Democrat Eileen Higgins has won the Miami mayoral race in Florida, the first time someone from her party has done so in nearly 30 years.
A former county commissioner, Higgins won the runoff election by securing 59 per cent of the votes, defeating her Republican competitor Emilio Gonzalez, who was endorsed by President Donald Trump and got nearly 41 per cent, according to official results.
Speaking to supporters at her election celebration party, Higgins said: “Miami chose a new direction… you chose competence over chaos.”
Higgins’ victory continues a string of recent Democratic wins.
With her win, Higgins, 61, also becomes the first woman to be elected to the post, US media reported.
Higgins said her victory “marks the beginning of the work ahead” and promised to tackle the challenges Miami continues to face.
“We will lead a city that belongs to everyone,” she added.
Campaigning on issues including immigration and affordable housing, she sought to contrast her leadership style against Trump.
In an interview with El Pais this week, Higgins said: “He [Trump] and I have very different points of view on how we should treat our residents, many of whom are immigrants.”
During the Miami mayoral debate, she called the president’s immigration enforcement “inhumane and cruel”.
She pledged to work with the Trump administration on issues where they can find common ground, but “when we disagree, I’ll make my voice heard”, she told the BBC’s US news partner CBS.
Despite the race being officially non-partisan, Higgins received the support of several prominent Democrats, including former transportation secretary Pete Buttigieg.
In addition to Trump’s endorsement, Gonzalez was also backed by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis.
Higgins now replaces outgoing mayor Francis Suarez, who briefly ran for the Republican nomination for president.
Leading up to Higgins’ win, the Democrats notched key victories in the first major elections of Trump’s second term last month.
In New York City, Zohran Mamdani beat independent Andrew Cuomo. Abigail Spanberger won the governor’s race in Virginia, flipping the office from Republican, while Mikie Sherrill was elected governor in New Jersey. (BBC)
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