Tabla de Contenido/ Table of Contents
- 1 Unity Speech or Reality of Power: Eileen Higgins inauguration as Mayor of Miami on December 18, 2025. A race that was the most politicized in Miami-Dade’s recent history.
- 2 The Discourse: An Emotive Narrative for Renewal
- 3 Past as Commissioner: Questionable Actions and the $403 Million Deficit
- 4 The key question: Will Miami or a broader agenda be prioritized, or are we selling Miami in pieces to outside interests? Time will tell.
Unity Speech or Reality of Power: Eileen Higgins inauguration as Mayor of Miami on December 18, 2025. A race that was the most politicized in Miami-Dade’s recent history.
On December 9, 2025, Eileen Higgins made history by becoming Miami’s first female mayor and the first Democrat to hold the office in nearly 30 years, defeating Donald Trump-backed Republican candidate Emilio Gonzalez by a significant margin of nearly 20 points apnews.com politico bbc.com
👉Transcription
Well, hello everyone. Well, when you’re out canvassing, you meet a lot of people. That’s how I met Andrew.
And I asked him what he thought an elder would do. And he paused for a minute, and then he said, help people live a good life. Andrew is only 8 years old, and he defined his job better than any office.
I am honored to serve as Miami’s new mayor. And I am also honored to be the first woman to leave here. Now, no one gets this job by themselves, so I wish I could name every volunteer, supporter, friend who helped me along the way, but that would take all day.
But I personally need to thank some people. So Christian, Greg, Claire, Christopher, Christopher, Alexa, Yuli, Justin, Mateo, Nate, Martin, Elena, Michael, and many more. We built a campaign, supported by hundreds of residents who came together, opened doors, and believed in what we could build together.
A big shout out to the Young Fellows, mentors of Luisa Santos and Justin Clark. These students, they rallied with an energy that kept me going on the toughest days. And they had a mantra.
A new day, a new path. And seeing them live that reminded me exactly why we are fighting for Miami’s future. To the organizations that believed in me, the SAIU family, Unite Here, LIUNA, our police and fire unions, AFL-CIO, AFSCME.
Thank you to all the hard workers who keep our city growing every day. Thank you to Ruthless, Save, Equality Florida, Emily’s List, Everytown, Giffords. You are fighting for dignity and safety in America.
And to my work family, Maggie, Eddie, Anna, John, Melissa, Luis, Danny, Claudia, Yai Mar. You have proven year after year that public service changes people’s lives. And there is no campaign without a circle of friends and family to follow you around and make you laugh and not get too mad when you are too slow in answering phone calls.
You are all a blessing to me. But I especially want to thank my parents. And my friends.
They did something. They lifted me up with values. Go out every day.
Work hard. And do the right thing. So, Mom and Dad, thank you very much.
I love them. And lastly, I want to thank Major Francis Suarez. Major Suarez raised Miami’s profile around the world.
But he also uplifted future generations here at home when he launched a salary account for every teenager. Thank you. Thank you, Mayor Suarez, for investing in Miami’s future.
When I was 40 years old, I don’t remember. When I was 40, I sat down to write my own obituary. I was working in a big company.
It was a leadership exercise. I wrote my own obituary, looked at what I wrote, and saw how I felt. So my obituary, I wrote as my summary.
Mechanical engineer, MBA, solving problems for the private sector, quite successive. But when I read it, what was missing was too obvious to ignore. Service.
Within a year, I left that life behind and treated it as one of Public Service. First in the Peace Force in Belize, then as a Diplomate, then as a City Commissioner, and now as a Major. That is why I am here.
To serve. To show up every day. And to improve your lives.
Matthew’s book tells us, Love thy neighbor as thyself. Now, while a government cannot love, it can act kindly. And we are going to act kindly by listening to what the people of this city asked for.
You chose. You chose competence over corruption, direction over distraction, public service over the political circle. My job now is to carry out your choices.
