‘Competence over corruption’: Eileen Higgins is sworn in as Miami’s next mayor

Eileen Higgins was sworn in as the mayor of Miami on Thursday, the first woman to lead the city and the first Democrat elected to the role in decades.

“You chose competence over corruption, direction over distraction, public service over political gridlock,” Higgins said in her remarks. “My job now is to deliver on your choices, to match a vision with determination — a city defined not by what we say, but by what we do.”

Higgins emphasized unity, saying she had a message for the people who didn’t vote for her: “It’s pretty simple. I am here to serve everyone.”

“Everyone deserves a city that works for them,” she said. “Not because of where they come from or what language they speak, not because of who they love or where they live, not because of how they vote or where they worship. Because we are each other’s neighbors and friends. The diversity of our community is our strength.”

Miami-Dade County Clerk of the Court Juan Fernandez-Barquin administered the oath of office, swearing in Higgins as she stood beside her parents.

The auditorium at Miami Dade College’s downtown campus had standing room only, packed full of supporters and politicos, including Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava, who sat with outgoing Miami Mayor Francis Suarez and all five city commissioners in the front row. Higgins’ former colleagues on the County Commission were also in attendance.

Higgins has pledged to quell the chaos that’s become a part of City Hall’s brand in recent years and instead focus on tackling major issues plaguing residents. Her top priorities include creating more affordable housing and fixing the city’s troubled permitting system.

“We have to act like the government of one of the most famous cities in the world,” she said at a press conference last week.

Higgins is slated to work with a relatively green City Commission following Rolando Escalona’s stunning upset victory in the District 3 race against former Commissioner Frank Carollo last week. Ralph Rosado, an urban planner with no elected experience, won in a June special election. Miguel Angel Gabela and Damian Pardo are midway through their first terms after defeating incumbents in 2023. That makes Christine King, who was elected to a second term last month, the most tenured on the commission.

Here’s a look at Higgins’ swearing-in ceremony on Thursday, Dec. 18, 2025:

This story was originally published December 18, 2025 at 7:11 PM.

Tess Riski

Miami Herald

Tess Riski covers Miami City Hall. She joined the Miami Herald in 2022 and has covered local politics throughout Miami-Dade County. She is a graduate of Columbia Journalism School’s Toni Stabile Center for Investigative Journalism.