Mayor Higgins Raises Funds to Back Bond Referendum

The Miami mayor has collected $525,000 for a political action committee to support an upcoming infrastructure vote.

Updated on Oct. 15, 2026 in Philanthropy

Mayor Higgins Raises Funds to Back Bond Referendum

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Miami Mayor Eileen Higgins has raised $525,000 for the Ethical Leadership for Miami PAC to campaign for a $450 million city bond referendum. The funds are being used to support Referendum 1, which proposes borrowing for new police and fire stations.

Why it matters

The mayor is utilizing the political war chest to mobilize voter support for the bond plan, which aims to upgrade public safety infrastructure and improve emergency response times.

The Ethical Leadership for Miami PAC received significant donations, including $30,000 each from The Related Group and RollKall. The PAC transferred $180,000 to the Safe and Ready Miami PAC over the last five weeks to aid campaigning efforts.

The players

Eileen Higgins

Eileen Higgins is the mayor of Miami who has been actively fundraising to support city-wide infrastructure initiatives.

The details

The mayor's political action committee is funding mailers and campaign materials to encourage residents to approve the infrastructure borrowing. Major donors to the committee also include Airbnb, The Swerdlow Group, Ultra Music Festival, and Transportation America, who each provided significant financial contributions.

December 2025 marked the start of Eileen Higgins' term as mayor.
September 2026 concluded the nine-month period for the donation tally.
October 2026 encompasses the most recent donation tallies reported.
November 3, 2026, is the scheduled date for the public bond referendum vote.

Market Landscape

This fundraising effort reflects the competitive nature of municipal campaigns in Miami, where private entities frequently contribute to political committees to influence city infrastructure projects. The strategic transfer of funds between PACs mirrors broader trends in local political spending intended to secure voter approval for high-value public bonds.

If passed, the $450 million bond measure could lead to changes in public safety infrastructure, such as new police and fire stations in the city. Residents will decide at the ballot box whether this investment in city infrastructure moves forward.

The takeaway

Voters should review the specific infrastructure projects outlined in the referendum to understand how the bond borrowing will impact city public safety services. Staying informed on campaign donations can help residents track which groups are backing specific city ballot measures.