2025 Miami mayoral election

Last updated

2025 Miami mayoral election
Flag of Miami, Florida.svg
←  2021 November 4, 2025 (first round)
December 9, 2025 (runoff)		2029 →
  Eileen Higgins (Miami-Dade County Commissioner) official headshot with white background 3x4crop.jpg Emilio T. Gonzalez USCIS Director (cropped).png Ken Russell (cropped).jpg
Candidate Eileen Higgins Emilio Gonzalez Ken Russell
Party Democratic Republican Democratic
First round13,403
35.95%		7,258
19.47%		6,550
17.57%
Runoff 22,142
59.46%		15,097
40.54%		Eliminated
  Joe Carollo official portrait photograph (City of Miami), orange background (3x4).jpg Commissioner Alex Diaz de la Portilla (cropped).png Xavier Suarez (cropped).jpg
Candidate Joe Carollo Alex Díaz de la Portilla Xavier Suarez
Party Republican Republican Independent
First round4,277
11.47%		1,929
5.17%		1,841
4.94%
Runoff EliminatedEliminatedEliminated
2025 Miami mayoral runoff results map by precinct.svg
Unofficial precinct runoff results
Higgins:     50–60%     60–70%     70–80%     80–90%     90–100%
Gonzalez:     50–60%     60–70%     70–80%     90–100%
     No votes
Mayor before election

Francis Suarez
Republican

Elected mayor

Eileen Higgins
Democratic

The 2025 Miami mayoral election had its initial round held on November 4, 2025, with a runoff election then held on December 9, 2025. The election saw Eileen Higgins elected mayor of Miami, becoming the first Democrat to be elected to this position since 1997. [1] Incumbent mayor Francis Suarez was term-limited and could not run for a third term. Miami holds runoffs if no mayoral candidate receives a majority of the vote. [2] County Board member Eileen Higgins and former city manager Emilio Gonzalez advanced to the runoff. [3] Higgins would go on to defeat Gonzalez in the runoff, making her the first Democrat to be elected mayor since 1997, and the first woman elected to lead Miami in the city's history. The 2025 election marked the first Miami mayoral election to advance to a runoff since 2001. [4]

Contents

Background

Incumbent mayor Francis Suarez was re-elected in 2021 with 78.6% of the vote, defeating opponent Max Martinez. He was term-limited.

Scheduling

The 2025 election cycle was marred by early controversy. In June 2025, Miami city commissioners passed an ordinance that would change the election dates from odd-numbered to even-numbered years, citing voter turnout and the financial cost of elections as key factors. This ordinance would suspend the November 2025 elections until November 2026, giving incumbents an extra year in office. One of the candidates, Emilio Gonzalez, filed a lawsuit challenging the Commission's ordinance. Both the 11th Judicial Circuit and Third District Court of Appeal ruled in Gonzalez's favor, finding that the ordinance violated the Florida Constitution, the Miami-Dade County Home Rule Charter, and the City of Miami Charter. [5] [6] [7] The City of Miami soon after filed a motion to obtain a rehearing en banc . [8] This means that the entire Third District Court would hear the case as opposed to the customary three-judge panel.

Candidates

Declared

Advanced to runoff

Eliminated in first round

Withdrew

Did not run/declined

Individuals substantially speculated to run, but ultimately did not, include:

First round

Endorsements

Emilio Gonzalez (R)
U.S. senators
Statewide officials
Local officials
Individuals
Labor unions
Organizations
Eileen Higgins (D)
State legislators
Local officials
Labor unions
Organizations
Newspapers and other media
Michael Hepburn (D)
Individuals
  • Maxwell Martinez, entrepreneur and runner-up for mayor in 2021 [43]
Ken Russell (D)
Local officials
Individuals

Polling

Poll sourceDate(s)
administered		Sample
size [f] 		Margin
of error		Joe
Carollo		Emilio
Gonzalez		Eileen
Higgins		Ken
Russell		Xavier
Suarez		Undecided
MDW Communications (D) [47] [A] July 27 – August 1, 2025511 (LV)–11%15%36%12%7%19%

Debates and forums

Debates and forums
 No.DateHostModerator(s)LinkParticipants
Key:
 P Participant/Invited   A Absent   N Non-invitee   O Out of race  
Anderson
Bowdre
Carollo
Cevallos
Crocker
Gonzalez
Gray
Díaz de la
Portilla
Hepburn
Higgins
Russell
Savage
Suarez
1 [48] September 20, 2025Various local & statewide organizations Dwight M. Bullard
Michi Ceard Francois		 YouTube PNNPPAPNPPPAP
2 [49] [50] October 1, 2025Downtown Neighbors Alliance, CBS Miami Eliott Rodriguez YouTube NNPNNPOPNPPNP
3 [51] October 5, 2025Coconut Grove Democratic Club,
Miami–Dade Democratic Party		Don Finefrock YouTube NPNNNNONPPPNN
4 [52] October 16, 2025Biscayne Neighborhoods Association,
NBC Miami, Miami Herald , Griffin Catalyst 		Jackie Nespral and
David Smiley		 YouTube NNANNPONNPPNP

