Miami Mayoral Election: 13 Candidates Vie for City Leadership
As Miami Mayor Francis Suarez exits office, 13 candidates are vying for the top spot in the Nov. 4 election. The next mayor will shape the city's direction, with key responsibilities including hiring and firing the city manager, serving as the city's face, and wielding veto power over legislation. Early voting begins Saturday and runs through Nov. 2, with 13 candidates competing for the position. The sitting commissioner and former mayor, Joe Carollo, and others, such as Alex Díaz de la Portilla and Eileen Higgins, are among the leading contenders.
Key Takeaways:
- 13 candidates are running for mayor, with six considered leading contenders based on their participation in mayoral debates and recent polls.
- The next mayor will have significant influence over city operations, including hiring and firing the city manager, serving as the city's face, and wielding veto power over legislation.
- Key issues include housing affordability, crime reduction, and helping residents with the high cost of living in Miami.
- Candidates, such as Joe Carollo and Alex Díaz de la Portilla, have prioritized specific initiatives, such as housing affordability, strengthening public safety, and providing tutoring to school-aged children.
- Emilio Gonzalez has proposed eliminating state property taxes to improve housing affordability, while Eileen Higgins has emphasized the need to build more housing and provide loans to help homeowners stay in their houses.
Statistics:
- The next mayor will be responsible for overseeing the city's day-to-day operations, including a population of over 442,000 and a budget of over $3.3 billion (Source: City of Miami website).
- 2,500 units of housing have been purchased, with 500 units in the pipeline, as part of the city's efforts to address housing affordability (Source: The Real Deal).
- $63.5 million paid in a legal judgment against Commissioner Joe Carollo and $12.5 million settlement paid by the city to business owners (Source: Axios and Miami Herald).
- Eileen Higgins has spearheaded the creation of 4,000 units of affordable and workforce housing, with 3,000 more in the pipeline (Source: Miami-Dade County website).
Sources:
- (https://www.miami.gov/My-Government/Elections/2025-General-Municipal-and-Special-Elections-November-4-2025)
- (https://www.voterfocus.com/CampaignFinance/candidate_pr.php?el=8&c=muncitymiami)
- (https://www.cbsnews.com/miami/news/miami-mayoral-debate-preview-facing-south-florida/)
- (https://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/community/miami-dade/article312502993.html)
- (https://www.axios.com/local/miami/2023/06/02/miami-commissioner-free-speech-lawsuit-63million)
- (https://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/community/miami-dade/article293027429.html)
- (https://therealdeal.com/miami/2020/01/23/miami-to-debate-fiu-affordable-housing-plan/)
- (https://www.instagram.com/joecarollonow/?hl=en)
- (https://www.instagram.com/alexddlpmiami/?hl=en)
- (https://www.instagram.com/eileen.miami/)
- (https://www.emilioformiami.com/)
- (https://www.xavierlsuarezformayor.miami/)
- (https://miamimayorsavage.com/)
- (https://www.local10.com/sports/local/2025/10/09/vote-2025-former-miami-commissioner-ken-russell-speaks-about-goals-if-elected-mayor/)
- (https://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/community/miami-dade/article301774724.html)
- (https://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/community/miami-dade/article263388178.html)
- (https://www.xavierlsuarezformayor.miami/)
- (https://www.browardsao.com/prosecutors-drop-charges-ex-miami-city-commissioner-and-attorney/)
- (https://www.miamidade.gov/global/government/commission/district05/home.page)