To combine vision with determination. A city defined not by what we say, but by what we do. You chose a Miami that is affordable for everyone.
Where everyone can attend to live. Where rents are not priced and homeowners are protected. And we’re going to provide affordable housing, housing that people can afford and provide that it’s possible to build the homes you need by issuing permits in a timely manner.
You chose, you chose a Miami where small businesses will grow. Where a good idea and hard work are enough to start a business and make it happen. Where economic opportunity doesn’t stop at the borders of Downtown and Brickell.
It grows in every neighborhood. And we’re going to offer bureaucratic reforms and access to capital. Reforms that cut red tape and create pathways to capital that help keep small businesses open.
Prosperity in jobs that reach Libertad City, Little Havana, Overtown, Little Haiti and beyond. You chose a Miami that can weather any storm. That can withstand any storm, flood, heat, whatever comes our way.
Where preparedness means action, not plans, picking up ice as your streets flood. And let’s deliver a resilient Miami. Resilience with the sword in the ground so that Miami is built to last 1,000 years.
Our city’s infrastructure must move as fast as our climate. You chose a Miami where people feel safe. Where people feel safe.
Where in an emergency our brave first responders come running. And we will deliver a city that protects you. A city that protects you, your family and your future.
A city that is there when you need more. These goals sound ambitious, and they are. Achieving them depends on a small part of governing.
Our national conversation may be obsessed with ideology and violence, but the problem I heard from time to time on the campaign trail had nothing to do with party and nothing to do with politics. It was practical! In fact, I can describe it in one word. Permissions.
Men waiting more than a year to get a phone repaired. Small businesses losing thousands because they can’t open their doors. Towns that get worn out of their neighborhoods because the rent we need takes years to be under construction.
What residents were telling me was to transform how the city works and treat them as its customers. In other words, create a city government that makes lives better. And we will.
We just will. Because thousands of public services are ready to transform the city. People who can work anywhere, but choose to serve here.
The firefighters who saved dozens from last year’s fire. The officers who secured our synagogues for Hanukkah. The crews who planted gardens in Little Haiti.
Upgraded the Auburndale lease. They revitalized Shenandoah Park. The workers who picked up your suit this morning.
I want all employees to know that when you need tools to serve our residents better, you will have a mayor who will support you. When you have an idea to make the city smarter, I’ll bring it to you. And when you see ways to save residents money, I’ll implement them.
Because you deserve leaders who work as hard as you do, who know that no matter what title we have, we are all public servants and we are all in this together. I want to close with a message to the people who did not vote for me. It is very simple.
I am here to serve everyone. I am here to serve everyone. If you live in our beloved city, you matter.
It doesn’t matter who they are, when we share this city with each other, when we respect and care for each other, and when we give each other space for everyone to have their own. I hope it’s too soon, but when my obituary is written, I hope I live as young Andrew told me. That we had a city where more families lived good lives.
A better Miami, because I have served with purpose, because I have served with you. May God bless the City of Miami.
His victory speech, delivered in a bilingual and emotional tone, focused on themes of public service, empathy and renewal, invoking family values, religion and a personal narrative to connect with an electorate exhausted by political divisions. Behind this rhetoric of unity and pragmatism, however, lurks an undercurrent of political power, past controversies and alliances that raise questions about independence and the future management of the city.
The Discourse: An Emotive Narrative for Renewal
In his address, Higgins projected an image of a “non-political” leader, emphasizing competence, kindness and administrative efficiency. He cited the story of the Andrew boy as a symbol of empathy for the vulnerable, and called for public service as a moral duty, supported by religious and family references. He promised to focus on practical issues such as expedited permitting, technical solutions for affordable housing and transportation, and governance based on humanity youtube.com wlrn.org
He sharply criticized ICE detention practices and the city’s involvement in strict immigration policies, vowing to reverse them to prioritize “humanity” in law enforcement wlrn.org.
