Welcome to the Magic City, where the sun is hot, the skyline is hotter, and apparently so is the mayoral race. With 13 candidates vying for City Hall, Miami’s election is shaping up like a reality show meets a courtroom drama complete with indictments, lawsuits, family dynasties, and a lingering Trump shadow.
Voters head to the polls on Nov. 4, with a runoff likely in December. On one side, you have MAGA-adjacent candidates hoping to extend Donald Trump’s influence in South Florida. On the other, Democrats are desperately trying to prove they still exist in a state that has gone from swingy to scarlet under Trump and Governor Ron DeSantis.
While national attention is elsewhere, hello, NYC and Virginia, Miami’s election has everything you did not know you wanted: taxpayer-funded lawsuits, bitter rivalries, and attempts to push the election back a year, which would have let sitting officeholders sidestep term limits. Some candidates openly despise one another. Others are accused of eyeing the job as a stepping stone, or worse, a grift.
Booming post-pandemic growth has turned Miami into a city of newcomers and skyrocketing costs. Longtime residents are left asking if their rent is rising faster than their blood pressure. Commissioner Eileen Higgins, a leading Democratic candidate, summed it up: “Miami is at a precipice. Corruption, dysfunction, and incapability at getting things done is risking that future success.” Translation: the city’s glittery skyline comes with a side of chaos.
The Cast of Characters
- Eileen Higgins: Mechanical engineer, former Peace Corps volunteer, and top-polling Democrat. She’s petition-qualified and unafraid to stress fiscal accountability.
- Ken Russell: Ex-city commissioner returning after two failed congressional bids.
- Emílio González: DeSantis-endorsed Republican, asset manager, and self-proclaimed MAGA middleman.
- Joe Carollo: Former mayor and litigation aficionado. Plans to spend $300,000 before Nov. 4 and estimates $5 million if he hits the runoff. Claims he does not need handlers, PR people, and fundraisers. Just him, the city, and a microphone.
- Alex Díaz de la Portilla: Former commissioner removed from office by DeSantis over bribery allegations, later dropped.
Other names include Xavier Suárez, another former mayor, and a handful of newcomers hoping to cash in on Miami’s wild growth. The result is less a political contest than a multi-generational soap opera in public office.
Trump’s Shadow Looms
Even though Donald Trump has not officially endorsed anyone, his presence hangs over the race like a neon “You Know You Want This” sign. Why? He is slated to get prime waterfront land for his future presidential library, a building whose shadow will literally loom over Miami’s Freedom Tower. Democrats worry the library could complicate city priorities. Republicans fear a liberal mayor would try to sabotage it.
The Drama Onstage
Debates range from surprisingly civil selfie moments to full-blown shouting matches. At one forum, Carollo reportedly lost his cool, Díaz de la Portilla called Russell a “child,” and Russell fired back: “At least I did not leave in handcuffs like you.” Politics, it seems, is the new theater in Miami.
Money, Growth, and Chaos
Campaign donations flow from developers, restaurants, and engineering firms hoping to ride the city’s boom. The population has surged since 2019 thanks to Trump’s tax law, post-COVID migration, and wealthy residents fleeing bluer states. Miami is growing fast, hosting international events like FIFA World Cup matches, the G-20 summit, and Trump-adjacent business forums. Meanwhile, 56 percent of Miamians live paycheck to paycheck, and affordability is a constant debate topic at town halls.
What’s at Stake
The election is not just about City Hall. It is a test of whether Democrats can still compete in Florida or if MAGA-aligned candidates cement the Trump-era realignment. It is about housing, public safety, mass deportation, corruption, and whether Miami remains a livable city for locals while cashing in on its shiny global reputation.
In short, Miami’s mayoral race is part political battle, part reality show, part Greek tragedy, and all parts entertaining. Whoever emerges victorious will inherit a booming, chaotic, and endlessly dramatic city, and maybe the most Instagrammable desk in politics.
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