GOP Gets Stunned by Shock Loss in Miami Mayor’s Race

Summary

The MeidasTouch Podcast

Episode: GOP Gets Stunned by Shock Loss in Miami Mayor’s Race
Date: December 10, 2025
Hosted by: Ben, Brett, and Jordy Meiselas

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Episode Overview

This episode delves into the stunning results of Miami’s mayoral race, where Democrat Eileen Higgins achieved a historic victory over Republican Emilio Gonzalez, a MAGA-aligned candidate endorsed by Donald Trump. The Meiselas brothers analyze this upset, unpack the implications for the Republican Party—particularly MAGA in Florida—and explore broader trends, especially shifting Latino voter sentiment.

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Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Miami's Mayoral Upset: A Historic Flip

• [00:50] The hosts announce Eileen Higgins will claim victory in the Miami mayoral runoff—the first Democratic win for this position in about 30 years.
  • Context: The Republican incumbent won by 67 points in 2021; Higgins’s win by approximately 20 points marks an 80+ point swing.
  • Corruption in MAGA Leadership: Outgoing mayor Francis Suarez (R) was described as "very corrupt," having enriched himself in office—an emblematic MAGA figure.
• Republican Collapse: Emilio Gonzalez, endorsed by Trump and also tarnished by scandal during his tenure as city manager, failed to secure what was once a Republican stronghold.

2. Trump’s Endorsement & the Latino Backlash

• [01:40 & throughout] The Trump endorsement, once considered an asset in MAGA-friendly regions, is now framed as the “kiss of death," especially in diverse communities like Miami.
  • Impact on Migrant & Latino Communities: Gonzalez openly courted Trump’s endorsement, but the podcast underscores that Trump's policies on immigration backfired in this electorate.
• Polling Data: Multiple analysts and hosts cite recent polls showing Trump severely underwater with Latino voters (see quotes below), highlighting a 36-point negative shift on immigration approval and a 34-point overall drop in Latino net favorability.

3. Pivotal Debate Moments

• [04:48-08:18] Debate Clip Highlights:
  • Gonzalez’s Defense of Trump: When asked about Trump’s immigration stance, Gonzalez claims he supports rounding up “migrant criminals” but passes responsibility to the federal government.
  • Eileen Higgins’s Response:
    • She sharply counters that “they’re going after everybody” (not just criminals), citing cruel policies and economic harm when TPS was revoked for Venezuelans.
      • Quote [07:20] Eileen Higgins:

        “Every time I am out in our neighborhoods, people are telling me the story of someone they know, a friend, a relative that has had something happen to them, including going to Alligator Alcatraz. So in addition to being inhumane and cruel, it's also bad for the economy.”

  • Acceptance of Trump’s Endorsement:
    • Interviewer pointedly asks:

      "Do you think he should have rejected the endorsement?"

      • Higgins:

        "He's the president. I’m very glad the president did not endorse me." [08:13]

4. Corruption Allegations Against Gonzalez

• [08:49-10:10]
  • Gonzalez is pressed on his resignation as city manager amid scandal. He deflects, blaming his departure primarily on his wife’s health.
  • Higgins’s Commentary:
    • She links Gonzalez to ongoing corruption in Miami government, stating:

      “When Mr. Gonzalez served as the city manager, all of the same shenanigans that are going on now were going on then.” [08:49]

  • Gonzalez attempts to downplay attack ads about his resignation as mere political gamesmanship.

5. Broader Trends in Florida & Nationwide

• [11:41–14:42]
  • The episode covers further Democratic over-performance in recent Florida races—even in districts historically dominated by Republicans.
    • Example: The Democratic win by Rob Long and a dramatic margin swing in Florida House and Senate races.
• “Blue Tsunami” & Latino Voters:
  • Dramatic polling shifts away from Trump among Latinos are described as key to Democratic surge.
    • Quote [14:48] Political Analyst:

      “A year ago…Latino voters trusted Kamala Harris more than Donald Trump by just two points. ... Now Donald Trump’s net approval rating on immigration among Latinos is 38 points underwater.”

    • Quote [15:30] Political Analyst:

      “Trump's net approval rating among Latinos in early February…just two points underwater. ... Now, late October, minus 34 points...whatever Trump is doing in office, in the minds of Latinos, it is not working.”

