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 but by merit since 1993. 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. County Board member Eileen Higgins and former city manager Emilio Gonzalez advanced to the runoff.Multiple sources: 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.
Background Incumbent mayor Francis Suarez was re-elected in 2021 with 78.6% of the vote, defeating opponent Max Martinez. He was term-limited, preventing him from running again in 2025.
Scheduling The 2025 election cycle was marred by early controversy. In June 2025, the Miami City Commission 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. The City of Miami soon after filed a motion to obtain a rehearing en banc. 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 Emilio Gonzalez, former city manager and former Director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (Republican) Eileen Higgins, Miami-Dade County commissioner and candidate for in 2022 (Democratic)
Eliminated in first round Laura Anderson (Socialist Workers Party) Elijah John Bowdre, Miami-Dade County Crypto Currency Chairman (Republican) Joe Carollo, city commissioner and former mayor (Republican) Christian Cevallos, former member of the Miami-Dade Community Council for the 11th district and former Miami zoning czar (Republican) Alyssa Crocker, activist (Republican) Kenneth James DeSantis, attorney (Independent) Alex Díaz de la Portilla, former city commissioner and former state senator (Republican) Michael Hepburn, community activist and perennial candidate (Democratic) Ken Russell, former city commissioner and candidate for Florida's 27th congressional district in 2022 (Democratic) Xavier Suarez, former mayor, former county commissioner, and father of incumbent mayor Francis Suarez (Republican/Independent) June Savage, real estate agent and perennial candidate (Republican)
Withdrew Ijamyn Gray (Democratic) Maxwell Martinez, podcast producer and perennial candidate
Did not run/declined Individuals substantially speculated to run, but ultimately did not, include: Manolo Reyes, city commissioner Joe Sanchez, former city commissioner, candidate for sheriff of Miami–Dade in 2024, mayoral candidate in 2009 Fred Voccola, vice chairman and former CEO of Kaseya
First round Endorsements
Polling Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error JoeCarollo EmilioGonzalez EileenHiggins KenRussell XavierSuarez UndecidedMDW Communications (D)July 27 – August 1, 2025511 (LV)–11%15%36%12%7%19%
Debates and forums Debates and forums Date Host Moderator(s) Link ParticipantsKey: Participant/Invited Absent Non-invitee Out of race 1 September 20, 2025 Various local & statewide organizations Dwight BullardMichi Ceard FrancoisYouTube A A 2October 1, 2025 Downtown Neighbors Alliance, CBS Miami Eliott RodriguezYouTube O 3October 5, 2025 Coconut Grove Democratic Club,Miami–Dade Democratic Party Don FinefrockYouTube O 4Multiple sourcesOctober 16, 2025 Biscayne Neighborhoods Association,NBC Miami, Miami Herald, Griffin Catalyst Jackie Nespral andDavid Smiley YouTube A O
Results Turnout among registered voters has been unofficially reported in excess of 21.6%, with more than 37,600 ballots being cast. There were 174,462 registered voters in Miami ahead of the first round.
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:
Polling Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error EmilioGonzalez EileenHiggins UndecidedAPL ConsultingNovember 21–23, 2025307 (V)± 5.9%31%34%35%MDW Communications (D)October 14–18, 2025307 (LV)± 6.0%24%50%26%
Debates and forums Debates and forums Date Host Moderator Link ParticipantsKey: Participant/Invited Absent Non-invitee Out of race Gonzalez Higgins 1November 13, 2025 League of Women VotersACLU of FloridaMiami Shenandoah Neighborhood AssociationOne Grove AllianceACDCNicole PerezYouTube 2November 25, 2025 CBS Miami Jim DeFede YouTubeCBS News
Results
Notes
Partisan clients
References
External links Official campaign websites Chairman Bowdre for Mayor of Miami Emilio Gonzalez for Mayor Michael Hepburn for Mayor Eileen Higgins for Mayor Max Martinez for Mayor Ken Russell for Mayor June Savage for Mayor Francis Suarez for Mayor