MIAMI (AP) — In a significant political shift, Democrat Eileen Higgins won the Miami mayoral election on Tuesday, defeating a Republican contender endorsed by former President Donald Trump. This victory marks the end of a nearly 30-year losing streak for Democrats in the city and provides a morale boost as they approach the pivotal 2026 midterm elections.

“Tonight, the people of Miami made history,” Higgins declared in a statement following the announcement of her win.

At 61, Higgins will become Miami’s first female mayor. Her campaign resonated in this predominantly Hispanic city as she addressed concerns over Trump’s tough stance on immigration, highlighting stories of local families anxious about potential detentions. Although the mayoral race was technically nonpartisan, she embraced her Democratic identity, ultimately defeating Emilio Gonzalez, a former city manager and Trump-endorsed candidate, who graciously conceded and extended his congratulations to her.

“I’ve never been prouder to be a Democrat,” Higgins shared with The Associated Press prior to her victory. “In Florida, we face challenges where resources are spent on detention facilities instead of affordable housing for our community.”

While this local election doesn’t necessarily predict next year’s outcomes, it captured the attention of national political parties and their leaders. Higgins’ triumph gives Democrats a strategic advantage as they gear up for the upcoming midterms, where Republicans aim to maintain their influence in Florida, particularly in the increasingly conservative Miami-Dade County. This area has shown a political shift to the right and might soon host Trump’s presidential library.

“Tonight’s result is yet another warning sign to Republicans that voters are fed up with their out-of-touch agenda that is raising costs,” said Ken Martin, the chair of the Democratic National Committee, in a statement.

Some nationally recognized Democrats supported Higgins, including former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. U.S. Sen. Ruben Gallego and former Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel traveled to Miami on Sunday and Monday to rally voters for the Democrat who served as a Miami-Dade county commissioner for seven years.

Higgins, who speaks Spanish, represented a district that leans conservative and includes the Cuban neighborhood of Little Havana. When she first entered politics in 2018, she chose to present herself to voters as “La Gringa,” a term Spanish speakers use for white Americans, because many people did not known how to pronounce her name.

“It just helps people understand who I am, and you know what? I am a ‘gringa,’ so, what am I going to do, deny it?” she told the AP.

Republicans’ anxiety grows

Republicans in Florida have found strong support from voters with heritage from Cuba, Venezuela and Nicaragua, because they likened some members of the Democratic party’s progressive wing with politicians from the governments they fled. Trump and other GOP members have tapped into those sentiments over the past eight years.

However, some local Republicans are growing increasingly frustrated since November’s elections when Democrats scored wins in New Jersey and Virginia, where both winning gubernatorial candidates performed strongly with nonwhite voters.

The results from those races were perceived as a reflection of concerns over rising prices and the Trump administration’s aggressive immigration policies.

U.S. Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar, a Republican whose district is being targeted by Democrats and includes the city of Miami, called the elections elsewhere a “wake-up call.” She said Hispanics also want a secure border and a healthy economy but some relief for “those who have been here for years and do not have a criminal record.”

“The Hispanic vote is not guaranteed,” Salazar said in a video posted on X. “Hispanics married President Trump, but they are only dating the GOP.”

Miami mayor-elect gains national platform

The mayoral position in Miami is more ceremonial, but Higgins promised to execute it like a full-time job.

The city is part of Miami-Dade County, which Trump flipped last year, a dramatic improvement from his 30 percentage point loss to Democrat Hillary Clinton in 2016.

As Florida’s second-largest city, Miami is considered the gateway to Latin America and attracts millions of tourists. Its global prominence gives Higgins a significant stage as mayor.

Her pitch to voters included finding city-owned land that could be turned into affordable housing and cutting unnecessary spending.