Results

Turnout among registered voters has been unofficially reported in excess of 21.6%, with more than 37,600 ballots being cast. [53] There were 174,462 registered voters in Miami ahead of the first round. [54]

2025 Miami mayoral election [55]
CandidateVotes%
Eileen Higgins 13,40335.95
Emilio Gonzalez 7,25819.47
Ken Russell 6,55017.57
Joe Carollo 4,27711.47
Alex Díaz de la Portilla 1,9295.17
Xavier Suarez 1,8414.94
Michael A. Hepburn6881.85
Laura Anderson4151.11
Christian E. Cevallos2870.77
Kenneth James DeSantis2240.60
Elijah John Bowdre1800.48
Alyssa Crocker1470.39
June E. Savage840.23
Total votes37,283 100.00

Runoff

Runoff endorsements

The following individuals and groups (who had not already endorsed either Gonzalez or Higgins ahead of the first round) made endorsements for the runoff:

Emilio Gonzalez (R)
2025 mayoral candidates
Executive branch officials
U.S. senators
U.S. representatives
Statewide officials
State legislators
Local officials
Eileen Higgins (D)
Executive branch officials
U.S. senators
U.S. representatives
Party officials
Individuals
Labor unions
Organizations

Polling

Poll sourceDate(s)
administered		Sample
size [f] 		Margin
of error		Emilio
Gonzalez		Eileen
Higgins		Undecided
APL Consulting [73] [B] November 21–23, 2025307 (V)± 5.9%31%34%35%
MDW Communications (D) [74] [A] October 14–18, 2025307 (LV)± 6.0%24%50%26%

Debates and forums

Debates and forums
 No.DateHostModeratorLinkParticipants
Key:
 P Participant/Invited   A Absent   N Non-invitee   O Out of race  
GonzalezHiggins
1 [75] November 13, 2025 League of Women Voters
ACLU of Florida
Miami Shenandoah Neighborhood Association
One Grove Alliance
ACDC [g] 		Nicole Perez YouTube PP
2 [76] November 25, 2025 CBS Miami Jim DeFede YouTube
CBS News 		PP

Results

2025 Miami mayoral runoff [77]
CandidateVotes%
Eileen Higgins 22,14259.46
Emilio Gonzalez 15,09740.54
Total votes37,239 100.00

Notes

  1. ↑ While Ijamyn Gray had launched a campaign, [11] they were not among those who filed petitions by the ballot deadline [12]
  2. ↑ Maxwell Martinez withdrew prior to petition deadline [11]
  3. ↑ Reyes had announced plans to run, but died prior to the filing period for the election [19]
  4. ↑ Fred Voccola had expressed public interest in running, [21] but was not among the candidates who filed to run [12]
  5. ↑ This appointed position was replaced by the Miami-Dade Sheriff, an elected position, in January 2025. [27]
  6. 1 2 Key:
    A – all adults
    RV – registered voters
    LV – likely voters
    V – unclear
  7. ↑ The Allapattah Collaborative Community Development Corporation

Partisan clients

  1. 1 2 Poll sponsored by Ethical Leadership for Miami, which supports Higgins
  2. ↑ Poll sponsored by Mission Miami PAC, which supports Gonzalez

