Eileen Higgins wins Miami
- Tony Lesesne
- 15 minutes ago
- 3 min read
A Bluepring for victory & Success
by Tony Lesesne
Sisters, let the victory of Eileen Higgins in Miami be more than just a headline—let it be a blueprint and a battle cry for every woman who has ever felt like an outsider in the halls of power.
For decades, Miami stood as a political fortress: nearly 30 years without a Democratic Mayor and never, ever a woman in the city's highest office. This was the fortress of history, of precedent, and of the status quo. And Eileen Higgins, a woman who showed up, did the work, and built trust, just shattered it.
City of Miami Government is not
MIami-Dade County Government
The distinction between the newly elected City of Miami Mayor Eileen Higgins and Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava is crucial, as the two governments operate on different scales: Miami-Dade County, led by Mayor Levine Cava, is a larger "two-tier federation" that provides regional, metropolitan services (like public housing, emergency management, and the massive seaport/airport systems) across the entire 2,000-plus square mile county, including all 34 municipalities like Coral Gables and Miami Beach. In contrast,
Mayor Higgins is the incoming chief executive for the City of Miami alone. Its a much smaller geographical area encompassing neighborhoods like Downtown, Brickell, and Coconut Grove. The city of Miami is primarily responsible for municipal services like city police, zoning, and local-level spending, though the role is often more ceremonial and symbolic than the county mayor's powerful "strong mayor" position. Therefore, while both women share progressive goals like increasing affordability and were both Commissioners who broke gender barriers by becoming the first women elected to their respective posts, they govern distinct jurisdictions and control different sets of public services.
How Eileen Higgins won
The Winning Playbook: Start Now
Eileen's story is a powerful reminder that we don't need permission to start. The foundation of her victory wasn't a sudden run for office; it was a decade of relentless
service and genuine connection.
Learned takeaways for success
Get In The Game Today: Don't wait for a title to begin your impact. Volunteer, join a neighborhood board, or lead a local initiative. When you know an issue inside and out, when you have worked side-by-side with your community, you become irresistible to voters. Our success is built not just on ambition, but on relatable, long-term commitment.
Master the Collaborative Craft: In a city grappling with a crippling affordability crisis and rising climate threats, Eileen won on a promise of competence over chaos and collaboration over division. Learn to follow, learn to lead, and, most importantly, learn to collaborate. These are the skills that solve real-world problems.
Stand For Something Real: Her platform—affordable housing built on city land, strengthening flood defenses, cutting spending waste, was not about abstract politics. It was about making Miami a city where locals can stay and thrive. Find the fire in your community's heart and stand for it.
History is Waiting For You: Eileen is not the first woman to have the skills to lead Miami, but she is the first to claim the title. Her victory, with 59% of the vote in a runoff, proves that when a woman steps up with experience and a plan, the voters will respond.
This is a moment of unprecedented change, not just in Miami, but
across the country. We are seeing women flipping seats,
breaking ceilings, and proving that the future of leadership
is inclusive, collaborative, and results-focused.
The game is on. Go make your own history!