A collective bargaining organization with many members across South Florida is getting behind former Miami-Dade Commissioner Eileen Higgins in her bid for Miami Mayor.
AFSCME Local 1907, which Higgins’ campaign says represents more than 1,500 Miami general employees, just announced it is endorsing Higgins over former City Manager Emilio González, whom she’s competing against in a Dec. 9 runoff.
“The hardworking members of AFSCME Local 1907 with great pride endorse Eileen Higgins for Miami Mayor,” AFSCME President Sean Moy said in a statement.
“We believe Eileen’s leadership demonstrates an unwavering commitment to fairness, dignity, and respect for employees. Our members need leaders who understand their challenges and champion their rights. As Mayor, we are confident Eileen’s leadership will ensure that voices of city employees remain heard and respected.”
As a County Commissioner, Higgins spearheaded efforts like the MetroCenter project to expand affordable housing on underutilized county land while preserving historic buildings and workforce housing.
She also worked to successfully secure hundreds of millions of dollars in state and federal funds for local transit and infrastructure improvements and backed legislation to expand Miami-Dade’s living wage requirements, improve workplace safety at Miami International Airport and provide paid sick leave to workers.
Higgins said in a statement that she is “truly honored” to have the support of AFSMCE Local 1907 members, “who show up every day to keep the City of Miami running.”
“The members of AFSCME Local 1907 represent the heart of our city, and they deserve a government that works as hard for them as they do for the people they serve,” she said. “I will never stop fighting to improve the quality of life for our residents, and for a city government that respects working people.”
The AFSCME Local 1907 nod joins endorsements Higgins has received in the Mayor’s race from labor groups including 1199SEIU, UNITE HERE Local 355, SAVE Action PAC, LiUNA Local 1652 and SEIU 32BJ.
She also has the backing of LGBTQ and abortion rights advocacy groups Equality Florida Action PAC, EMILY’s List and Ruth’s List Florida.
A slew of local and federal leaders are backing her, too, including U.S. Rep. Frederica Wilson, Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava, Miami-Dade Commissioners Oliver Gilbert and Danielle Cohen Higgins, Miami Gardens Sen. Shevrin Jones, Miami Rep. Ashley Gantt, South Miami Mayor Javier Fernández and former Miami Beach Mayor Dan Gelber.
Higgins and González topped 11 other candidates in Miami’s Nov. 4 General Election, with Higgins taking 36% and González capturing 19.5% of the vote, respectively.
To win outright, a candidate had to receive more than half the vote.
Internal polling shows Higgins with a high likelihood of winning the runoff.
The Miami-Dade Mayor’s race is technically nonpartisan, though party politics can still play into races.