6. Voices from the Field

• [10:21] Simon Rosenberg interviews Eileen Higgins:

  • Higgins describes Miami as “Florida's flagship brand” and highlights residents’ frustration with corruption, fear-mongering, and unresponsive government.
    • Quote [10:23] Eileen Higgins:

      “For the past few years in Florida, it's almost been embarrassing when we're on the national news and as the city government for corruption and what that means for residents of the city. ... We are also living in an environment of fear. I call it ‘trickle down hatred.’”

• [16:36] Simon Rosenberg relays Senator Ruben Gallego’s remarks:

  • Gallego summarizes Latino voters’ economic anxieties and perceptions of Republican failures:
    • Quote [16:36] Simon Rosenberg recounting Gallego:

      “Instead, what we’re seeing is costs of everything going up and you’re separating families and you’re racially profiling Latinos. So I think you’re going to see a very strong reaction tonight from very Latino areas of both states…”

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• "[Trump’s] endorsement, a kiss of death." [02:38] Narrator/Host
• “Congratulations to Eileen Higgins…Miami turning back to blue.” [17:21] Narrator/Host
• On Miami MAGA Corruption:
  • "Typical MAGA… while his net worth hovered around $400,000 during his first year as mayor, it has since soared to more than $5 million." [11:41] Narrator/Host
• Polling Swing:
  • “A 36-point shift essentially from where we were a year ago on immigration…Latinos despise, hate Donald Trump.” [14:48] Political Analyst

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Important Timestamps

• [00:50] – Announcement of Higgins’ historic win; context for Miami’s political shift
• [04:48] – Key debate segment on immigration, Trump endorsement
• [07:20] – Higgins’s critique of immigration enforcement and economic fallout
• [08:49] – Discussion of Gonzalez’s corruption allegations and resignation
• [10:23] – Simon Rosenberg’s interview with Eileen Higgins on corruption and city issues
• [11:41] – Breakdown of MAGA corruption under Mayor Suarez
• [14:42–15:30] – Polling analysis of Trump’s cratering Latino support
• [16:36] – Gallego’s observations on Latino communities and Republican failures
• [17:21] – Closing summary and implications for MAGA and Miami politics

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Summary

This episode offers an in-depth, energetic and data-driven analysis of the Democratic victory in Miami’s mayoral race, contextualizing it as both a local and national rebuke of Trump and MAGA politics. Central themes include MAGA corruption’s backlash, Trump’s toxic brand among Latino voters, and the Democratic Party’s surprising over-performance in deep-red Florida. The episode is peppered with sharp commentary, memorable quotes, and real-world testimonies—making a compelling case that Democratic wins in historically hostile territory signal much broader political shifts underway.

Transcript

[Eileen Higgins]

Guys, thanks for helping me carry my Christmas tree.

[Narrator/Host]

Zoe, this thing weighs a ton.

[Eileen Higgins]

Drewski, live with your legs, man.

[Interviewer/Moderator]

Santa.

[Emilio Gonzalez]

Santa, did you get my letter?

[Narrator/Host]

He's talking to you britches.

[Emilio Gonzalez]

I'm not.

[Eileen Higgins]

Of course he did.

[Emilio Gonzalez]

Right, Santa, you know my elf Drew Ski here.

[Eileen Higgins]

He handles the nice list.

[Narrator/Host]

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[Eileen Higgins]

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[Narrator/Host]

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[Political Analyst]

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[Narrator/Host]

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[Political Analyst]

US cellular stores with 24 monthly bill.

[Narrator/Host]

