Eileen Higgins sworn in as Miami's first female mayor, ending nearly 30 years of GOP control

MIAMI — Democrat Eileen Higgins was sworn in Thursday, December 18, 2025, as Miami's first female mayor, two weeks after defeating a Trump‑endorsed Republican and ending nearly 30 years of GOP control of the city. The 487,000‑resident metropolis welcomed its new leader as Higgins becomes the first Democrat to hold the post in decades. She succeeds Republican Francis Suarez, who has served as mayor since 2017.

Higgins previously served as a Miami-Dade County commissioner, representing much of the city of Miami. She won the election by about 19 percentage points.

Her parents joined her on stage at Miami Dade College in downtown Miami as she took the oath. She thanked them, saying they raised her with values and stressing daily service. Higgins also thanked Suarez for his service to the city, noting that he helped elevate the city’s profile worldwide. Her career path included an early stint as a mechanical engineer, followed by service in the Peace Corps and a role as a diplomat before returning to Miami to serve as a county commissioner. Higgins said she is there to serve, to show up every day, and to make residents' lives better, adding that while a government cannot love, it can act with care by listening to what the people want.

Higgins said she will focus on housing affordability and will deliver on residents’ choices, speaking in both English and Spanish. She emphasized that the city should be defined by its actions rather than its words. Census figures show that more than 55% of Miami’s population is foreign-born, with about 45% coming from Cuba.

Frisaro reported from Fort Lauderdale, and Mike Schneider in Orlando contributed to this report.