In addition, Higgins did not shy away from direct jabs at national political figures. In his speech, he took aim at Donald Trump, whose endorsement of rival Gonzalez did not prevent his victory, and criticized local officials for using “demeaning” language toward residents msn.com
As the voice of the campaign, Higgins and his team emphasized a message of “pragmatism” and “solutions that work,” resonating with Democratic and moderate voters, allowing him to capture a significant lead in traditionally Republican precincts miamiherald.com.
However, this discourse does not exist in isolation. Although billed as a“non-partisan” election, the race was the most politicized in Miami’s recent history, with explicit endorsements from labor unions, national ideological organizations and Democratic Party structures, including the DNC, which recruited bilingual volunteers and organized virtual calls to boost its politico.com +2 campaign.
Past as Commissioner: Questionable Actions and the $403 Million Deficit
Higgins comes to the position from her role as a Miami-Dade County commissioner (District 5), where she built a track record on issues such as affordable housing, transit and environmental resilience.
However, her tenure is not without controversy. Critics accuse her of failing to proactively fight corruption; for example, during an election scandal in the city, Higgins remained silent, which some interpret as a personal political calculation @christi4miami.
In campaign debates, she was questioned for allegedly lying about her position on the cancellation of local elections, and for her support of criminal justice reforms that eliminated bail for violent crimes, contributing to an increase in recidivism billycorben.
A central element of concern is the county’s fiscal deficit. Miami-Dade faces a historic $402-403 million shortfall for fiscal year 2025-2026, attributed to an “out-of-control government” with revenue increases not offset by fiscal discipline cbsnews.com
As commissioner, Higgins was part of the administration under Mayor Daniella Levine Cava, which proposed department cuts, elimination of 350 positions and mergers to close the gap nbcmiami.com.
Critics argue that its progressive policies could replicate this deficit at the municipal level, raising citizen expectations without a solid fiscal foundation, and dragging Miami into problematic regional dynamics.
The key question: Will Miami or a broader agenda be prioritized, or are we selling Miami in pieces to outside interests? Time will tell.
Christian Ulvert: The Man Behind the Campaign and his Qatar Links
Christian Ulvert, founder of EDGE Communications, is a key progressive political consultant in South Florida. He has managed successful Democratic campaigns, including Higgins for county commissioner and now for mayor miamiherald.com +1. Ulvert not only coordinated the Democratic National Committee (DNC) endorsement, which recruited bilingual volunteers and organized calls to boost Higgins, but has also negotiated with MAGA Republicans to advance Democratic agendas floridabulldog.org +1.
However, his registration as a foreign agent under the U.S. Department of Justice’s Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) generates controversy. Ulvert is registered to represent the Qatari government, receiving significant payments: in 2024, EDGE Communications charged $87,500 for government relations, public affairs and communications services in Florida .
Qatar, a U.S. ally that hosts the largest military base in the Middle East, has been criticized for funding Hamas and harboring its leaders in Doha . Critics such as Laura Loomer accuse Ulvert of being a “consultant for Qatar” who could inject foreign influence into local politics, especially given his proximity to Higgins .Ulvert facilitated a free trip to Qatar in 2022 for Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava – a Higgins ally – paid for by the Qatari government. The trip, valued at $10,160 per person, included discussions about World Cup planning, but generated accusations of conflict of interest and “poor judgment”
Journalists like Grant Stern have questioned whether Levine Cava and Higgins would return Qatar-related funds or cut ties with Ulvert .
A key shadow figure is Christian Ulvert, founder of EDGE Communications and Higgins’ campaign manager. Ulvert, a progressive political consultant, has managed Democratic campaigns in Florida, including Higgins’ for commissioner and now for mayor floridabulldog.org +3.
As the voice of the campaign, Ulvert coordinated national alliances and partisan mobilizations, turning the election into a strategic arena for Democrats heading into the 2026 midterms politico.com +1.
