lie about everything all the time.
>>1464293you seem to be describing deliriants, projecting shill. is that how they pay you in kind at your shill farm?
>>1464294Nice clapback, faggot.
>>1464296thanks, shill. do you feel like you fit in more when you use outdated slang black americans used to use
>clapbackMore like a smackback. On the back of the head. And it's knocking out shills, now the repubs have been knocked out of the post of Mayor of Miami. Don't forget:'Mamdani is a very rational man' -Trump
>>1464293This is why republicans love The Big Lie.
