By endorsing Eileen Higgins, a candidate who has qualified for the second round of the Miami mayoral election, the Democratic National Committee (DNC) is getting directly involved in the race. The DNC’s decision came after Trump announced his full support for Higgins’ Republican opponent, Emilio González. As a result, the officially non-partisan municipal election has become a national political issue, according to the Miami Herald. According to the publication, Democrats see the December 9 vote as an opportunity to limit Trump’s impact in a county recently won by Republicans and to reaffirm their presence in Florida, where they have not led the city of Miami for 30 years.
The DNC, which rarely intervenes in local elections, is currently mobilizing its volunteers nationwide, recruiting bilingual volunteers in Miami, and organizing call campaigns to encourage voter turnout in the Magic City. According to DNC Chair Ken Martin, the goal is to ensure that Miami families have a representative who is committed to them, not to Trump.
Florida Democratic Party Chair Nikki Fried points out that the victory of Democratic Mayor Donna Deegan in Jacksonville in 2024 has already, in her view, served as a symbol of hope for Democrats. However, both candidates, Higgins (D) and González (R), say they want to represent the entire population of the city of Miami, despite the highly politicized nature of this election.
PROPOSAL TO LOWER THE MINIMUM AGE FOR PURCHASING A FIREARM
On November 18, a proposal to lower the minimum age for purchasing a firearm in Florida (from 21 to 18) was once again approved by the Florida House of Representatives during its first committee hearing. The measure (HB 133), sponsored by Representative Tyler Sirois, a Republican from Merritt Island, is expected to be adopted by the House in the next session, as a similar proposal has been adopted by all representatives over the past three years. However, it has so far been blocked at the legislative level, as it has not yet been supported by the Senate.
In line with the Republican Party’s position, the Criminal Justice Subcommittee approved the measure by a vote of 11 to 5. It must now go before one last committee before being put to a vote by the full House of Representatives, which has a Republican supermajority.
It should be noted that the Florida legislature voted to raise the minimum age for purchasing a firearm from 18 to 21 after the tragic shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland in 2018.
According to WLRN, there is no similar bill in the Senate yet, and it is unclear whether there will be one. The Senate has set January 13, 2026, the opening day of the regular session, as the deadline for filing a bill.
TRUMP PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY
The Donald J. Trump Presidential Library Foundation is headquartered in Jupiter, on Florida’s east coast, and its library project is planned for Miami.
Led by Eric Trump, the president’s son who resides in Jupiter, the foundation plans to raise approximately $50 million by 2025. According to WLRN, this amount far exceeds the initial fundraising totals for Barack Obama ($5 million) and George W. Bush ($2.8 million). Three media companies have already pledged $53 million to settle disputes with Trump.
By 2027, the Trump Presidential Library Foundation plans to raise $1 billion to build and operate its project in Miami.
