Polls are now open as Miami voters decide who will become the city\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n
Democrat Eileen Higgins, a former county commissioner and the frontrunner after a strong performance in the first round, faces Republican Emilio Gonz\u00e1lez, the former city manager who is backed by President Trump.<\/p>\n
Higgins, a mechanical engineer and former Peace Corps director in Belize, has centered her campaign on affordability and improving the efficiency of local government.<\/p>\n
Gonz\u00e1lez, 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.<\/p>\n
Republicans hope Gonz\u00e1lez, bolstered by strong support from the White House, will help them maintain their nearly 30-year hold on the mayor\u2019s office.<\/p>\n
Democrats believe Higgins could deliver a significant victory and continue the strong performance the party saw in recent elections.<\/p>\n
Outgoing Mayor Francis Suarez attempted to use his position as a springboard for a presidential run in 2023<\/a>, but his campaign ended after just two months<\/a>.<\/p>\n Higgins led after the first round of voting on November 4<\/a>, earning 35 percent of the vote to Gonz\u00e1lez\u2019s 19 percent.<\/p>\n Whoever wins will take office amid an ongoing legal battle over a parcel of downtown Miami<\/a> land slated for the construction of Trump\u2019s presidential library.<\/p>\n