References

  1. ↑ Vakil, Caroline (December 9, 2025). "Democrats flip Miami mayor's office, winning control for first time in nearly 30 years". The Hill. Retrieved December 9, 2025.
  2. ↑ "Election Calendar (2025)". Miami-Dade County . Retrieved November 16, 2024.
  3. ↑ Multiple sources:
  4. ↑ Rivero, Daniel; Ceballos, Joshua (November 5, 2025). "Higgins, Gonzalez headed to Miami's first mayoral runoff election since 2001". WLRN. Retrieved November 11, 2025.
  5. ↑ Costeines, Michael (July 1, 2025). "Attorneys File Lawsuit After Miami Cancels November's Mayoral Election". The Floridian. Retrieved July 2, 2025.
  6. ↑ MacLauchlan, John (July 21, 2025). "Miami's decision to postpone 2025 election without voter approval unconstitutional, judge rules". CBS Miami. Retrieved July 21, 2025.
  7. ↑ "City of Miami, Appellant, vs. Emilio Tomas Gonzalez, et al., Appellees" (PDF). Florida Third District Court of Appeals. July 31, 2025. Retrieved July 2, 2025.
  8. ↑ Riski, Tess (August 7, 2025). "Miami wants another day in court: City asks for rehearing in election case". The Miami Herald. Retrieved August 8, 2025.
  9. ↑ Riski, Tess (April 9, 2025). "Ex-city manager files to run for Miami mayor: 'Stop voting for the clowns'". Miami Herald . Retrieved April 11, 2025.
  10. ↑ Scheckner, Jesse (April 2, 2025). "Eileen Higgins enters Miami Mayor's race, vows to ensure city 'works for everyone'". Florida Politics . Retrieved April 2, 2025.
  11. 1 2 3 4 Scheckner, Jesse (September 18, 2025). "Days From Deadline, Just 5 of 13 Active Candidates Have Qualified For Miami Mayor's Race". The Miami Times. Retrieved September 19, 2025.
  12. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Riski, Tess (September 20, 2025). "Thirteen Candidates Are Vying For Miami Mayor. See The Full List". The Miami Herald. Retrieved September 22, 2025.
  13. ↑ Riski, Tess (September 20, 2025). "After months of speculation, Joe Carollo formally enters Miami mayor's race". The Miami Herald. Retrieved September 21, 2025.
  14. ↑ Perez, Nicole; Hughes, Calvin; Torres, Andrea (October 8, 2025). "Vote 2025: Miami mayoral candidate Christian E. Cevallos says city neglects neighborhoods like Little Haiti". WPLG (Local 10). Retrieved October 31, 2025.
  15. ↑ Galeano, Emmy (September 8, 2025). "Former Miami Commissioner Alex Díaz de la Portilla files to run for mayor". WLRN-TV . Retrieved December 10, 2025.
  16. ↑ Ceballos, Joshua (March 10, 2025). "Former Miami commissioner announces bid for mayoral race". WLRN-TV . Retrieved March 19, 2025.
  17. ↑ Riski, Tess (July 22, 2025). "Xavier Suarez, Miami's First Cuban-Born Mayor, Plans To Run For Mayor Again". Miami Herald . Retrieved July 22, 2025.
  18. ↑ Scheckner, Jesse (November 2, 2021). "Miami Mayor Francis Suarez 'Runs Away From His Problems,' Opponent Max Martinez Says". Florida Politics. Retrieved July 22, 2025.
  19. 1 2 "Manolo Reyes, Miami City Commissioner, Dies At Age 80 After Years Of Public Service". CBS News Miami. April 11, 2025. Retrieved October 31, 2025.
  20. ↑ "Long list of potential 2025 Miami mayoral candidates starts to take form". Political Cortadito. December 17, 2024. Retrieved January 16, 2025.
  21. 1 2 Vazquez, Christina (September 10, 2025). "Tech titan toys run for Miami mayor: 'Put me on stage,' he says, 'and it will be game over'". WPLG . Retrieved September 13, 2025.
  22. ↑ Costeines, Michael (October 14, 2025). "Senator Ted Cruz Endorses Emilio Gonzalez for Mayor". The Floridian Press. Retrieved October 14, 2025.
  23. ↑ Riski, Tess (October 9, 2025). "Florida Sen. Rick Scott endorses Emilio González for Miami mayor". Miami Herald . Retrieved October 10, 2025.
  24. ↑ Riski, Tess (September 23, 2025). "Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis endorses Emilio González for Miami mayor". Miami Herald . Retrieved September 23, 2025.
  25. 1 2 3 4 5 Scheckner, Jesse (September 8, 2025). "Emilio González lands Associated Builders and Contractors endorsement for Miami Mayor bid". Florida Politics . Retrieved September 10, 2025.
  26. 1 2 3 4 Costeines, Michael (September 15, 2025). "Six Former South Police Chiefs Endorse Emilio Gonzalez for Miami Mayor". The Floridian Press. Retrieved September 15, 2025.
