Eileen Higgins made history as the first female Mayor of the City of Miami, following years of dedicated public service as the Miami-Dade County Commissioner for District 5, a seat she was first elected to in 2018. Representing one of Miami-Dade’s most diverse districts—with communities facing stark inequalities—she became a leading voice for closing equity gaps by expanding transportation to underserved neighborhoods, championing affordable housing, supporting small minority-owned businesses, defending low-wage workers, seniors, and LGBTQ allies, and protecting the waters that surround Miami-Dade County.
After graduating from the University of New Mexico, Eileen began her career as an engineer in a blue jumpsuit at a heavy-duty manufacturing plant, where she learned to streamline processes and solve inefficiencies. She later earned an MBA from Cornell University and built a successful career as a marketing executive for some of the world’s largest brands.
After years in the private sector, Eileen felt called to a life of public service. In 2006, she accepted a commission to serve as Country Director for Peace Corps Belize, where she led an 85-person team, revamped operations, and developed new approaches to community development. She continued her public service as a Foreign Service Officer with the U.S. Department of State, working to strengthen economic ties with Mexico and implement U.S. policy in South Africa.
Following her diplomatic service, Eileen moved to Miami, where she quickly became an engaged community advocate. She served on numerous local organizations and boards, including the Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE), People Acting for Community Together (PACT), the Downtown Neighbors Alliance, the Miami Climate Alliance, the League of Women Voters of Miami-Dade County, and Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America.
As County Commissioner, she tackled Miami-Dade’s housing crisis head-on, spearheading policies to protect renters from eviction, expedite affordable housing permits, preserve naturally occurring affordable housing, and increase homeownership incentives. With a strong focus on transit-oriented development, she helped plan, initiate, and preserve more than 7,000 affordable housing units in District 5 alone.
She also launched Elevate District 5—an initiative funded by President Biden’s American Rescue Plan (ARPA)—to strengthen the small business ecosystem through data, feedback, and collaboration. To date, Elevate District 5 has supported more than 1,000 local businesses by connecting entrepreneurs with resources, tools, and partners to help them thrive.
Eileen Higgins is a problem-solver with a proven record of addressing complex community challenges through practical, compassionate solutions. From improving transportation reliability to confronting sea level rise, from expanding affordable housing to creating better-paying jobs, she has long championed policies that help all Miamians succeed. She now brings that experience, vision, and commitment to her historic role as Miami’s first female Mayor—ready to tackle our city’s challenges to deliver results and ensure opportunity lives in every neighborhood.
When she’s not working for residents, Eileen enjoys exploring Miami’s diverse neighborhoods and natural beauty. She’s an avid reader and frequent user of public transportation—and loves combining both by listening to audiobooks on her daily bus rides.