Miami rolls out the blue carpet for Democratic mayors summit, with Higgins as host

Left-leaning mayors from around the country will be flocking to South Florida next spring to attend a summit hosted by Miami Mayor Eileen Higgins.

Read more Coral Gables plastic surgeon committed liposuction violations, state says

In April, Miami will host the annual Democratic Mayors Association summit, where city leaders from around the U.S. plan to “share solutions and strategies that mayors can utilize in their own communities and call on national partners from the government and private sectors to engage on key issues impacting their cities,” according to a Wednesday press release.

Higgins, the summit’s host, was elected in December, making her the city’s first Democrat mayor in nearly 30 years.

“This summit is an opportunity to learn from one another, share what’s working, and strengthen the partnerships that help our communities thrive. I’m excited to showcase Miami and welcome leaders who are committed to building stronger cities and a brighter future for the residents we serve,” Higgins said in a statement.

Read more What went wrong with American Airlines? See the flight fallout in Miami

While the position of Miami mayor is technically nonpartisan, party politics defined the city’s 2025 election. Higgins had backing from the Democratic National Committee, while her lead challenger, former City Manager Emilio González, landed endorsements from some of the country’s most prominent Republicans, including President Donald Trump, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz.

The upcoming Higgins-hosted summit stands in contrast to the events hyped by her predecessor, former Mayor Francis Suarez, a Republican who was friendly with Trump. Suarez gave Trump a key to the city while onstage at a business conference last fall, and he also joined the president in the Oval Office to announce that the G20 summit is coming to Doral in late 2026.

Democratic Mayors Association Executive Director Virginia Mayer said in the Wednesday press release that the upcoming Miami summit lands at a moment when “the Washington status quo isn’t working for working people, Democratic mayors across the country are keeping the lights on and the water clean while expanding opportunity and delivering results in their cities through innovation and partnerships.”

Read more Miami-Dade school board picks longtime MDCPS administrator as new superintendent