Polls are now open as Miami voters decide who will become the city’s next mayor in a runoff election that has drawn national attention, as Democrats hope to end nearly three decades of Republican control at City Hall.
Democrat Eileen Higgins, a former county commissioner and the frontrunner after a strong performance in the first round, faces Republican Emilio González, the former city manager who is backed by President Trump.
Higgins, a mechanical engineer and former Peace Corps director in Belize, has centered her campaign on affordability and improving the efficiency of local government.
González, a military veteran and senior adviser at an asset-management firm, has focused on curbing overdevelopment and has called for eliminating property taxes on primary homes as part of his mayoral platform.
Republicans hope González, bolstered by strong support from the White House, will help them maintain their nearly 30-year hold on the mayor’s office.
Democrats believe Higgins could deliver a significant victory and continue the strong performance the party saw in recent elections.
Outgoing Mayor Francis Suarez attempted to use his position as a springboard for a presidential run in 2023, but his campaign ended after just two months.
Higgins led after the first round of voting on November 4, earning 35 percent of the vote to González’s 19 percent.
Whoever wins will take office amid an ongoing legal battle over a parcel of downtown Miami land slated for the construction of Trump’s presidential library.
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