If Miami\u2019s mayoral race is an indicator of the national mood, color that mood surly.<\/p>\n
The ripple effect of widespread dissatisfaction felt by Americans because of the high cost of food, appliances, rent and mortgages is reflected in political races this year during Donald Trump\u2019s second presidential term. In almost every case, voters have delivered beatings on Republican candidates.<\/p>\n
Last week, the trend continued when former Miami-Dade County Commissioner Eileen Higgins trounced her conservative opponent, former City Manager Emilio Gonz\u00e1lez. Higgins, who also broke the glass ceiling<\/a>\u00a0for women, garnered 59.5% of the vote.<\/p>\n \u201cTonight, the people of Miami made history. Together, we turned the page on years of chaos and corruption and opened the door to a new era for our city \u2014 one defined by ethical, accountable leadership that delivers real results for the people. I am deeply honored by the trust voters have placed in me to serve as the next Mayor of Miami,\u201d Higgins said in a statement.<\/p>\n \u201cAs Mayor, I will lead a government that works for everyone \u2014 one that listens, acts, and delivers. From safe neighborhoods and affordable housing to clean parks, thriving small businesses, and a City Hall that finally earns the public\u2019s trust, we\u2019re ready to get to work. Tonight, we celebrate not just a victory, but a new beginning for Miami \u2014 a city that belongs to all of us, and a future we will build together. \u00a1Vamos a trabajar!\u201d<\/p>\n Political shift<\/p>\n Higgins spoke powerfully against the dubious Ron DeSantis-Trump-powered immigration crackdown that has upended the lives of undocumented and documented immigrants, including U.S. citizens.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is the first year ever where residents have told me they\u2019re afraid, right?\u201d\u00a0Higgins said<\/a>\u00a0in an earlier interview with CNN. \u201cI can\u2019t go an hour when I am at community events without meeting someone whose brother, sister, aunt, uncle, was either taken to Alligator Alcatraz or who knows where? They don\u2019t even know where they are.\u201d<\/p>\n In the aftermath, political pundits muse that Miami\u2019s mayoral runoff likely illustrates a broader national political shift, with Democrats not only breaking lengthy Republican stranglehold on the seat, but also because it is the latest momentum boost ahead of next year\u2019s Midterm Elections. Seats have flipped blue<\/a> in West Palm Beach as well as in Georgia, Mississippi, Iowa and several mayoral seats in Connecticut.<\/p>\n It is not lost on Republicans, MAGA and otherwise, that Gonz\u00e1lez lost despite being endorsed by Trump, DeSantis, U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds, and U.S. Sens. Rick Scott and Ted Cruz.<\/p>\n In the back of Republican and MAGA minds, what\u2019s concerning to them \u2014 even as they try to mask their fears with bravado \u2014 is the potential for an unsettling Democratic sweep in next year\u2019s Midterm Elections.<\/p>\n This year, Democratic candidates secured:<\/p>\n \u2014 Gubernatorial wins in New Jersey and Virginia.<\/p>\n \u2014 The surprise election of a young, bold Democratic Socialist candidate powered by young, multiethnic, disaffected voters in New York.<\/p>\n \u2014 Passage of Proposition 50, a measure that gives California legislators room to redistrict congressional seats and give Democrats the opportunity to potentially capture five additional U.S. House seats.<\/p>\n \u2014 Defeat of a measure in Maine that would have restricted voting.<\/p>\n \u2014 Re-election of three Pennsylvania Supreme Court Judges to retain a Democratic majority.<\/p>\n \u2018Dehumanizing and cruel\u2019<\/p>\n Just about all the races revolved around affordability issues, analysts said. They noted that voters responded positively to Higgins\u2019 criticisms of the DeSantis-driven policies allowing Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents to arbitrarily stop, harass, detain and deport immigrants and U.S. citizens, plus her calls for affordable housing in an area of the country struggling with soaring housing costs.<\/p>\n \u201cWe are facing rhetoric from elected officials that is so dehumanizing and cruel, especially against immigrant populations. The residents of Miami were ready to be done with that,\u201d Higgins said in an Associated Press interview following her victory speech Tuesday night.<\/p>\n Interestingly enough, Trump, during a swing through Pennsylvania to discuss Republicans\u2019 steps toward countering inflation, assured the audience that his policies were driving down prices even as he characterized the \u201caffordability issue\u201d as a \u201cDemocratic hoax.