Two additional bodies under the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) umbrella are getting behind former Miami-Dade Commissioner Eileen Higgins’ campaign for Miami Mayor.
SEIU Local 1991, which represents thousands of nurses, physicians and other health care professionals at the county’s public Jackson Health System, just endorsed Higgins.
So did the SEIU Florida State Council.
Martha Baker, who serves as President of both entities, said in a statement that Higgins earned their support “because she understands the challenges Miami’s working families face every day — and she shows up to help.”
“As County Commissioner, Eileen stood with our members to improve pay, strengthen workplace protections, and make sure people are treated with respect on the job,” she said. “We are proud to endorse her for Mayor, and we look forward to working together to build a Miami where every worker and every family can thrive.”
The new endorsements join union nods from 1199SEIU, SEIU 32BJ, AFSCME Local 1907, UNITE HERE Local 355, SAVE Action PAC and LiUNA Local 1652. LGBTQ advocacy groups Equality Florida Action PAC and EMILY’s List, and abortion rights organization Ruth’s List Florida are also supporting Higgins.
So are U.S. Rep. Frederica Wilson, Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava, Miami-Dade Commissioners Oliver Gilbert and Danielle Cohen Higgins, Miami Gardens state Sen. Shevrin Jones, Miami state Rep. Ashley Gantt, South Miami Mayor Javier Fernández and former Miami Beach Mayor Dan Gelber.
Higgins is competing in a Dec. 9 runoff against former City Manager Emilio González for the right to succeed outgoing Miami Mayor Francis Suarez. The pair topped 11 other candidates in Miami’s Nov. 4 General Election, with Higgins taking 36% and González capturing 19.5% of the vote.
To win outright, a candidate had to receive more than half the vote.
Internal polling shows Higgins with a high likelihood of winning the runoff.
The Miami-Dade Mayor’s race is technically nonpartisan, though party politics can still play into races.