January 1, Democrat Wins Miami After Decades Of GOP Rule

Wyatt’s Take

• Miami elected a Democrat mayor for the first time in almost 30 years.
• Trump-endorsed Republican lost by a large margin.
• Election hints at changing political winds in a key city.

Miami voters picked Democrat Eileen Higgins as their new mayor, a first since the late 1990s for the city. Higgins took 59% of the vote, beating Republican Emilio Gonzalez by nearly 20 points in the run-off.

Higgins is also Miami’s first woman mayor. She called her win a move toward “ethical, accountable leadership that delivers real results for the people.”

“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,” she said.

Higgins said voters were “done” with “dehumanizing and cruel” talk about migrants during the campaign. She pushed back against tough immigration moves, favored by Trump and others.

Gonzalez, with Trump and Governor Ron DeSantis backing him, conceded the race and offered his support for the city’s success.

“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.”

Higgins promised changes to city permitting, more help for small businesses, protection of tax dollars, and a focus on affordable, safer neighborhoods.

The Democrats’ party leaders cheered the win, calling it proof that organizing works.

“Mayor-elect Eileen Higgins’ win is a testament to what we can accomplish when we organize and compete everywhere,” Democrat National Committee Chair Ken Martin said on X. “Democrats have now flipped a seat that was in Republicans’ hands for nearly 30 years.”

The new mayor will replace Republican Francis Suarez, who could not run again. Miami, with more registered Democrats, supported Kamala Harris in the last presidential race, even though the rest of Florida favored Trump.

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Wyatt Matters

This election shows how fast a city can shift when people want something different from their leaders. Miami’s choice rings loud for Middle America, where folks care most about honesty, safety, and putting families first—not party politics or power games. It’s a sign that neighbors banding together and demanding real change still means something.

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