Emilio Gonzalez and Eileen Higgins are candidates in the runoff election for mayor of Miami, Florida, on Dec. 9, 2025. This is the first runoff election for mayor since 2001. The two advanced from a 13-candidate field in the nonpartisan election on Nov. 4, 2025. In the November 4 election, Higgins received 36% of the vote, and Gonzales received 20% of the vote. To read more about the November 4 election, click here.

Gonzalez is a member of the Florida Treasury Investment Council and a former city manager. He is campaigning on reducing taxes and says, "We can eliminate property taxes for homestead property owners while protecting vital services like public safety and infrastructure." He is also campaigning on reducing city work regulations, saying he would "build a workforce to overhaul permitting and licensing—sparking opportunity and empowering residents and entrepreneurs, not just the well-connected." Gonzalez is affiliated with the Republican Party.

Higgins was a commissioner for District 5 on the Miami-Dade County Board of Commissioners. She is campaigning on affordability, and her website says she would support "cutting through red tape and ending corruption so that our city’s government can get to work creating a prosperous and affordable future for all residents." Higgins also campaigned on improving the city's resilience to environmental disasters. Her website says she will "protect Biscayne Bay, invest in flood mitigations, and secure a resilient future for our city." Higgins is affiliated with the Democratic Party.

Florida Politics' Jesse Scheckner wrote, "The Miami-Dade Mayor’s race is technically nonpartisan, though party politics can still play into races." President Donald Trump (R) and Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) endorsed Gonzalez, and U.S. Rep. Frederica Wilson (D) and Democratic-aligned Miami-Dade County mayor Daniella Levine Cava endorsed Higgins.

Both parties are focusing on turning out their supporters in the runoff. Miami-Dade County GOP chair Kevin Cooper said the local party was focused on mobilizing voters. Specifically, he pointed to Gonzalez's endorsements and said, "I think you’re going to see people of statewide and even national importance getting out the vote for Emilio." The Democratic National Committee is using its national volunteer base to support Higgins with get-out-the-vote efforts, and Chair Ken Martin said, "Between now and Election Day, the DNC is all-in to elect Eileen Higgins."

In 2024, Donald Trump (R) became the first Republican presidential candidate to win Miami-Dade County in 36 years, though Kamala Harris (D) won the city of Miami 50% to 49%. A Democrat was last elected mayor in 1993. To read more about Ballotpedia's mayoral coverage, click here.