  27. ↑ Hornstein, Teri; Maldonado, Mauricio (January 7, 2025). "Rosie Cordero-Stutz sworn in as new Miami-Dade sheriff". CBS News . Retrieved September 16, 2025.
  28. ↑ Scheckner, Jesse (September 12, 2025). "'Fairness and professionalism': Airport workers union backs Emilio González for Miami Mayor". Florida Politics . Retrieved September 15, 2025.
  29. ↑ Scheckner, Jesse (September 3, 2025). "Emilio González, Eileen Higgins win partisan endorsements in Miami Mayor's race". The South FL 100. Retrieved September 10, 2025.
  30. ↑ Scheckner, Jesse (October 6, 2025). "Log Cabin Republicans of Miami back 'residents-first' candidate Emilio González for Mayor". Florida Politics . Retrieved October 8, 2025.
  31. ↑ "Endorsements by Veterans for America First". Ballotpedia. Retrieved November 16, 2025.
  32. 1 2 Scheckner, Jesse (September 29, 2025). "'Honest, ethical and effective': Shevrin Jones, Ashley Gantt back Eileen Higgins for Miami Mayor". The Miami Times . Retrieved October 2, 2025.
  33. 1 2 Scheckner, Jesse (September 10, 2025). "'An exemplary record': LGBTQ rights PAC endorses Eileen Higgins for Miami Mayor". Florida Politics . Retrieved September 11, 2025.
  34. 1 2 Scheckner, Jesse (October 23, 2025). "Oliver Gilbert, Danielle Cohen Higgins back 'smart, compassionate' Eileen Higgins for Miami Mayor". Florida Politics . Retrieved October 28, 2025.
  35. 1 2 Scheckner, Jesse (October 14, 2025). "'The kind of leader Miami needs': Javier Fernández, Dan Gelber back Eileen Higgins for Mayor". Florida Politics . Retrieved October 14, 2025.
  36. ↑ Scheckner, Jesse (October 1, 2025). "Daniella Levine Cava backs Eileen Higgins for Miami Mayor, says she 'delivers for people'". The Miami Times . Retrieved October 3, 2025.
  37. ↑ Scheckner, Jesse (October 30, 2025). "'She has a proven record': Health care workers back Eileen Higgins for Miami Mayor". Florida Politics . Retrieved November 1, 2025.
  38. ↑ Scheckner, Jesse (September 15, 2025). "'A true champion for working families': Property workers union builds up support for Eileen Higgins". Florida Politics . Retrieved September 15, 2025.
  39. 1 2 Scheckner, Jesse (October 2, 2025). "'Shoulder to shoulder': Hospitality workers endorse Eileen Higgins for Miami Mayor". Florida Politics . Retrieved October 3, 2025.
  40. 1 2 Scheckner, Jesse (August 27, 2025). "EMILY's List backs 'results-driven leader' Eileen Higgins for Miami Mayor". Florida Politics . Retrieved August 28, 2025.
  41. ↑ Scheckner, Jesse (October 1, 2025). "SAVE Action PAC backs Eileen Higgins for Mayor, Rob Piper for Commission in Miami races". Florida Politics . Retrieved October 4, 2025.
  42. ↑ "Herald endorsement: City of Miami mayor". Miami Herald . October 24, 2025. Retrieved October 28, 2025.
  43. ↑ Scheckner, Jesse (September 23, 2025). "Miami's 2021 runner-up for Mayor is now backing Michael Hepburn for the job". Florida Politics . Retrieved October 2, 2025.
  44. 1 2 de Valle, Elaine [Ladra] (October 20, 2025). "Ken Russell wants another shot at Miami City Hall — as mayor this time". Political Cortadito. Retrieved October 21, 2025.
  45. 1 2 3 Scheckner, Jesse (November 4, 2025). "The race for Miami Mayor is crowded. Here's a look at the top 6 candidates". Florida Politics . Retrieved November 6, 2025.
  46. ↑ "Election USA: 1985. Results in State and Local Elections" . USA Today. November 7, 1985. p. 10. Retrieved November 20, 2025– via Newspapers.com.
  47. ↑ Scheckner, Jesse (August 7, 2025). "Poll: Eileen Higgins leads race for Miami Mayor, but not enough to avoid a runoff". Florida Politics . Retrieved August 12, 2025.
  48. ↑ "Eight candidates, maybe 9, will attend progressive Miami mayoral forum". Political Cortadito. September 19, 2025. Retrieved November 1, 2025.
  49. ↑ "Miami Mayoral Hopefuls Face Off – But Only The "Top Six" Make Debate Cut". Political Cortadito. September 29, 2025. Retrieved October 2, 2025.
  50. ↑ "Miami mayoral candidates clash over corruption, housing and leadership in heated debate". CBS Miami. October 1, 2025. Retrieved October 2, 2025.
