In a historic upset, Democrat Eileen Higgins has emerged victorious in Miami's mayoral election, claiming 59% of the vote and making her the first Democrat to win a Miami mayoral race since 1997. The outcome marks a significant shift following President Donald Trump's double-digit win in Miami-Dade County last year.
According to multiple reports, Higgins defeated Republican candidate Emilio Gonzalez, who received 41% of the vote, by a margin of nearly 18 percentage points. This result is particularly notable given that Trump had endorsed Gonzalez in November, suggesting that the outcome may be seen as a rebuke to the former president's influence on local politics.
Higgins' victory was not without competition, however, as two other Democratic candidates - former Miami city commissioner Ken Russell and Miami-Dade County Commissioner - also ran in the crowded first round of the election. Russell ultimately finished in third place with approximately 17.5% of the vote.
For many in Miami, the outcome of this election is significant due to its potential implications for Trump's winning coalition of voters in the 2024 presidential election and the broader 2026 midterm elections. The city's large Cuban American population, which has historically leaned Republican, presents an interesting test case for Trump's appeal among Hispanic voters.
In recent years, Trump has made strides in improving his popularity in Miami-Dade County, with a notable increase from his 2016 loss to Hillary Clinton by 30 points to a mere 7.3 percentage points in 2020. This year's election marks the first time he has won the county with a double-digit margin.
While Higgins' victory is seen as a positive sign for Democrats in Miami, it remains to be seen how this outcome will shape the party's strategy in local and national elections moving forward.
According to multiple reports, Higgins defeated Republican candidate Emilio Gonzalez, who received 41% of the vote, by a margin of nearly 18 percentage points. This result is particularly notable given that Trump had endorsed Gonzalez in November, suggesting that the outcome may be seen as a rebuke to the former president's influence on local politics.
Higgins' victory was not without competition, however, as two other Democratic candidates - former Miami city commissioner Ken Russell and Miami-Dade County Commissioner - also ran in the crowded first round of the election. Russell ultimately finished in third place with approximately 17.5% of the vote.
For many in Miami, the outcome of this election is significant due to its potential implications for Trump's winning coalition of voters in the 2024 presidential election and the broader 2026 midterm elections. The city's large Cuban American population, which has historically leaned Republican, presents an interesting test case for Trump's appeal among Hispanic voters.
In recent years, Trump has made strides in improving his popularity in Miami-Dade County, with a notable increase from his 2016 loss to Hillary Clinton by 30 points to a mere 7.3 percentage points in 2020. This year's election marks the first time he has won the county with a double-digit margin.
While Higgins' victory is seen as a positive sign for Democrats in Miami, it remains to be seen how this outcome will shape the party's strategy in local and national elections moving forward.
, Eileen Higgins won with 59% of the vote, but did you know that Cuban Americans have only voted for Republicans by 2-1 margin since 2000? 
it's like a whole different party out there! 
and Trump won Miami-Dade County with double-digit margins in both 2020 and this year... what changed? 
he gained 30% of the vote from his 2016 loss, that's some serious groundswell 
meanwhile Higgins just took the mayoral seat by a landslide, but let's not forget Ken Russell got almost 18% of the vote in the first round, talk about a strong field 
59% of the vote? that's insane! I've lived in miami my whole life and i've never seen a democrat win with such a big margin... it's like a new dawn for the city, you know? 
so yeah, this is huge. trump's influence is definitely being tested here. but at the end of the day, it's still americans making their voices heard, you feel? 
I'm loving that she became the first Democrat to win a Miami mayoral race in like, forever 
her message must've resonated with so many people 
now this could be HUGE for the party's future strategy, hopefully they can keep the momentum going 
! and its even crazier that trump endorsed emilio gonzalez but he still lost 
. i think its gonna be interesting to see how the republicans react to this and if they're gonna try to take back miami in the next election 
. And did you know that Miami-Dade County has gone from being a swing county to basically a Trump stronghold since 2016? 
. I'm also seeing some interesting data on Hispanic voters - it looks like they're not as swayed by Trump's rhetoric as we thought 
. Can't wait to see how this plays out in the 2024 elections! 
she totally crushed it with 59% of the vote!!! i mean, trump's been trying to win over that cuban american population for years, but apparently they're not buying it 
higgins' victory is like a total slap in the face to trumps influence in miami... and honestly, i'm loving the vibes of dems taking back the city 
I mean, what's not to love about a city that keeps electing mayors from the other party? It's like they're trying to spite Trump or something. I guess it's nice that Higgins won by a margin, but 59% is pretty impressive for one candidate. Wonder if Emilio will be as gracious in defeat 
. Anyway, Higgins' win is def a step in the right direction 
. this means big things for dems in miami & beyond can't wait to see how it affects the 2024 prez election!