But his connections go further: Ulvert is a registered foreign agent for Qatar, receiving significant payments, such as $87,500 in 2024, for government relations, public affairs and communications services in Florida miamiherald.com +2. Qatar, host to Hamas leaders and funder of the group, has been criticized for its role in Islamic terrorism youtube.com +2.
Ulvert facilitated a free Levine Cava trip to Qatar in 2022, paid for by the Qatari government, which generated accusations of conflict of interest and poor judgment miamiherald.com +3.
Is there a direct relationship with Higgins? Not only did Ulvert manage his campaign, but his ties to Qatar and other Democrats like Levine Cava suggest a web of influence that could pressure municipal decisions. Critics, including posts on X, accuse Ulvert of being a “shadow power” with potential FARA violations, and question whether Qatari funds indirectly benefited Higgins’ campaign . @LauraLoomer
However, these connections raise doubts about the “political independence” promised by Higgins. As for direct statements to former officials, Higgins criticized former officials for demeaning language, but there is no evidence of specific personal attacks in the speech. Ulvert, as a campaign voice, has negotiated with Republicans to advance Democratic agendas, including deals with MAGA in South Florida. floridabulldog.org.
What Lies Behind: Questions of Autonomy and Management
The real challenge for Higgins will not be the emotional victory speech, but consistency between words and actions. Miami faces a heavy county fiscal past, lofty expectations and its unwitting role in national battles.
Will it govern with real autonomy, fiscal responsibility and distance from interests such as those of Ulvert and Qatar? Or will it replicate the county deficit in the city, prioritizing ideological agendas over practical solutions?
This Democratic victory could energize the party for 2026, but it also exposes dissonances: a unity narrative backed by controversial partisan and financial machineries
Is Miami Being Sold to Outside Interests?
Analysis of the Qatari Connections in Eileen Higgins’ City Hall
Eileen Higgins’ recent victory as mayor of Miami has generated celebrations among Democrats and concerns among critics, who question whether her administration will prioritize local needs or align itself with broader national and international agendas. The central question – whether Miami will come first or whether it is “selling itself short” to outside interests – revolves around Higgins’ political alliances, particularly through her campaign manager, Christian Ulvert, and her ties to Qatar.
Based on public records, news reports and social media discussions, we explore whether there is evidence of foreign influence that could compromise the city’s independence.
Foreign Influence in the Higgins Campaign?
Although there is no direct evidence that Qatari funds directly financed Higgins’ campaign, indirect connections raise questions. Ulvert, as manager, could bring influence from his foreign clients to local decisions. Critics argue that this represents“selling Miami short“: developers hire Ulvert for county projects, such as the Miami Wilds water park, under Levine Cava miamiherald.com.
In X, posts accuse Ulvert of violating FARA and of being the “real shadow mayor” .Higgins, a former District 5 commissioner, inherited a $403 million county deficit, attributed to overspending floridianpress.com.
If his progressive policies – such as criminal justice reforms that eliminated bail for violent crimes – are replicated in the city, they could exacerbate fiscal problems while prioritizing national agendas, such as the DNC’s 2026 politicalcortadito.com +1.On the other hand, Higgins won with 59% of the vote, capturing Republican precincts, suggesting voters prioritized his message of pragmatism over concerns of foreign influence evrimagaci.org
There is no concrete evidence of direct “selling”, but the alliances with Ulvert invite scrutiny.
Local Priority or Broad Agenda: Evidence suggests a web of influence that could dilute Miami’s autonomy: Ulvert’s ties to Qatar, combined with DNC support, indicate that the mayor’s office could serve as a platform for broader agendas, including foreign interests. However, Qatar is a U.S. ally, and Ulvert’s role could be benign or even progressive. The real test will be Higgins’ management: will he tackle the deficit independently, or will he bow to external pressures? As one post on X put it, “Qatar, the modern Iran and ally of China…. Now Qatari-funded communists get elected?”
Time, indeed, will tell – but Miamians must keep a close watch to ensure that their city is not sold to pieces.
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