Eileen Higgins Makes History as Miami's First Woman Mayor

Eileen Higgins has made history as the 44th mayor of Miami, becoming the first woman to hold the city's top office since taking the position in 2025. The Democrat's victory also marked the first time since the 1990s that a non-Hispanic candidate and a Democratic Party member won the mayoral seat.

Highlights from her journey to City Hall:

From Ohio to Miami via the World

Born in Dayton, Ohio and raised in Albuquerque, New Mexico, Higgins earned her mechanical engineering degree from the University of New Mexico and an MBA from Cornell University. Her career took her across the globe—serving as Peace Corps Country Director in Belize, working as a foreign service officer focused on Mexico and South Africa, and consulting on transportation infrastructure projects throughout Latin America. She eventually settled in Miami in the early 2000s.

Seven Years Serving Miami-Dade County

Higgins served on the Miami-Dade County Commission from 2018 to 2025, becoming its longest-serving member. During her tenure, she championed affordable housing, environmental sustainability, and transit expansion—including the popular Better Bus Network and Metrorail extensions. She also secured funding for the Bay of Pigs Brigade 2506 Museum and Library in Little Havana.

A Historic Campaign

Running to succeed term-limited Mayor Francis X. Suarez, Higgins qualified for the ballot by collecting 3,000 voter signatures rather than paying a fee—a choice she said demonstrated grassroots support. Her campaign focused on government transparency, housing affordability, climate resilience, and improved public transportation. After leading the first round of voting, she defeated Emilio Gonzalez in the December 2025 runoff with 59.3% of the vote.