Results Are In For Miami Mayoral Election As Democrats Seek To Win Office For First Time In Nearly Three Decades

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Democrats have flipped the Miami mayor’s office for the first time in nearly three decades.

Eileen Higgins defeated Emilio Gonzalez to become the first Democrat mayor of the Florida city since 1997.

Decision Desk HQ called the race at 7:08 p.m. ET.

According to The Hill, Higgins won the runoff election 59.5 percent to 40.5 percent.

The Hill shared further:

The win is the latest boost for Democrats, who are coming out of better-than-expected elections in November and a strong showing in this month’s special House election in Tennessee. The party hopes that an energized base and a focus on issues like affordability will help them flip the House and possibly even the Senate in next year’s midterms.

Democratic National Committee (DNC) chair Ken Martin lauded the win in a statement, describing it as “testament to what Democrats can accomplish when we organize and compete everywhere, including in Miami.”

“Tonight’s result is yet another warning sign to Republicans that voters are fed up with their out-of-touch agenda that is raising costs for working families across the country,” he added.

Higgins and Gonzalez were both forced into a runoff after neither candidate was able to receive at least half the vote. Higgins, who has become known as “La Gringa,” received 36 percent support in the November election, while Gonzalez received close to 20 percent.

“Grateful beyond words for the thousands of Miami residents who stood with us for integrity, safety, and putting families first,” Gonzalez said.

“While this election didn’t end the way we hoped, our fight for accountability, transparency, and a city that works for residents not insiders continues. May God bless Miami and our future,” he added.

More from Newsweek:

As with any election between general and midterm elections, both parties will be taking note of the result in Miami and adjusting plans accordingly.

With the midterms looming, Republicans will be looking to continue the momentum seen in 2024 and maintain a hold on both chambers in Congress, while Democrats will be looking for any signs they could upset that majority.

Miami will likely remain a hotly contested area, with the city having been won by former Vice President Kamala Harris by one point in 2024, while Miami-Dade County flipped red for Trump.

As the second-largest city in Florida, and one which is extremely diverse, the party’s likely cannot write off the mayoral race as they might in other parts of the country, especially with Trump’s endorsement of Gonzalez.

NBC News provided additional coverage:

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