\u201d<\/p>\n Florida Senate Democratic Leader Lori Berman of Boca Raton said during a\u00a0recent news conference<\/a> in the Capitol: \u201cI\u2019m hopeful that, as this Session goes on, we in the House and the Senate in both parties are able to work together and do things that really do affect affordability and that affect peoples\u2019 lives.\u201d<\/p>\n Berman described affordability as her caucus\u2019 top priority next session.<\/p>\n \u201cPrices are rising, period. And we are seeing Republican politicians pander to D.C. and squabble amongst themselves instead of fixing the problem, so Democrats are offering ideas,\u201d House Democratic Leader Fentrice Driskell of Tampa added.<\/p>\n Moneywise, WalletHub, Forbes and Yahoo Finance reported recently that Florida is the second most-distressed state in the union<\/a>\u00a0in terms of its residents\u2019 debt obligations, with a 23% increase in the share of people with distressed bank accounts between 2024 and 2025. In addition, Florida holds the sixth-highest overall share of people with accounts in distress, at 7.3%.<\/p>\n Economic distress<\/p>\n In human terms, this reflects a sharp increase in bankruptcy filings; residents with accounts in forbearance or deferred payments; America\u2019s lowest average credit scores; and higher prices for groceries, rent, mortgages, gasoline and health care.<\/p>\n Americans are struggling to pay their bills, even turning to credit to pay for essentials. A recent\u00a0LendingTree survey<\/a>\u00a0found that one-quarter of buy-now-pay-later users have used these loans to buy groceries.<\/p>\n \u201cThe last few years have been a whirlwind for Americans\u2019 finances, with inflation, fluctuating unemployment, public health crises and natural disasters making it hard for people across the country to pay their bills,\u201d the WalletHub website says.<\/p>\n In the last Presidential Election, Americans voted for Trump because of their deepening anxiety and escalating frustration<\/a>\u00a0with the cost of everything.<\/p>\n Democrats have finally figured out a winning message and have been relentlessly hammering Republicans on affordability.<\/p>\n Author and political consultant Avis Jones-DeWeever told me in a recent interview she is elated at the prospects.<\/p>\n \u201cThese wins were critical because it showed that people will fight back even though the Democratic Party is spineless. It was a powerful rejection in multiple states in multiple ways. It was a full-fledged rejection of (the Trump administration\u2019s) autocratic ways,\u201d Jones-DeWeever said.<\/p>\n The comprehensive wins across the country, she said, illustrate that \u201cwe are still a two-party system. We can\u2019t allow these criminals to maintain power.\u201d<\/p>\n Power of pragmatism<\/p>\n Democratic National Committee Finance Chair Chris Korge, a Florida resident and major donor and volunteer for Higgins\u2019 campaign, agreed.<\/p>\n Higgins\u2019 \u201cvictory is proof that a pragmatic Democratic leader who addresses the electorate\u2019s everyday concerns can rewrite electoral history,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n In a sensible move designed to position themselves competitively, Florida Democrats offered Higgins support and national Democrats also showed up to campaign for her. This includes former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, who encouraged voters in a video to make a plan to vote for Higgins; U.S. Sen. Ruben Gallego of Arizona, who joined her Sunday for early voting stops; and former Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel, who appeared at a Higgins rally the Monday before the election.<\/p>\n Higgins\u2019 win is a well-placed boot in the backside of MAGA Republicans who focus on culture wars; continue to ignore the crucial needs of ordinary Floridians; bully and try to intimidate opponents; exhibit poor leadership; and reward their friends and punish their enemies.<\/p>\n For people tired of DeSantis\u2019 and Republicans\u2019 abuse of power and unlawful and immoral activities, these Democratic wins are a welcome breath of fresh air.<\/p>\n ___<\/p>\n Reporting by Barrington Salmon. Florida Phoenix is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Florida Phoenix maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Michael Moline\u00a0for questions:\u00a0[email\u00a0protected]<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"If Miami\u2019s mayoral race is an indicator of the national mood, color that mood surly. 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