GOP suffers major election losses in Florida and Georgia

MIAMI—The Republican electoral losing streak in 2025 continues, even in the Deep South, with a big loss for the first time in 30 years in Miami and three more losses in Georgia on December 9.

Democrat Eileen Higgins, Miami’s Mayor-elect, and State Rep.-elect Eric Gisler, in a normally “red” rural Republican district in northeastern Georgia, stressed affordability issues. Gisler won by 51%-49% in a district that Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump carried last year by 12 percentage points. Trump won swing state Georgia then—and the White House.

It was Gisler’s second run for the state House seat in Georgia. The first time, he lost to an incumbent, but drew 40%. This time, he assembled “a strong ground game,” the Georgia Recorder reported. He also focused on health care access and the rising cost of living.

“We had the right message in this time,” he said in a phone call, interview with People’s World, adding his GOP foe, businessman Mack Guest, “ran on tired MAGA talking points.”

Two more Georgia Democrats won Public Service Commission seats. Clean energy advocate Peter Hubbard and Dr. Felicia Johnson each won by three-to-two ratios. They were the first Democratic statewide winners since 2006. 

Taken together, the returns prolonged the GOP’s losing streak, representing a combination of disillusionment with the economy, Trump’s unpopularity, and his concentration on social issues—and on fomenting wars—as a diversion from his bad performance.

Even Trump realized his party was heading for trouble, but he told reporters he didn’t know why. He also said he didn’t worry about it.

“For whatever reason, when you win the presidency, you seem to lose the midterms, even if you win the presidency by a lot and you do a great job as president,” he said. “It doesn’t make sense. Usually, I can figure things out, but I don’t know why. But other than that, we should win. The economy is roaring.”

Except, as Higgins, who will be the first-ever female Mayor of Miami and the first Democrat in that job in 30 years, pointed out, that it isn’t. She beat Republican Emilio Gonzalez for the open seat by 19 percentage points in this runoff. In a prior multi-candidate race on November 4, she led Gonzalez by 16 points (36%-20%), but neither made it over the 50% line. She also had a superior ground game. 

“From Day One, this race has been powered by neighbors who are ready for honest leadership, real accountability, and a focus on results: Safer neighborhoods, affordable housing, small business support, and infrastructure that actually gets built,” Higgins told Newsweek just before the balloting. “That broad community coalition and commitment to getting things done is what’s powering us through to Tuesday.”

“Through her record of service, Eileen Higgins has proven time and again that she’s a true champion for Miami’s workers and families,” said South Florida AFL-CIO President Jeffery Mitchell, in endorsing her. “From her years as County Commissioner to her campaign for Mayor, Eileen has consistently championed fair pay, safe working conditions, and respect for every worker. We know she will continue fighting to make Miami a city that works for everyone.”

In Georgia, “All across the state, Georgians are realizing there’s only one party that’s working to lower costs, keep health care affordable, and put people ahead of big corporations–and that’s the Democratic Party,” state chair Charlie Bailey said in a statement. “Our momentum is only growing, and we will continue outworking, out-organizing, and out-strategizing Republicans to turn it into more wins for the people of Georgia in 2026.”

Rising utility costs and corporate control of the Georgia PSC were issues in those two races. “Affordability is front and center in voters’ minds, and today they overwhelmingly said they’re tired of subsidizing corporate interests at the expense of their families,” winning Democrat Hubbard said. 

“As I serve out my first term on the Public Service Commission, I will work tirelessly to lower utility costs, to bring more clean, reliable energy resources to this state, and to refocus the commission’s work on the public interest.”

Democrats will have another opportunity in Georgia, too, on January 6—but as a long shot in a heavily Republican state legislative district in the Atlanta suburbs, which Trump won by 45 points last fall. 

Republican former District Attorney Bill Fincher finished first on December 9 in House District 23, with 1,373 votes (27.4%), edging Democratic businessman Scott Sanders, who had 1,340 (26.7%). Four other Republicans split the other half of the electorate. 

“Georgia Republicans, we need to sound the alarm from now until November, starting with helping Bill Fincher win the runoff for HD 23,” Republican Insurance Commissioner John King, who is up for reelection next year, posted on social media. “Our donors aren’t motivated, and our voters aren’t either.”

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