Credits for well qualified customers plus tax and $35 vice connection charge credit and balance due if you pay off earlier. Cancer financing agreement 256 gigs. $830 eligible for in a new line, $100 plus a month plan with auto, paper, taxes and fees required. Check out 15 minutes or less per line. Visit t mobile.com A shocker in Miami, leaving Donald Trump and MAGA Republicans stunned. A Democrat will go on to win the mayoral runoff election in Miami, handing a Democrat the mayor seat for the first time in Miami in about 30 years. Democrat Eileen Higgins will go on to defeat the Republican candidate, Emilio Gonzalez for the mayor of Miami. Now, the Republican candidate, Emilio Gonzalez was endorsed by Donald Trump repeatedly. He accepted that endorsement by Donald Trump. That became a very big deal in the Miami mayoral race because of the pain and the suffering that Donald Trump has inflicted on Miami and the migrant community there. Get this. The Republican candidate won that same mayoral seat back in 2021 by 67 points. That's right. Miami's current mayor, a very corrupt MAGA mayor, Francis Suarez, who enriched himself in that mayor's seat, he won the 2021 race by 67 points. And right now, with 90% of the votes having been counted, where we can all finish fairly, call this election for Eileen Higgins. She's leading by about 20 points. So you almost have in terms of a flip here, like a 80 point flip, if you will, in the direction of the Democratic candidate from plus 67 for the Republican mayor in 2021 to now, about a plus 20 for a Democratic candidate. Congratulations to Eileen Higgins, now the Republic candidate, Emilio Gonzalez. He was also shrouded in a reputation of corruption. He was the city manager there, and he abruptly resigned during massive scandals. As I mentioned, he accepted that Trump endorsement. Here's what Donald Trump said about him. It is my great honor to endorse Emilio T. Gonzalez to be the next mayor of the beautiful city of Miami, Florida. He says, a successful businessman, a civic leader, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah. He goes on to say, emilio Gonzalez has my complete and total endorsement, Miami. And then Donald Trump says, get out and vote for Emilio. He will never let you down. And so Trump and MAGA thought that that mayor's race was gonna be safe for the Republicans and for maga. Not so. Donald Trump also posted as it got closer to the election on December 7, that Miami's mayor's race is Tuesday. It's a big and important race. Vote for Republican Gonzalez. He is fantastic. You can also vote today. Make America Great Again. Donald Trump's endorsement, a kiss of death. And we've seen in the polling Latinos are going away from Trump and MAGA feeling utterly betrayed. I want to show you what was the key portion of this mayor's race. And it took place during the debate, which where the candidates were asked about Gonzalez receiving Donald Trump's endorsement. Emilio Gonzalez was asked, so you accept Donald Trump's endorsement and the way he's been treating the migrants and the immigrant community here, revoking people's temporary protected status, attacking the Venezuelans, attacking the Cubans, you're okay with that? Watch what goes down. And watch as Eileen Higgins responds as well and calls out Gonzalez for being a Trump bootlicker. Here, play this clip with the thing.

[Interviewer/Moderator]

That has gotten you a lot of attention. The fact that you were endorsed by Donald Trump. Was that something that you sought?

[Emilio Gonzalez]

It was something that came to me quite by surprise. I literally was resting, reading. My phone went off, and I thought, gee, what happened? Somebody died. What's going on here? And it was just people telling me, hey, you've just been endorsed by the President. I do know that the president, because he's a resident of State of Florida, and there's talk of putting a library here in Miami. He follows events in Florida. He follows events closely. And so I wasn't surprised, but it wasn't something that, you know, I called up there and said, hey, can you do this for me?

[Interviewer/Moderator]

All right? And given that Miami is a city of immigrants, yes, sir. You know, when you accept Donald Trump's endorsement, when he tweets out and puts out on there that he believes in you because you agree with his vision when it comes to migrant crime and the rest of it. Well, I'm curious, do you support the president's policies when it comes to rounding up immigrants? 60% of the residents of the city of Miami were born outside the United States. The vast majority of the people who are being detained who are being picked up do not have criminal records. Are you supportive and will you help Donald Trump enforce that policy?

[Emilio Gonzalez]

Well, you just said it. I support rounding up people who commit crimes. The president says that I support putting down migrant criminals. I cannot in good conscience take fight the federal government and defend a rapist or a murderer like happens in other cities.

[Interviewer/Moderator]

But the majority of the people being picked up right now are not rapists.

[Emilio Gonzalez]

Yes, but the majority. What you're talking about is a federal issue. This is a federal issue that has to do with homeland Security. This is not an issue that has to do with the mayor of Miami. Now, mind you, I know who to talk to. I've been the immigration director. I can advocate for our community, which I certainly will. I plan on adding an Immigration Services staff member to, to help guide us through this. But this is not a topic that you want to just take on the president for. It's ludicrous. The president sees Florida as very important. He sees Miami as very important. And he has backed me because he feels that I have the leadership qualities to bring the city forward.

[Interviewer/Moderator]

I want to bring Eileen in on this. Just on the issue of immigration policy and the next mayor of Miami. He's absolutely right. Mayor of Miami does not have say over federal immigration policy. But there is a sense that if Donald Trump is supporting you, that there is a tacit agreement with the policy. Are you concerned by what's happening in the city of Miami?

