Miami mayoral debate coming to the Arsht
The leading candidates for Miami mayor will participate in a televised debate Thursday as the city barrels toward the most competitive mayoral race in over 20 years.
On Oct. 16, the Miami Herald and NBC 6 will moderate a debate hosted by the Biscayne Neighborhoods Association, a local civic group, and presented by Griffin Catalyst, which is Citadel CEO Ken Griffin’s philanthropic initiative. Miami Herald politics editor David Smiley will co-moderate the debate alongside NBC 6 anchor Jackie Nespral.
The debate takes place at 7 p.m. at the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts. Members of the public will be able to view the event via livestream at miamiherald.com and on NBC 6.
The neighborhood group selected the participating candidates based on a poll conducted by Griffin Catalyst. Candidates Emilio T. González, a former Miami city manager; Eileen Higgins, a Miami-Dade County commissioner; Ken Russell, a former Miami city commissioner; and Xavier L. Suarez, a former Miami mayor, will take the stage.
Those candidates received at least 10% support in the poll of Miami voters. City Commissioner Joe Carollo, another candidate for mayor, also met the threshold within the margin of error and was invited to participate but did not commit to attending the debate by the deadline set by the association.
All told, 13 candidates have qualified to run for Miami mayor:
- Laura Anderson
- Elijah John Bowdre
- Joe Carollo
- Christian E. Cevallos
- Alyssa Crocker
- Kenneth James DeSantis
- Alex Díaz de la Portilla
- Emilio T. González
- Michael A. Hepburn
- Eileen Higgins
- Ken Russell
- June Savage
- Xavier L. Suarez
This story was originally published October 11, 2025 at 5:00 AM.
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