Miami Showdown: Democrat Eileen Higgins vs. Trump-Backed Emilio Gonzalez In High-Stakes Mayoral Runoff

The Miami mayoral runoff pits Democrat Eileen Higgins against Trump-backed Emilio Gonzalez in a closely watched contest that could signal party strength with Hispanic voters across Florida and beyond.

Why This Race Matters

This election — one of the last high-profile local contests before the 2026 midterms — is being treated as a barometer of how both parties are faring with Hispanic and immigrant communities. If elected, Higgins would be the first Democrat to lead Miami in nearly three decades. A Gonzalez victory would reinforce recent Republican gains in the region.

Who’s Running

Eileen Higgins is a Democrat and former Miami-Dade County commissioner who has represented areas including Little Havana. She speaks Spanish, embraces the nickname "La Gringa," and has emphasized local issues such as housing affordability while criticizing federal immigration enforcement policies that affect Miami's large foreign-born population.

Emilio Gonzalez is a former city manager and served as director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services under President George W. Bush. Backed publicly by prominent Florida Republicans, Gonzalez has focused his campaign on repealing Miami's homestead property tax exemption and streamlining business permitting. He has said he supports immigration arrests for people who have committed crimes, calling broader enforcement a federal responsibility.

Endorsements And National Attention

The race has attracted national players: Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and Sen. Rick Scott have endorsed Gonzalez, while Democrats including U.S. Sen. Ruben Gallego and former Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel have campaigned for Higgins. That outside attention has further nationalized what is officially a nonpartisan contest.

Local Context

Miami, a city of roughly 487,000 residents, sits at the heart of Miami-Dade County — an area that shifted Republican in the most recent presidential election after voting Democratic in 2020. The city is widely viewed as a cultural and political bellwether in the state, and it is also the announced future site of a presidential library tied to former President Trump, adding symbolic weight to the outcome.

Bottom line: Voters are weighing immediate city concerns — housing costs, taxes, and permitting — against larger national debates over immigration and party momentum heading into future midterms.