Miami Mayoral Election Goes to Runoff; Meiner Projected to Win Miami Beach

Miami Beach’s law-and-order mayor, who cracked down on Spring Break, won reelection.

A parking lot adjacent to the Freedom Tower was chosen by Florida officials to be donated as the potential site for President Donald Trump's future presidential library, in Miami, Fla., on Sept. 30, 2025. Joe Raedle/Getty Images

The race to become Miami’s next mayor will go to a runoff, after none of the 13 candidates managed to clear a simple majority on Nov. 4.

With the runoff already set for Dec. 9, the two front-runners in Tuesday night’s election were Eileen Higgins and Emilio Gonzalez. Higgins earned just under 40 percent of the vote, while Gonzalez followed with a little less than 20 percent. Ken Russell came in third with just under 18 percent.

Polls closed at 7 p.m. ET, and the runoff was called around 9 p.m.

Like others across Florida, this municipal election was officially nonpartisan. However, clear partisanship shone through among the candidates, as well as its mayor. Francis Suarez launched an unsuccessful presidential campaign for the 2024 Republican nomination, running as a Republican candidate.

Gonzalez is a registered Republican and earned endorsements from Florida’s Republican governor, Ron DeSantis, and other Florida Republicans serving in Washington, such as Sen. Rick Scott and Rep. Jimmy Patronis. He was also endorsed by Miami Young Republicans.

“We all need to keep fighting for [Emilio Gonzalez] in the runoff,” Scott said on X. “Emilio is the polar opposite of the radical socialists we see running for Mayor in NYC, Seattle, and Minneapolis. Let’s do this, Miami!”

Out of the six candidates who polled the highest, four were registered Republicans, including Suarez’s father—and former mayor—Xavier Suarez.

The December runoff will only have Higgins and Gonzalez on the ballot.

With the in-party competition removed, Gonzalez will need his fellow Republicans to show up better than they did tonight. Higgins and Russell combined to garner more votes out of the nearly 38,000 votes cast than the top four GOP candidates combined.

Gonzalez campaigned on a promise to prioritize eliminating corruption. He also pledged to eliminate property taxes, overhaul permitting and licensing in a way that further empowers entrepreneurs, curb spending, grow the police force, and optimize capital investment so it puts Miami residents first.

“Miami residents want an end to political corruption, necessary and robust property tax reform, and a Family First agenda,” he said on X ahead of the polls closing.

Higgins, meanwhile, was the Democratic candidate considered the favorite to flip City Hall. Earning her candidacy via a petition, she pledged to prioritize the city’s permitting process, upgrade the trolley system, invest in the city’s resilience, and increase affordable housing developments as a means to combat the city’s steep housing prices.

This election followed Miami-Dade County turning red for the first time in 36 years when it sided with President Donald Trump in 2024. There has also been a steady rise in GOP voters across the Sunshine State.

But it was hoped by some, including Florida Democratic Party Chair Nikki Fried, that this race could stand as proof that liberal voters still held some power in their former stronghold, even though the mayorship has long eluded them.

“It’s been 28 years since Miami last elected a Democrat as its Mayor, and tonight’s result shows Miami is on the path to getting the leadership it deserves,” Florida Democrats said on X after the results.

If she wins, the New Mexico native will also be the first non-Hispanic mayor in recent history.

Meiner Wins Miami Beach Reelection

On the other side of Biscayne Bay, Miami Beach’s law-and-order mayor, Steven Meiner, was projected to defeat his challenger, Kristen Rosen Gonzalez, to secure reelection.

Gaining national attention for his crackdown on Spring Break, Meiner touted the sharp decrease in crime his city has experienced during his first term. That included a year-over-year decrease in homicides of 67 percent, a decrease in robberies of 29 percent, burglaries down by 25 percent, and overall major crime by 19 percent.

He also celebrated significant tax cuts and a revenue surplus of $11 million.

Miami Beach Police cars drive past The Clevelander Hotel and Club in Miami Beach, Fla., on March 14, 2024. T.J. Muscaro/The Epoch Times

More than 51 percent of the more than 16,000 ballots cast chose Meiner. The victory comes although Rosen Gonzalez raised $50 million more than Meiner during her campaign.

Gonzalez disagreed with Meiner’s claims that their city had gotten safer, and lamented a loss in tourist tax revenue she claimed to be $4 million.

In a victory speech during a press gaggle, Meiner said he was focused on the issues.

“My sole mission. Our sole mission—my family, my team—is to make Miami Beach the best and safest city in America, and we’re getting there, and we got to keep the momentum going, and our residents saw that,” he said.