Florida’s largest labor organization representing health care professionals is getting behind Miami-Dade Commissioner Eileen Higgins’ campaign for Miami Mayor.
1199SEIU is endorsing Higgins, one of 13 candidates running to succeed term-limited Mayor Francis Suarez. The group released a statement saying health care workers “need leaders who value our work and fight for policies that put people first.”
“Eileen Higgins fought to ensure health care workers are now covered by Miami-Dade County’s Living Wage Ordinance, and she has a proven record of standing with working people across our community — expanding affordable housing, improving public transit options, and creating opportunities for Miami families to thrive,” said Margarette Nerette, 1199SEIU’s Vice President of Long Term Care, South Division.
“We are proud to endorse her to be the next Mayor of Miami.”
The endorsement from 1199SEIU joins several others from collective bargaining and advocacy groups, including UNITE HERE Local 355, SAVE Action PAC, LiUNA Local 1652, SEIU 32BJ, Equality Florida Action PAC, EMILY’s List and Ruth’s List Florida.
Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava, Miami Gardens Sen. Shevrin Jones, Miami Rep. Ashley Gantt and South Miami Mayor Javier Fernández are also backing her.
In a statement, Higgins said she is “deeply honored to earn the endorsement of the hardworking men and women of 1199SEIU.”
“When we invest in the people who keep our community healthy and strong, everyone benefits,” she said. “I’m proud to stand with 1199SEIU’s members and as our next Mayor, I will keep fighting for the housing, dignity, and opportunity every working Miamian deserves.”
Others running for Mayor include Miami Commissioner Joe Carollo, former Miami Mayor and Miami-Dade Commissioner Xavier Suarez, former Miami Commissioners Alex Díaz de la Portilla and Ken Russell, former City Manager Emilio González and candidates Laura Anderson, Ellijah Bowdre, Christian Cevallos, Alyssa Crocker, Kenneth DeSantis, Michael Hepburn and June Savage.
Higgins, Russell, Bowdre and Hepburn are Democrats. Carollo, Díaz de la Portilla, González, Cevallos, Crocker, and Savage are Republicans. Anderson, DeSantis and Suarez — the current Mayor’s father — have no party affiliation.
Miami’s elections are technically nonpartisan.
The General Election is Nov. 4.
If no candidate receives more than 50% of the vote, the top two vote-getters will compete in a runoff.
