President Donald Trump has endorsed Emilio Gonzalez, a Republican aligned with the Make America Great Again (MAGA) movement, in the upcoming Miami mayoral runoff. The endorsement comes ahead of the December 9 election, where Gonzalez faces Eileen Higgins, a former Miami-Dade County commissioner.
Trump announced his support for Gonzalez on Truth Social, highlighting Gonzalez’s approach to economic growth and public safety. “As Miami’s next mayor, he will fight tirelessly to Grow the Economy, Cut Taxes and Regulations, Advance MADE IN THE U.S.A., Unleash American Energy DOMINANCE, Keep our now very secure border SECURE, Stop Migrant Crime and Defend our always under siege Second Amendment,” Trump wrote.
Gonzalez previously served as Miami’s city manager and was involved in litigation that ensured this year’s election proceeded as scheduled. He finished second in the November 4 vote with 19.5 percent, behind Higgins’ 36 percent in a field of 13 candidates.
Other political figures backing Gonzalez include Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and Congressman Byron Donalds. It is unclear if these endorsements will help Gonzalez attract more financial contributions from local real estate interests.
Higgins’ campaign responded by emphasizing her bipartisan appeal: “Eileen has been elected three times by Democrats, Republicans, and independents alike because she shows up, solves problems and delivers for everyone,” according to a statement from her campaign.
Fundraising records show that while major developers have largely not contributed to Gonzalez’s Mission Miami PAC—which raised $651,215 for the first round—he did receive $20,000 from entities linked to developers Bill Fuller and Martin Pinilla. These developers previously won a legal verdict against ex-city commissioner Joe Carollo; Gonzalez had testified on their behalf regarding alleged pressure from Carollo against their businesses.
Carollo himself was among the leading recipients of real estate donations during his mayoral run but finished fourth despite raising nearly $1 million for his PAC.
Both Carollo and Higgins received significant support from real estate firms. For example, Bercow Radell Fernandez Larkin & Tapanes donated $10,000 each to both Carollo’s and Higgins’ committees. The firm also co-hosted a recent fundraiser for Higgins alongside executives from Florida East Coast Industries (Brightline’s parent company), Integra Investments, Adler Properties, and others. Donors were invited to give up to $1,000 directly or make unlimited contributions to supporting PACs under state law.
Higgins is also receiving backing from the Florida Democratic Party through campaign mailers criticizing Gonzalez’s time as city manager. Her campaign maintains it is focused on local concerns rather than national politics: “The only person trying to inject partisan politics into this race is her opponent… Eileen’s campaign is powered by the people who know this city best — Miamians who want affordability, safer neighborhoods and a City Hall they can trust,” her team said.