[Eileen Higgins]

I'm very concerned with what's happening in the city of Miami for two reasons. First of all, they said they were going to go after criminals, but guess what? They're going after everybody. Every time I am out in our neighborhoods, people are telling me the story of someone they know, a friend, a relative that has had something happen to them, including going to Alligator Alcatraz. So in addition to being inhumane and cruel, it's also bad for the economy. Two weeks ago, our federal government, The President eliminated TPS for Venezuelans. It's almost 100,000 people who have TPS from Venezuela in Miami Dade County. So I was speaking to a gentleman has a health clinic. He received notification from the federal government that he had to fire 26, seven people.

[Interviewer/Moderator]

Let me ask you this.

[Eileen Higgins]

They lost their work status.

[Interviewer/Moderator]

Let me ask you, do you think he should have rejected the endorsement?

[Eileen Higgins]

He's the president. I'm very glad the president did not endorse me.

[Narrator/Host]

Another important part of this debate between these candidates where Eileen Higgins will go on to win this election. It's where Gonzalez was asked about his corruption and. And why he abruptly resigned when he was the city manager. And again, he gives a bunch of MAGA gibberish right here and kind of blames it on his wife and puts it on his wife when he was shrouded in scandal, which is the real reason that he left here. Play this clip.

[Eileen Higgins]

When Mr. Gonzalez served as the city manager, all of the same shenanigans that are going on now were going on then. Unfortunately, unfortunately, he had to leave. It was another example of the city of Miami not being able to get.

[Interviewer/Moderator]

I want to bring.

[Narrator/Host]

Go ahead.

[Emilio Gonzalez]

I'd like to address that because I think there's a misunderstanding there of the role of the city manager. The city manager works for the elected officials, and nobody knows what transpired. Nobody knows how I worked with my staff to.

[Narrator/Host]

Well, I want to get to that.

[Interviewer/Moderator]

In a second, but on the allegation of fraud. Are you. The fact that these commercials are running now against you, what has been your response to that?

[Emilio Gonzalez]

Listen, the commercials are running. I get the mailers. People call me. They laugh. They know. People know who I am. They know what I've done.

[Interviewer/Moderator]

Why did you resign? Because the ad, it says you resigned in disgrace. Why did you resign?

[Emilio Gonzalez]

I resigned because my wife was at the Mount Sinai Hospital intensive care unit going through some very, very serious medical issues. And I had to choose. I brought her home. I brought her home in December, and I had to choose. She was in very delicate health. And I had to choose between going to City commission meetings and undertaking, you know, being a ringmaster in that circus, because that's what it was. It was an absolute circus. I was playing defense the whole time, or I could stay home and take care of my wife, and I opted for that.

[Narrator/Host]

And you may recall our good friend here at the Midas Touch Network, Simon Rosenberg spoke with Eileen Higgins before this race, and here's what she told him. Play this clip and tell us why.

[Simon Rosenberg]

It'S so important that we get behind you.

[Eileen Higgins]

Well, City of Miami is Florida's flagship brand. So it's really important that we have a government that works for the people. And for the past few years in Florida, it's almost been embarrassing when we're on the national news and as the city government for corruption and what that means for residents of the city. I'm one of those people that there's a high level of frustration that they are living in a city with so much potential energy, but the government's just not functioning. It's not paying any attention to them or their needs, particularly as we are confronting, we are the tip of the spear on the housing affordability crisis and of course on the resiliency sea level rise crisis. And they're tired, so they're frustrated with city government and corruption. And then we are also living in an environment of fear. Right? We have a government from Washington to Tallahassee that often says very unkind things. I call it trickle down hatred as how we describe the people that live in our community. In Miami, again, we are at the forefront of diversity and having been a diverse community now.

[Narrator/Host]

