**Eileen Higgins Breaks Three-Decade Losing Streak for Democrats, Wins Miami Mayoral Race**
Democrat Eileen Higgins won Miami’s mayoral race on Tuesday, defeating a Republican candidate endorsed by former President Donald Trump. Her victory ends nearly thirty years of Democratic losses in the city and gives her party a significant boost ahead of the 2026 midterms.
“Tonight, the people of Miami made history,” Higgins said in a statement after the results were announced.
Higgins, 61, will make history as the first woman to lead the city of Miami. Throughout her campaign, she addressed the concerns of many in Miami’s Hispanic-majority community, frequently referencing Trump’s immigration policies. Higgins spoke about hearing from residents whose families worried about detainment and community division.
Despite the race being officially nonpartisan, Higgins campaigned as a proud Democrat and defeated Trump-backed candidate Emilio Gonzalez, a former city manager. Gonzalez acknowledged his defeat and called Higgins to congratulate her.
“I’ve never been prouder to be a Democrat,” Higgins told The Associated Press before her win. “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.”
While the local race may not predict what will happen at the polls next year, it garnered national attention from both major political parties and their leaders. The win provides Democrats valuable momentum heading into a crucial midterm election, as the GOP attempts to maintain its influence in Florida, including Hispanic-majority areas in Miami-Dade County. The region, once reliably blue, has shifted rightward in recent years and may even become the site of Trump’s presidential library.
“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,” said Ken Martin, chair of the Democratic National Committee, in a statement.
**National Support Rallying Behind Higgins**
Several nationally recognized Democrats rallied around Higgins. Former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg supported her candidacy, and U.S. Sen. Ruben Gallego along with former Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel traveled to Miami on Sunday and Monday to help get out the vote. Higgins previously served as a Miami-Dade County commissioner for seven years.
Fluent in Spanish, Higgins represented a district that leans conservative and includes the Cuban neighborhood of Little Havana. When she first entered politics in 2018, she embraced the nickname “La Gringa”—a common term for white Americans—so voters could identify her, especially since many struggled with the pronunciation of her name.
“It just helps people understand who I am, and you know what? I am a ‘gringa,’ so, what am I going to do, deny it?” she told the AP.
**Republicans Face Growing Concerns in Florida**
Republicans in Florida have found strong support among voters from Cuba, Venezuela, and Nicaragua, often drawing comparisons between the Democratic party’s progressive wing and regimes those communities fled. For nearly a decade, Trump and other GOP leaders have tapped into those sentiments.
Recently, local Republicans have shown signs of anxiety following Democratic wins in New Jersey and Virginia, where Democratic gubernatorial candidates performed well with nonwhite voters. These results reflected concerns about rising costs and aggressive immigration enforcement.
U.S. Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar, a Republican representing a Miami district now targeted by Democrats, called the recent election results elsewhere a “wake-up call.” In a video posted on X (formerly Twitter), Salazar said, “The Hispanic vote is not guaranteed. Hispanics married President Trump, but they are only dating the GOP.” She also emphasized the importance the Hispanic community places on both border security, a strong economy, and relief for long-term residents without criminal records.
**Miami’s New Mayor on a National Stage**
The role of Miami mayor is largely ceremonial, but Higgins has pledged to serve as a full-time leader. The city is a key part of Miami-Dade County, which Trump narrowly flipped in the last election—a dramatic shift from his 30-point loss to Hillary Clinton in 2016.
As Florida’s second-largest city and known as the “gateway to Latin America,” Miami welcomes millions of tourists and boasts substantial global prominence. Higgins’ victory gives Democrats a national platform and the city a mayor committed to community engagement and progressive values.
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*Related: [Mamdani makes history in NYC mayor’s race: ‘We have toppled a political dynasty’]*
https://www.wptv.com/politics/elections/democrat-wins-miami-mayors-race-for-the-first-time-in-nearly-30-years