Everybody knew that the Miami mayoral election wasn’t going to be nonpartisan. Not really. Not with these people. Not in these times.
We’ve already seen the attacks. The Republican Party of Florida compared Miami-Dade Commissioner Eileen Higgins, a Democrat, to New York mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani, because that’s a bad thing in Miami. And the Florida Democratic Party call former City Manager Emilio Gonzalez the MAGA mayor, using the tired and emotional phrase coined by President Donald Trump.
But things are now turning positive now.
Read related: Poll has Eileen Higgins in Miami mayoral runoff with Emilio Gonzalez
On Tuesday, Gonzalez rolled out an endorsement from Gov. Ron DeSantis, whose own relative is one of the 13 candidates. That 
includes Kenneth James Desantis, who might have been snubbed by “Uncle Ron” because he’s an independent and not a GOP voter. Or maybe he doesn’t even know a member of the fam is running. “I have not spoken to him,” Kenneth DeSantis told Ladra.
The guv cited the former manager’s proven record of service, integrity, and leadership in defending Miami voters’ right to cast ballots this November. Gonzalez sued after the Miami city commission voted to move election years from odd- to even-numbered, in order to coincide with state and national elections, which effectively cancelled this year’s election and extended everybody”s term, by a year. The courts agreed with Gonzalez’s attorneys, that the move violated the city and the county’s charter because they did not go out to a public vote.
“I’m pleased to endorse Colonel Emilio González for Mayor of Miami,” DeSantis said in a statement from the campaign. “With 26 years of military service and experience at both federal and local levels, Emilio has shown his commitment to our nation and Miami. When local officials tried to cancel the election and extend their own terms, a clear violation of term limits, Emilio stepped up and stopped them in court five times. Emilio is committed to providing property tax relief, strengthening public safety, and reducing government. red tape,” said Governor DeSantis.
Read related: Partisan politics seize hold of Miami mayoral election already with attacks
He bypassed five other Republicans running include Miami Commissioner Joe Carollo, former Miami Commissioner Alex Díaz de la Portilla, Christian Cevallos, Alyssa Crocker and June Savage.
Gonzalez called the governor’s nod both an “honor and a responsibility” that he would take seriously.
“When the political class tried to cancel this year’s election, we went to court and won so Miami residents could vote,” Gonzalez said in a statement. “As mayor, I will bring that same resolve to end corruption at City Hall, restore accountability, and put Miami’s residents—not insiders—first.
“Miami needs a mayor who will stand up to entrenched interests, protect taxpayers, and deliver results,” González added. “That has been the hallmark of my career — from 26 years in the U.S. Army to serving our community here at home. I’m grateful for Governor DeSantis’s confidence, and I’m ready to get to work for the people of Miami.”
On her part, the Higgins campaign delivered a mailer Tuesday that touts her as “The Trusted Democrat.”
Read related: Eileen Higgins qualifies for Miami mayoral race, launches new video ad
On one side, it says “November can e the month we put a stop to the extremist MAGA agenda,” and “Commissioner Eileen Higgins is the ONLY candidate Democrats trust to protect our rights, our democracy and our values.” It also says she will end the “chaos, corruption and MAGA extremism.”
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Didn’t Higgins just get re-elected to her M-D Commission seat? What happens to all the constituents who counted on Higgins? She is abandoning them? And what’s up with MAGA Emilio?
Higgins is controlled by a sleazy lobbyist Christian Ulvert who works for shady Middle East dictatorships. Gonzalez is a member of the Trump MAGA cult. And Emilio Gonzalez helped Jorge Mas kill the only golf course in the City of Miami. What’s next paving over Bayfront Park?’
DeSantis endorses Gonzalez? All voters need to know to pick another candidate. We have enough MAGA nationwide. Look how that is working out. Shootings daily.
Can’t wait for Emilio! So many abulitas homes we can steal! Col. Emilio is going to be a flippers dream Mayor, Opening up so many opportunities with aggressive code enforcement and crusades against homeless evicted seniors. Hopefully he will redevelop all those towers that Carrollo depends upon. Way to go Emilio!!!
All the candidates are controlled by Lobbyst to Developers. Miami has not learned to divorce the Miami machines. Eileen is a proxy for Christian Ulvert google him. Eileen will have no say only what she is told to say,,,Emilio has developer contributions and was hired by the Mafia that he claims to not coexist . The rest well we know their history ……. A shame they are sticking to City Hall like gum on bottom shoe. But now the new game is to also BUY a commissioner seat. Francis bought Rosado for 1M. Who’s gonna buy the Mayor seat? Miami my City I love never learns. Not one new candidate can be uplifted. Emilio has his buddies lined up for the City Manger job and beyond . Stinks like rotten seaweed .
Francis Suarez is Miami’s first MAGA Mayor. Emilio Gonzalez getting endorsed by Ron DeSantis is a huge RED FLAG. Smart people see Donald Trump and his MAGA cult members
taking steps to make Trump more of a dictator. Francis Suarez idealizes Trump. Suarez made a $15 Million fortune by selling his influence for money from developers. No one in Miami has seen Eileen Higgins visit City Hall or speak out against crimes taking place. Did Higgins say a word when Francis Suarez and Emilio Gonzalez killed Melreese Park? Idiot Ken Russell even voted YES to kill Melreese Park. Once stolen the scammers who stole the park immediately killed 1,200 trees.
Higgins is Miami’s Mamdani? She’s got my vote!
Emilio did the right thing stopping the election date change without voter input. That is more than illegal Lago and Francis Suarez did. Will he also do the right thing to defend free speech from MAGA sensors, to stop ICE agents from terrorizing our Hatian, Venezuelan, and Cuban communities, and to stand up against Desantis’ wasteful use of Florida taxpayer money on the illegal Alligator Alcatraz and his wife’s foundation?