Miami mayor names herself commission chair, removes King. What it signals

Tess Riski, Miami Herald on Jul 20, 2026

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MIAMI — Miami Mayor Eileen Higgins has designated herself as chairwoman of the Miami City Commission, effectively removing longtime Chairwoman Christine King from the position.

“As we move into this next chapter, my focus remains squarely on the people of Miami,” Higgins said in the Monday memo. “Every decision made from this chair will be guided by a simple question: does it make life better, easier, and fairer for the residents we serve?”

King had been chairwoman since 2021, when former Mayor Francis Suarez named her chair, making her the first woman to hold the position in the city. Then in December, shortly after Higgins was sworn in as the city’s first woman mayor, Higgins reappointed King to the role.

But Higgins’ Monday decision marks the latest development in a growing rift between the pair, both Democrats. As the Miami Herald reported this week, the two are at odds over competing grant applications the city submitted to U.S. Department of Transportation. The feds awarded $20 million to a pedestrian bridge project championed by Higgins. Meanwhile, King’s project to create a 33-acre park in Overtown did not win any funding.

The position of chair is coveted among the city’s elected officials. While the five city commissioners have a vote on the commission, the mayor does not. The mayor, however, can select who runs the meetings as the chairperson.

Twice since her swearing-in, Higgins has taken the gavel and presided over City Commission meetings — both times as part of an effort to get support from three city commissioners to get her $450 million public safety bond on the ballot. The second time, it worked: The City Commission voted 3-2 this month to send the bond to the November ballot.

King said in a statement to the Miami Herald that she learned about the mayor’s decision to remove her as chair from Monday’s memo.

“As the first woman to chair the Commission and the Chair who has held the position the longest, it has been a privilege and honor,” King said.

In her memo, Higgins thanked King for her years of service.

“Her dedication to the residents of Miami and her commitment to public service have left a lasting mark on this city,” Higgins said of King. “On behalf of my administration and the residents we serve, I extend my sincere gratitude for her service and look forward to continuing to work alongside her on the issues that matter most to our community.”

Higgins’ office declined further comment beyond what was stated in the memo.