Herald endorsement: Miami mayor runoff election | Opinion
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Editorial Board’s runoff election endorsements
Ahead of the upcoming local elections, the Editorial Board sits down with political candidates to gain insight into their positions on key issues and the potential impact of their policies on the community. Our aim is to help voters make informed decisions about who is best suited for each race. See our November 2025 endorsements below:
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Miami voters will choose a new mayor in a Dec. 9 runoff between the top two voter-getters of a November general election.
The Herald Editorial Board’s choice is Eileen Higgins, a former Miami-Dade County commission. She was also our choice in the Nov. 4 elections, when there were 13 candidates on the ballot. Higgins came first in that race with 36% of the vote, followed by her opponent Emilio Gonzalez, a former Miami city manager, with 19%.
This is a high-stakes election in a city that has been embroiled in political infighting and scandals and where many constituents no longer believe their elected officials are working on their behalf. Both candidates are highly qualified and promise change. But Higgins stands out for her no-drama approach to governing and her ability to build consensus on a diverse county commission, to which she was elected in 2018. She left her seat in November to run for mayor and is backed by the Democratic National Committee.
Higgins, 61, represented about one-third of the city of Miami on the commission, including Little Havana and Shenandoah. She’s fluent in Spanish, which is essential for the city’s mayor.
She is a mechanical engineer who’s been focused on public transportation and housing, two issues that are crucial in Miami. She was the county’s main advocate for the planned Northeast corridor rail expansion from downtown to Aventura. Higgins said she traveled to Washington, D.C., three times since President Trump’s election to ensure federal funding for the rail is in his budget. She also recently pushed through legislation to improve waste composting in the county.
One of her main platform issues is to improve Miami’s slow permitting process, which she blames for delaying affordable housing and infrastructure projects. She supports moving city elections to even-numbered years to improve turnout and increasing the size of the city commission from five members to increase voter representation. Gonzalez opposes both ideas but said he would let voters decide on them.
Gonzalez, 68, is a retired Army colonel endorsed by President Donald Trump and Gov. Ron DeSantis. These endorsements raise some concern not because of Gonzalez’s political alignment, but because both Trump and DeSantis have not hidden their desire to control how cities run themselves.
Besides a two-year stint as Miami city manager, Gonzalez also served as Miami-Dade County’s aviation director and Miami International Airport CEO from 2013 to 2017. He now heads a California-based asset management firm.
Thanks to a lawsuit he filed, the courts struck down Miami’s misguided attempt to move the 2025 elections to 2026 and give commissioners an extra year in office without asking voters.
Gonzalez’s main pitch to voters has been supporting DeSantis’ proposal to eliminate homestead property taxes. He also vows to audit the use of the $400 million voters approved in 2017 for flood resiliency and affordable housing projects, a worthy goal. Like Higgins, he wants to fix Miami’s permitting system.
Gonzalez and Higgins would probably both be capable mayors, but one of them has shown the skills to be an effective elected official in Miami.
The Herald Editorial Board endorses EILEEN HIGGINS for Miami mayor.
BEHIND THE STORY
MOREWho decides the political endorsements?
In advance of local and state elections, Miami Herald Editorial Board members interview political candidates, as well as advocates and opponents of ballot measures. The Editorial Board is composed of experienced opinion journalists and is independent of the Herald’s newsroom. Members of the Miami Herald Editorial Board are: Amy Driscoll, editorial page editor; and editorial writers Isadora Rangel and Mary Anna Mancuso. Read more by clicking the arrow in the upper right.
What does the endorsement process look like?
The Miami Herald Editorial Board interviews political candidates to better understand their views on public policy and how their policies will affect their constituents. Board members do additional reporting and research to learn as much as possible about the candidates before making an endorsement. The Editorial Board then convenes to discuss the candidates in each race. Board members seek to reach a consensus on the endorsements, but not every decision is unanimous. Candidates who decline to be interviewed will not receive an endorsement.
Is the Editorial Board partisan?
No. In making endorsements, members of the Editorial Board consider which candidates are better prepared to represent their constituents — not whether they agree with our editorial stances or belong to a particular political party. We evaluate candidates’ relevant experience, readiness for office, depth of knowledge of key issues and understanding of public policy. We’re seeking candidates who are thoughtful and who offer more than just party-line talking points.