The political arm of the Miami Association of Realtors is backing former Miami-Dade Commissioner Eileen Higgins for Miami Mayor.
RPAC announced its members’ endorsement of Higgins, citing her support for affordable housing and transit efforts at County Hall, which she has vowed to continue if elected Miami Mayor next week.
“Eileen Higgins has consistently demonstrated the leadership, integrity, and results-driven approach Miami needs to tackle our housing challenges and support a strong, growing economy,” RPAC Chair Gus Fonte said in a statement.
“Her proven record — from affordable housing to transit improvements, and permitting reforms that benefit homeowners and small businesses alike — makes Eileen Higgins our choice to lead the City of Miami. We are proud to recommend her for Mayor.”
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 “incredibly grateful” to earn the support of RPAC, whose members “see firsthand how safe streets, vibrant local businesses, and dependable city services shape the quality of life in every neighborhood.”
“As Mayor, I’ll make sure the City of Miami delivers on those fundamentals — improving public safety, fixing our broken permitting system, investing in resilient infrastructure, and ensuring our city’s growth benefits the people who live and work here,” she said. “Miami deserves a city government that shows up for its residents, and that’s the leadership I’ll bring.”
The RPAC nod follows others from trade, union and advocacy groups including United Faculty of Miami Dade College, Miami Fraternal Order of Police, Miami Association of Firefighters, four SEIU chapters, AFSCME Local 1907, UNITE HERE Local 355, SAVE Action PAC, LiUNA Local 1652, Equality Florida Action PAC, EMILY’s List and Ruth’s List Florida.
Current and former elected officials backing her include U.S. Reps. Debbie Wasserman Schultz and Frederica Wilson, Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava, Miami-Dade Commissioners Oliver Gilbert and Danielle Cohen Higgins, Miami Gardens state Sen. Shevrin Jones, Miami state Rep. Ashley Gantt, South Miami Mayor Javier Fernández and former Miami Beach Mayor Dan Gelber.
Higgins is competing in a Dec. 9 runoff against former City Manager Emilio González for the right to succeed outgoing Miami Mayor Francis Suarez. The pair topped 11 other candidates in Miami’s Nov. 4 General Election, with Higgins taking 36% of the vote and González capturing 19.5%.
To win outright, a candidate had to receive more than half the vote.
The Miami-Dade Mayor’s race is technically nonpartisan, though party politics can still play into races.