Miami's mayor position has been a cesspool of corruption under the current MAGA Republican Mayor Francis Suarez. He was somebody who came into office with not all that much money, um, but enriched himself in that office. Financial disclosure records obtained by the New Times reveal that while serving as mayor, he transformed a modest taxpayer funded annual salary of $97,000 into a multi million dollar family fortune inflated by private consulting gigs, real estate deals. Typical MAGA records attached at the bottom of the story show that while his net worth hovered around 400,000 during his $400,000 during his first year as mayor, it has since soared to more than $5 million. His personal fortune includes a primary home valued at over $2 million, five investment properties ranging in value from about $200,000 to more than $600,000, a $235,000 boat, plus nearly $600,000 in cryptocurrency. So, folks, again, the big news here, Eileen Higgins will go on to win the Miami mayoral runoff election. And we have other news to report out of Florida as well. A Democratic candidate, Rob Long, will go on to defeat the MAGA candidate, Maria Zachary. Get this by around 40 points or so. And that was a plus 10 Harris district. So a plus 30 over performance there for the Democrats. Let me repeat that. A plus 30 over performance. And if you're talking about the Suarez 2021 race, I mean, you're talking about a swing of what, like basically 80 points in the opposite direction there. You take a look at a race from Florida Senate seat 11 this evening as well. This was a Trump +39 area, a very, very safe Trump area. A Republican went on to win this Florida Senate seat 11 in this Trump plus 39. But they ended up only going to win by what, about 13 points. So again, another Democratic over performance here by about what, about 25, 26 point over performance here as well. So, so plus 25 over performance. Although the Democrat lost in Florida Senate seat 11, a plus 30 Democratic over performance in Florida House 90 and Democrats flipping that mayor's seat. Now I want to show you what a big trend that we've seen is. Donald Trump losing with the Latino community. We saw this right before the blue tsunami hit back in November, early November. And remember this right here, how was being reported the absolute tanking of of Latino support here? Play this clip.

[Political Analyst]

Yeah. What are we seeing? You know, one of the big shifts in 2024 from 2020 was that shift towards Donald Trump.

[Narrator/Host]

Right.

[Political Analyst]

Immigration played a key role. And then I want to start off with Latinos on Trump and immigration. You know, back a year ago, what did we see on the issue of immigration? Latino voters trusted Kamala Harris more than Donald Trump, but by just two points. One, two. Look now at Donald Trump's net approval rating on immigration among Latinos. He is 38 points underwater. That is a 36 point shift essentially from where we were a year ago on immigration. Kamala Harris and Donald Trump are basically tied on the issue of immigration. And now on the issue of immigration, Latinos despise, hate Donald Trump, 38 points underwater. In their mind, he is doing something absolutely wrong when it comes to immigration.

[Narrator/Host]

What about the Latino vote overall?

[Political Analyst]

What about the Latino vote overall? All right, how do Latinos feel about Donald Trump overall? Let's take a look here. This, I think sort of gives the game away. Yeah, my goodness. I mean, that is the phrase of the day. Trump's net approval rating among Latinos in early February. Again, he was just two points underwater. Look at where he is now, late October, minus 34 points, 34 points underwater. A shift to 32 points over the course of this year. I should point out this is the CBS News you got poll, but I was looking at the average of polls. I was looking at our own poll, very similar shift, 20, 25, 30 point shifts on the net approval rating away from Donald Trump among Latinos overall. Again, whatever Donald Trump is doing in office, in the minds of Latinos, it is not working. They have turned against him in massive, massive numbers.

[Narrator/Host]

Now, Senator Ruben Gallego, who is also out in Miami actively campaigning for Eileen Higgins, he had this to say before the blue tsunami struck on that fateful Tuesday in early November. Play this clip.

[Simon Rosenberg]

Look I can tell you what I saw when I was campaigning in New Jersey and one of the most Latino areas of New Jersey. When I was in Virginia campaigning there and working class areas and Latino areas. People are worried about the cost of living and they're asking, where is the Republican Party and where is President Trump? They promised to bring down the cost of living. They promised to, you know, make things more livable. They promised to go after the criminals that are in our communities that are here illegally. Instead, what we're seeing is costs of everything going up and you're separating families and you're racially profiling Latinos. So I think you're going to see a very strong reaction tonight from very Latino areas of both states, really putting a check on this presidency and the lawlessness that is occurring under the guise of these Republicans.

[Narrator/Host]

Well, there you have it, folks. Miami turning back to blue. That mayor's race easily, easily won by Eileen Higgins. The MAGA candidate, Emilio Gonzalez endorsed by Trump. Massive loss for Donald Trump. Massive embarrassment for the MAGA movement, massive embarrassment for all Republicans. All right, hit subscribe. Let's get to 6 million subscribers and thank you all so much for watching this. Love this video. Support independent media and unlock exclusive content ad free free videos and custom emojis. By becoming a paid member of our YouTube channel today. You can also gift memberships to others. Let's keep growing together.

[Political Analyst]

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