Miami voters made history this week by electing Eileen Higgins as the city’s first woman mayor in its 130-year history. The former Miami-Dade County commissioner defeated her Republican opponent in a special runoff election, marking the first time in nearly three decades that a Democrat will lead Florida’s second-largest city. Her victory came despite her opponent receiving an endorsement from President Donald Trump. The win puts a significant dent in Republicans’ growing political dominance in South Florida, an area Trump won in 2024 by becoming the first Republican presidential candidate to carry Miami-Dade County in decades.
Higgins’ election creates a powerful new dynamic as she joins Democrat Daniella Levine Cava, who leads Miami-Dade County government, putting two women at the helm of South Florida leadership. Her approach stands in sharp contrast to her predecessor, Republican Francis Suarez, who leaned heavily into masculinity politics during his term by regularly posting workout videos on social media. During her victory speech, Higgins emphasized that voters chose competence over chaos and results over excuses. Her win also sends a message to young girls and teenagers that they can achieve anything through hard work and dedication, from becoming a mayor to pursuing any career they dream of.
