Eileen Higgins is the current Mayor of Miami
Eileen Higgins made history as the first female Mayor of the City of Miami, following years of dedicated public service as the Miami-Dade County Commissioner for District 5, a seat she was first elected to in 2018. Representing one of Miami-Dade’s most diverse districts—with communities facing stark inequalities—she became a leading voice for closing equity gaps by expanding transportation to underserved neighborhoods, championing affordable housing, supporting small minority-owned businesses, defending low-wage workers, seniors, and LGBTQ allies, and protecting the waters that surround Miami-Dade County.
As County Commissioner, she tackled Miami-Dade’s housing crisis head-on, spearheading policies to protect renters from eviction, expedite affordable housing permits, preserve naturally occurring affordable housing, and increase homeownership incentives. With a strong focus on transit-oriented development, she helped plan, initiate, and preserve more than 7,000 affordable housing units in District 5 alone.
Eileen Higgins is a problem-solver with a proven record of addressing complex community challenges through practical, compassionate solutions. From improving transportation reliability to confronting sea level rise, from expanding affordable housing to creating better-paying jobs, she has long championed policies that help all Miamians succeed. She now brings that experience, vision, and commitment to her historic role as Miami’s first female Mayor—ready to tackle our city’s challenges to deliver results and ensure opportunity lives in every neighborhood.
When she’s not working for residents, Eileen enjoys exploring Miami’s diverse neighborhoods and natural beauty. She’s an avid reader and frequent user of public transportation—and loves combining both by listening to audiobooks on her daily bus rides.
Eileen Higgins spoke at our event, Building Resilience: Demonstrators for a Changing Climate at the Design Museum in June 2026.
