Former Miami-Dade Commissioner Eileen Higgins is heading into the runoff race for Miami Mayor with a new endorsement from the South Florida AFL-CIO.
The organization, which represents thousands of Miami workers and more than 250,000 people across Miami-Dade and Monroe counties, cited Higgins’ support of labor interests as key to earning its backing.
“Through her record of service, Commissioner Eileen Higgins has proven time and again that she’s a true champion for Miami’s workers and families,” South Florida AFL-CIO President Jeffery Mitchell said in a statement.
“From her years as County Commissioner to her campaign for Mayor, Eileen has consistently championed fair pay, safe working conditions, and respect for every worker. We know she will continue fighting to make Miami a city that works for everyone. We look forward to mobilizing our members in the coming weeks to secure her spot as the next Mayor of Miami and ensure that workers have a leader who shows up, listens, and gets results.”
As a County Commissioner, Higgins spearheaded efforts like the MetroCenter project to expand affordable housing on underutilized county land while preserving historic buildings and workforce housing.
She also worked to successfully secure hundreds of millions of dollars in state and federal funds for local transit and infrastructure improvements and backed legislation to expand Miami-Dade’s living wage requirements, improve workplace safety at Miami International Airport and provide paid sick leave to workers.
The AFL-CIO also backed her re-election campaign last year. Its endorsement of her in the Miami Mayor’s race joins others from union groups including 1199SEIU, UNITE HERE Local 355, SAVE Action PAC, LiUNA Local 1652 and SEIU 32BJ.
Advocacy groups including Equality Florida Action PAC, EMILY’s List and Ruth’s List Florida are also supporting her, as are Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava, Miami Gardens Sen. Shevrin Jones, Miami Rep. Ashley Gantt and South Miami Mayor Javier Fernández.
“I am deeply honored to once again receive the endorsement of the hardworking men and women of the South Florida AFL-CIO,” Higgins said in a statement.
“Working people are the backbone of our city — the teachers, bus drivers, sanitation workers, construction crews, and healthcare workers who make Miami run every single day. As Mayor, I will fight to make sure they have fair wages, safe workplaces, and a city government that treats them with the respect they deserve. Together, we will build a stronger, more affordable Miami that works for everyone.”
Higgins, who resigned from the County Commission on Nov. 5 in accordance with Florida’s resign-to-run law, is competing in a Dec. 9 runoff for Miami Mayor against former City Manager Emilio González after neither secured more than half the votes in the city’s Nov. 4 election. They topped 11 other candidates, with Higgins taking 36% and González capturing 19.5% of the vote, respectively.
Internal polling shows Higgins with a high likelihood of winning the runoff.