Editor’s Note: This profile is part of New Times’ People to Watch issue, spotlighting figures we expect to make a big impact in Miami in 2026.
For the first time in Miami’s history, the city is being led by a woman — in the only major U.S. metro founded by one (shoutout to Mary Brickell). And in 2026, that woman is Eileen Higgins.
After defeating Trump-backed Emilio González in December 2025, Higgins became the first Democrat in nearly 30 years to win Miami’s mayoral seat. Now, her early moves on immigration enforcement, affordable housing, and City Hall reform are being watched closely, not just by Miami residents but also by a national audience looking to see how Democratic mayors navigate a second Trump administration…