President Donald Trump has endorsed Emilio Gonzalez, a Republican and former Miami city manager, in the upcoming Miami mayoral runoff. The endorsement was announced on Truth Social over the weekend. Trump praised Gonzalez, stating:
“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.”
Gonzalez is facing Eileen Higgins, a former Miami-Dade County commissioner who led the initial election with 36 percent of the vote. Gonzalez received 19.5 percent in a field of 13 candidates. No candidate secured more than half of the votes on Nov. 4, leading to a runoff scheduled for Dec. 9.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and Congressman Byron Donalds have also endorsed Gonzalez. The impact of these endorsements on financial backing from South Florida’s real estate sector remains uncertain.
Higgins’ campaign responded to Trump’s endorsement by emphasizing her broad support base:
“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.
Gonzalez did not immediately comment on Trump’s endorsement or his campaign strategy going forward.
Campaign finance records show that while Gonzalez’s Mission Miami political action committee raised $651,215 for the November election—without significant contributions from major developers or real estate investors—it did receive $20,000 from six entities linked to Bill Fuller and Martin Pinilla. These developers focus on Little Havana properties and previously won a $63 million verdict against ex-city commissioner Joe Carollo in 2023.
During that legal dispute, Gonzalez testified that Carollo pressured him and other city staffers to target businesses owned by Fuller and Pinilla for code violations. Carollo ran for mayor as well but finished fourth after raising nearly $1 million through his Miami First PAC.
Both Carollo and Higgins attracted substantial donations from real estate interests during their campaigns. Some donors contributed to both candidates; for example, law firm Bercow Radell Fernandez Larkin & Tapanes gave $10,000 each to Carollo’s PAC and Higgins’ Ethical Leadership for Miami committee. On Monday following the election results, this law firm co-hosted a fundraiser for Higgins at Brightline Station in downtown Miami alongside several prominent local business leaders.
State law limits individual donations to $1,000 per campaign but does not cap contributions made directly to political action committees like Ethical Leadership for Miami.
The Florida Democratic Party is supporting Higgins by funding mailers critical of Gonzalez’s tenure as city manager between 2017 and 2020. However, her campaign stated:
“The only person trying to inject partisan politics into this race is her opponent, who continues to chase out-of-town endorsements instead of focusing on the issues Miami residents face every day,” said her campaign in another statement. “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.”
