Democrat Eileen Higgins sworn in as Miami's first female mayor, ending 30-year GOP era
Higgins becomes Miami's first Democratic leader in nearly three decades and vows to tackle housing and affordability as she takes office.
MIAMI — Democrat Eileen Higgins was sworn in Thursday as Miami's first female mayor, two weeks after defeating a Republican endorsed by President Donald Trump. Higgins also becomes the first Democrat in almost 30 years to lead the city of about 487,000 residents. She succeeds Republican Francis Suarez, who has served as mayor since 2017.
A ceremony at Miami Dade College in downtown Miami featured Higgins taking the oath of office with her parents joining her on stage. She won the election by about 19 percentage points, defeating Emilio Gonzalez, the Trump-endorsed candidate.
During the ceremony, Higgins thanked her parents for their support and acknowledged Suarez's service, saying he elevated the city's profile worldwide. "Get up everyday, work hard and do what’s right," she said. Higgins noted that she would govern in both English and Spanish and that "A city defined not by what we say but by what we do".
"My job now is to deliver on your choices," she added. "A city defined not by what we say but by what we do."
Higgins, 61, has described a circuitous path to City Hall. A mechanical engineer by training, she left the profession to join the Peace Corps and later served as a diplomat before returning to Miami to serve on the county commission.
Housing affordability emerged as a clear priority for Higgins. She said she plans to translate campaign promises into action and will focus on policies aimed at easing the burden on renters and aspiring homeowners.
Census figures show that more than 55% of Miami's population is foreign-born, with 45% coming from Cuba, underscoring the city’s diverse electorate and the stakes in its leadership.