Eileen Higgins, the gringa' who returned Miami to the Democrats after three decades

"When you have a great candidate who's focused on the issues of the people and solutions for the people, along with an organized party doing year-round organizing, consistently showing up in communities, with the resources to communicate to the electorate, it produces wins, says Nikki Fried, chair of the Florida Democratic Party. This is going to be a great example of not just what happens in South Florida, but what can happen across the state."

"The Miami mayoralty is a nonpartisan office no formal party affiliation appears on the ballot but the race was seen as another battle over the future of the Democratic Party, particularly because Miami-Dade County a blue stronghold for decades voted Republican in the last election. The battle intensified last month when Trump endorsed former city manager Emilio Gonzalez, a Republican. The president offered his support after the Democrats scored major victories in New York, Virginia, and New Jersey, outcomes widely interpreted as a repudiation of his policies. The Democratic National Committee, in turn, backed Higgins an unusual move at the municipal level turning the local race into a battle of endorsements and a national barometer of political sentiment."

Eileen Higgins' political outlook and civic alliances align with progressive Democratic ideals that prioritize affordability, immigration, and social justice. Democratic organizations celebrated the mayoral victory as evidence the party can reconnect with voters after the 2024 presidential defeat. The Miami mayoralty appears nonpartisan on the ballot, but the race functioned as a proxy contest over party direction amid Miami-Dade's recent Republican shift. National attention rose after former President Donald Trump endorsed Republican Emilio Gonzalez and the Democratic National Committee unusually invested in the municipal contest. Higgins secured nearly 60% of the vote, becoming the first woman and first Democrat to lead Miami in decades. The outcome highlights organized, year-round community outreach and targeted messaging as effective local strategy.

Read at english.elpais.com