Miami Mayor-elect Eileen Higgins believes the important thing to her election victory Tuesday — the first for a Democrat in nearly 30 years — was her outreach to individuals of all political persuasions.
In an interview on CBS Information simply after the election, CBS Information chief Washington correspondent Main Garrett requested her in regards to the “Trump impact;” President Trump had endorsed her Republican opponent, drawing consideration to the race.
“I do not know,” Higgins responded. “What I do know is what I did. I labored. I knocked on doorways and known as Republicans, independents and Democrats all throughout the town of Miami — since you can not turn out to be the mayor of this metropolis if solely Democrats vote for you. You may’t turn out to be the mayor of this metropolis if solely Republicans vote for you. You have to have all three.”
Higgins, who can be the primary girl elected to be Miami mayor, gained 59% of the vote Tuesday. She additionally identified that she has served for eight years on the county fee within the metropolis, the place she represents a Republican-leaning district.
A former Miami-Dade County commissioner, Higgins defeated Republican candidate Emilio González, a former metropolis supervisor who had been endorsed by each President Trump and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, in a runoff election. The mayoral race is formally nonpartisan, nevertheless it grew extra politicized due to the Trump administration’s immigration insurance policies and Mr. Trump’s endorsement of her opponent.
She mentioned that her political celebration will not matter as she takes on the tasks of the workplace.
“The oldsters of the town of Miami know that I’m a loud, proud Democrat,” she continued. “However once I get elected, the election’s over, and the time of service begins, and also you serve all people. By no means, ever ask their political affiliation. If their avenue is flooded, in the event that they want an reasonably priced unit to reside in, you do not ask what celebration they’re from. You say, ‘Yep, we have got to determine make that occur for you.'”
Miami is closely Hispanic, and a majority of residents have been born exterior the U.S. Higgins targeted on points together with immigration, housing, flooding and metropolis progress.
“Our metropolis selected a brand new course,” she instructed the gang at her election evening victory celebration. “You selected competence over chaos, outcomes over excuses and a metropolis authorities that lastly works for you.”
Watch the complete interview on “The Takeout” at 5 p.m. ET, on CBS Information 24/7. Obtain the free CBS Information app.
