Democrat wins Miami mayor's race for the first time in almost 30 years

Democrat Eileen Higgins has won the Miami mayor’s race, NBC News projects, giving the party control of the office for the first time in almost three decades in another victory for Democrats ahead of next year’s pivotal midterm elections

Democrat Eileen Higgins has won the Miami mayor’s race, NBC News projects, giving the party control of the office for the first time in almost three decades in another victory for Democrats ahead of next year’s pivotal midterm elections.

Higgins, a former Miami-Dade County commissioner, won 59% of the vote to 41% for Republican Emilio González, a businessman and former city manager who was endorsed by President Donald Trump. González conceded Tuesday night, his campaign confirmed.

"Tonight, 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 — one defined by ethical, accountable leadership that delivers real results for the people," Higgins said in a statement Tuesday night.

While the Miami mayor’s race is technically nonpartisan, the Republican-affiliated candidate has won every election since 2008, and an independent candidate won before then, locking Democrats out of the office since their last win in 1997. But while Miami-Dade has moved dramatically toward Republicans in the last few elections, Democratic former Vice President Kamala Harris narrowly carried the city itself last year.

City of Miami Mayoral candidate Eileen Higgins speaks with supporters before canvassing a neighborhood for votes on December 08, 2025 in Miami, FloridaJoe Raedle / Getty ImagesBoth candidates centered their campaigns on breaking from the previous mayoral administrations in Miami and addressing voters’ economic concerns while pitching different solutions, but the race became nationalized in the final weeks. And it hinged on familiar themes that will play a big role in deciding the 2026 elections: affordability, Trump’s weakened political standing and how his controversial deportation agenda is playing in a city with a significant Hispanic population.