Eileen Higgins has been elected as Miami’s next mayor after winning the runoff election against Emilio Gonzalez. Higgins, a former Miami-Dade County Commissioner, secured 59 percent of the vote, while Gonzalez received 41 percent. The runoff was triggered after neither candidate surpassed 50 percent in the initial November 4 city election, where Higgins led a field of 13 candidates with 36 percent and Gonzalez followed with nearly 20 percent.
The race was marked by strong partisan involvement despite being officially non-partisan. Gonzalez was endorsed by several prominent Republican politicians from Florida, including President Donald Trump. On the other hand, Democratic parties at both state and national levels supported Higgins through advertising campaigns and mailers. She also received endorsements from notable Democrats such as former transportation secretary Pete Buttigieg.
Higgins’ victory marks her as Miami’s first female mayor and the first Democrat to hold the office in over twenty years.
Both candidates addressed concerns about the city’s permitting process, which has been criticized for causing delays in construction projects. They also proposed different approaches to address housing affordability: Gonzalez advocated for eliminating property taxes on homesteaded properties, while Higgins highlighted her record in approving nearly 7,000 affordable and workforce housing units during her time at Miami-Dade County.
Higgins attracted significant support from real estate professionals compared to Gonzalez. Financial disclosures show that she received almost ten times more campaign contributions from real estate-related donors than her opponent following the November elections. Her political action committee, Ethical Leadership for Miami, is expected to report additional substantial donations in January.
A recent fundraiser for Higgins was co-hosted by Bercow Radell Fernandez Larkin & Tapanes at Brightline Station in downtown Miami and included prominent figures such as Jose Gonzalez of Florida East Coast Industries; Nelson Stabile of Integra Investments; Jonathan Raiffe of Adler Properties; and Sara Adler of Adler Properties. Attendees were encouraged to donate up to $1,000 to her campaign or unlimited amounts to her PAC due to state regulations on contributions.
Among individual donors giving the maximum allowed were Jeff Berkowitz of Berkowitz Development Group and his wife Yolanda; Michael Liu of Swerdlow Group; Rilea Group; zoning lawyers Iris Escarra and Melissa Tapanes Llahues; affiliates of Integra Investments; and entities linked to Adler Properties. In contrast, Gonzalez received maximum donations from Alicia Cervera Lamadrid of Cervera Real Estate, Associated Builders & Contractors, land use attorney Anthony De Yurre, among others.
In other local races held alongside the mayoral runoff, Rolando Escalona won an open city commission seat with 53 percent of the vote against Frank Carollo—ending a long-standing political dynasty associated with Joe Carollo. Bill Fuller, a developer who previously won a legal judgment against Joe Carollo, attended Escalona’s victory celebration.
Meanwhile in Miami Beach, Monica Matteo-Salinas defeated Monique Pardo Pope for an open city commission seat with 71 percent of votes cast. During their campaign Pardo Pope criticized Matteo-Salinas’ leadership at an affordable housing nonprofit that faced allegations regarding financial management and resident conditions reported by local media outlets. Pardo Pope herself came under scrutiny when it was revealed that she had not disclosed information about her late father’s criminal past or her own social media posts referencing him. In response she stated: “I too am a victim in this.”
