Who are the candidates running for mayor in Miami?
Democrat Eileen Higgins and Republican Emilio González are locked in a tight race for Miami mayor.
President Donald Trump and his fellow Republican leaders face a test Tuesday night as voters head to the polls in Miami’s mayoral runoff election.
Democrat Eileen Higgins and Republican Emilio González are locked in a tight race for the nonpartisan position, with the Democrat holding a slight lead in early voting.
After clinching victory in several off-year elections this year, Democrats are hoping to continue that streak by sealing a win and sending a Democrat to Miami’s mayoral office for the first time in over 25 years.
Trump during the 2024 presidential election flipped Florida’s Miami-Dade County. Despite that, Higgins came in first during Miami’s mayoral race on Nov. 4. She garnered roughly 35% of the vote. González, who secured Trump’s endorsement, came in second with 19%.
Since no candidate secured more than 50% of the vote, the two top candidates went into a runoff election.
When do polls close in Miami?
Polls opened at 7 a.m. in precincts across Miami, Miami Beach and Hialeah, a city with a large Cuban population, as voters in parts of Miami-Dade County cast their ballots.
Polls are set to close at 7 p.m. Voters in line by that time will still be allowed to vote.
Alina Garcia, supervisor of elections for Miami-Dade County, in a statement welcomed voters back to the polls for the runoff after no candidate passed the 50% vote threshold in the Nov. 4 election.
“Runoff elections play a vital role in shaping the government closest to our daily lives, and every vote helps keep our democracy strong,” Garcia said. “Your participation is both meaningful and patriotic.”
When was the last time a Democrat was elected as Miami mayor?
Higgins, if she wins, would be the first Democratic mayor since 1997.
The last Democratic mayor to be elected was Xavier Suarez, who has switched parties throughout the course of his career in politics, first to become a Republican and then an independent. He’s the father of outgoing incumbent mayor, Francis Suarez, a Republican and key ally to Trump.
That 1997 election, which was the second time Suarez was elected as mayor, was brief after his win was challenged in court and overturned. His opponent, Joe Carollo, a Republican, was declared the new winner.
Higgins would also be the first woman ever to be elected in the position, and the first non-Hispanic candidate since the 1990s.
‘Complete and Total Endorsement.’ Trump backs González
Trump last month endorsed González after he came in second in the Nov. 4 race. While the Miami mayoral position is non-partisan, Trump weighed in to support González, who is a Republican.
Trump in a post on Truth Social, in which he misspelled González’s last name, said the Florida Republican would “NEVER LET YOU DOWN!”
“As Miami’s next Mayor, he will fight tirelessly to Grow the Economy, Cut Taxes and Regulations, Advance MADE IN THE U.S.A., Unleash American Energy DOMINANCE, Keep our now very Secure Border, SECURE, Stop Migrant Crime, and Defend our always under siege Second Amendment,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
Democrats hope to notch more 2025 wins
Democrats have secured several key wins throughout the 2025 off-year elections.
In Virginia, Democrat Abigail Spanberger soundly defeated Republican Lt. Gov. Winsome-Earle Sears in their gubernatorial race last month. The state is home to thousands of federal workers affected by the government shutdown and cuts made by Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency.
In New Jersey, Trump saw major gains in the 2024 presidential election. Still, Democratic Rep. Mikie Sherrill was declared winner over Republican businessman Jack Ciattarelli in their governor’s race.
While Democrats didn’t in Tennessee’s comfortably Republican 7th Congressional District, Democrat Aftyn Behn cut into Trump’s 22-percentage point win in the district. Behn lost by only 9 points to Trump-endorsed Matt Van Epps in their special election.
That’s the trend Democrats want to continue in Miami’s mayoral race.
The Democratic National Committee poured resources, including a bilingual organizing blitz, into the Miami area in support of Higgins throughout the campaign season. She’s also gotten support from national politicians like former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, who was also mayor of South Bend, Indiana, and Sen. Reuben Gallego, D-Arizona.
Higgins, 61, is a former Miami-Dade County commissioner who wears the label “La Gringa.” She served on the commission board, which represented a district that included the Cuban enclave of Little Havana, until this year. She was first elected in 2018.
Throughout her campaign, Higgins has focused on local issues and her previous record as a commissioner who helped expand affordable housing and secure funding for expansions of two rapid transit lines.
But even as she could make history as the first Democrat – and first non-Hispanic – mayor in almost three decades, Higgins said in an interview with USA TODAY that she has relied on support from members of all parties and would govern with that in mind.
“I lead with my Democratic values, but I serve everybody,” she said. “I never asked you what political party you are, and I never asked you if you voted for me.”
González, 68, is a retired Air Force colonel and served as a city manager under Mayor Francis Suarez.
He had a military career that spanned 26 years, including Army Attaché to Mexico and El Salvador and a key post at the Defense Intelligence Agency. He is also a former director of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, serving under Republican President George W. Bush.
Throughout the campaign, González has focused on fighting back against corruption and “cronyism” in the city.
South Florida to play big role in Trump’s 2026 plans
South Florida, where Trump made major gains in the 2024 election, will play a key role in several big events next year for the president.
In Doral, which neighbors Miami, Trump will host the G-20 Summit at his golf resort. The property will also host the PGA Tour from April 30-May 3, 2026.
Seven World Cup matches are also slated to take place in Miami Gardens at Miami Stadium. Host country presidents have typically been involved in the World Cup games. FIFA President Gianni Infantino, who has called Trump a “close friend,” awarded the president with the inaugural “FIFA Peace Prize.”
Trump also regularly heads to South Florida to visit his golf club in West Palm Beach. While the events will take place in cities neighboring Miami, the major metropolitan area will likely still play a significant role.
Not until Nov. 3, 2026.
Marco Rubio resigned his seat to become United States Secretary of State under President Donald Trump. Gov. Ron DeSantis appointed his attorney general Ashley Moody to fill Rubio’s seat for now and next year voters will decide who completes his term. The primary will be held on Aug. 18, 2026.
– C. A. Bridges
