Eileen Higgins scored a landmark victory Tuesday night in Miami’s mayoral runoff, defeating Republican Emilio González and becoming the first Democrat to lead the city since 1997. With 98% of precincts reporting, Higgins secured 59% of the vote to González’s 41%.
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Higgins, 61, is also poised to become the first woman to serve as mayor of Miami. A former Miami-Dade County commissioner, she entered the race with long-standing name recognition and a résumé that includes international development work, Peace Corps leadership in Belize, and diplomatic service with the U.S. State Department.
The win gives her control of Florida’s second-largest city, a global tourism and finance hub often described as the “gateway to Latin America and the Caribbean.” On the campaign trail, Higgins emphasized affordable housing, city budgeting reforms, and unlocking public land for residential development.
Tuesday’s election capped a runoff triggered after neither Higgins nor González secured a majority in the Nov. 4 contest.
Runoff results across Miami-Dade
While Higgins dominated the marquee race, several local contests were also decided across Miami, Miami Beach and Hialeah.
Miami Commission – District 3:
Political newcomer Rolando Escalona defeated former Commissioner Frank Carollo with 53% of the vote. Carollo, who previously served eight years on the commission and is the brother of outgoing District 3 Commissioner Joe Carollo, had led in November but failed to clear 50%.
Miami Beach At-Large Commission Seat (Group 1):
Monica Matteo-Salinas won in a landslide, taking 71% of the vote over Monique Pardo Pope to fill the seat vacated by Commissioner Kristen Rosen Gonzalez.
Hialeah Council Races:
In Group 3, Gelien Perez cruised to victory with 80% of the vote over Jessica Castillo.
In Group 4, William “Willy” Marrero won with 71%, defeating Javier Morejon.
Higgins’ path to the mayor’s office
Born in Dayton, Ohio and raised in Albuquerque, New Mexico, Higgins earned a mechanical engineering degree from the University of New Mexico and an MBA from Cornell University. Before entering elected office, she worked across Latin America on transportation and infrastructure projects, later serving as Peace Corps Country Director in Belize and as a U.S. foreign service officer with economic and regional portfolios in Mexico and South Africa.
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Higgins moved to Miami in the early 2000s and became active in community advocacy before entering politics. She was first elected to the Miami-Dade County Commission in 2018, winning re-election in 2022 and again in 2024 without opposition.
Her victory on Tuesday positions her as a central figure in shaping Miami’s growth, climate adaptation, and affordability challenges in the years ahead.