Democrat Eileen Higgins has won the Miami mayoral race in Florida, marking the first time a Democratic candidate has achieved this in nearly 30 years.
A former county commissioner, Higgins secured the runoff victory by securing nearly sixty percent of the ballots, defeating her Republican opponent Emilio Gonzalez, who was backed by former President Trump and received nearly 41% of the vote, based on certified totals.
"Voters picked a different path... you chose competence over chaos," stated Higgins to supporters.
Higgins' win continues a series of recent Democratic wins.
A Historic Achievement on Several Levels
With her win, Higgins, sixty-one, also is now the initial woman to be elected to the post, US media reported.
Higgins stated her victory "signals the start of the task before us" and promised to address the challenges Miami still faces.
"We will lead a city that is for all its residents," she noted.
Election Platform and Contrast with Trump
Focusing her campaign on issues including immigration and housing affordability, she worked to distinguish her leadership style against that of Trump.
In a recent discussion, Higgins observed: "We have divergent outlooks on how we should treat our residents, a significant number of whom are new Americans."
During the city debate, she called the president's immigration enforcement "inhumane and cruel."
She vowed to work with the federal government on topics where they can reach agreement, but "when we disagree, I'll speak out," she commented.
Support and the Road to Victory
Even though the contest was officially non-partisan, Higgins earned the backing of several notable party leaders, including one-time secretary Pete Buttigieg.
Besides backing from Trump, Gonzalez was also endorsed by the Governor of Florida Ron DeSantis.
Higgins now succeeds departing mayor Francis Suarez, who made a short-lived bid for the GOP presidential nomination.
Part of a Broader Trend
In the run-up to Higgins' victory, the Democrats notched significant victories in the opening key races of the current administration last month.
- In New York City, Zohran Mamdani beat former governor Andrew Cuomo.
- Abigail Spanberger triumphed in the governor's race in Virginia, changing the leadership from GOP control.
- Mikie Sherrill was chosen as governor in New Jersey.