  51. ↑ "Another Miami mayoral gathering — but this one's for Democrats only". Political Cortadito. October 4, 2025. Retrieved October 16, 2025.
  52. ↑ Multiple sources
  53. ↑ "Miami General Municipal and Special Elections November 4, 2025". tqv.vrswebapps.com. Florida Elections. November 4, 2025. Retrieved November 5, 2025.
  54. 1 2 Scheckner, Jesse (November 4, 2025). "It's not over: Eileen Higgins, Emilio González to compete in runoff for Miami Mayor". Florida Politics . Retrieved November 21, 2025.
  55. ↑ "Summary Results - Election Night Reporting". enr.electionsfl.org. Florida Elections. November 5, 2025. Retrieved November 5, 2025.
  56. ↑ Scheckner, Jesse (November 10, 2025). "'A proven public servant': Xavier Suarez endorses Emilio González for Miami Mayor" . Retrieved November 13, 2025.
  57. ↑ "Trump endorses Emilio Gonzales for Miami mayor". November 16, 2025. Retrieved November 16, 2025.
  58. ↑ Heddles, Claire; Riski, Tess (November 17, 2025). "Trump just turned Miami's mayoral race into a referendum on himself". Miami Herald . Retrieved November 18, 2025.
  59. ↑ Costeines, Michael (November 12, 2025). "Byron Donalds Endorses Emilio Gonzalez for Miami Mayor". The Floridian Press. Retrieved November 13, 2025.
  60. ↑ Castropé, Daniel (November 18, 2025). "Emilio González suma el apoyo clave de Donald Trump para alcalde de Miami". Diario Las Américas . Retrieved November 20, 2025.
  61. 1 2 Ladra (November 17, 2025). "A GOP hugger vs. a developers' darling — Miami's mayoral race just got defined" . Retrieved November 18, 2025.
  62. ↑ "Dariel Fernandez, Miami-Dade County Tax Collector: Emilio González Has My Complete Endorsement for Mayor of the City of Miami". November 18, 2025. Retrieved November 19, 2025.
  63. ↑ "Pete Buttigieg endorses Eileen Higgins for Miami mayor". Miami Herald. Retrieved December 7, 2025.
  64. 1 2 "Democrat wins Miami mayor's race for the first time in almost 30 years". NBC News. December 10, 2025. Retrieved December 10, 2025.
  65. ↑ Nicol, Ryan (November 25, 2025). "Debbie Wasserman Schultz joins Jewish leaders backing Eileen Higgins for Miami Mayor". Florida Politics . Retrieved November 25, 2025.
  66. ↑ Scheckner, Jesse (November 13, 2025). "Frederica Wilson endorses Eileen Higgins for Miami Mayor: 'Miami's future depends' on her" . Retrieved November 13, 2025.
  67. ↑ Scheckner, Jesse (November 20, 2025). "DNC launches bilingual organizing blitz for Miami mayoral runoff as national stakes rise". Florida Politics . Retrieved November 21, 2025.
  68. 1 2 Scheckner, Jesse (December 5, 2025). "Marvin Dunn, Giffords PAC endorse Eileen Higgins for Miami Mayor". The Miami Times. Retrieved December 7, 2025.
  69. ↑ Scheckner, Jesse (November 14, 2025). "Government workers union AFSCME Local 1907 endorses Eileen Higgins for Miami Mayor". Florida Politics . Retrieved November 14, 2025.
  70. 1 2 Taylor, Janelle Irwin (November 21, 2025). "Eileen Higgins lands backing from police, firefighters". Florida Politics. Retrieved November 23, 2025.
  71. 1 2 Scheckner, Jesse (November 20, 2025). "2 more SEIU affiliates back Eileen Higgins for Miami Mayor". Florida Politics . Retrieved November 21, 2025.
  72. ↑ Scheckner, Jesse (December 3, 2025). "'Our choice to lead': Miami Realtors PAC endorses Eileen Higgins for Miami Mayor". Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government. Retrieved December 7, 2025.
  73. ↑ Plummer, Kate (December 8, 2025). "Democrats' Chances of Winning Miami Mayor Election: Polls". Newsweek . Retrieved December 8, 2025.
  74. ↑ Scheckner, Jesse (November 5, 2025). "Poll: Eileen Higgins enters Miami Mayor runoff doubling support of Emilio González". Florida Politics . Retrieved November 7, 2025.
  75. ↑ Ceballos, Joshua (November 10, 2025). "Miami mayor frontrunners to join League of Women Voters candidate forum". WLRN. Retrieved November 11, 2025.
  76. ↑ "Miami mayoral candidates Eileen Higgins and Emilio Gonzalez talk immigration, affordability, more. See the debate highlights". CBS News Miami. November 25, 2025. Retrieved November 26, 2025.
  77. ↑ "Miami Mayor". enr.electionsfl.org. Florida Elections. December 9, 2025. Retrieved December 9, 2025.
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