Michael Hepburn, of Bahamian roots, aims to become Miami's first Black mayor
Key Points(5)
- Michael Hepburn, a lifelong Miamian of Bahamian descent, is seeking to become the first Black mayor in the City of Miami’s history.
- His campaign for the city’s 44th mayoral seat is part of a growing effort to bring reform, transparency, and affordable housing solutions to the forefront of local politics.
- Born and raised in Miami, Hepburn’s roots run deep.
- His family has lived in the city since 1896, and he is a proud product of Miami-Dade County Public Schools and Florida International University, where he earned both a bachelor’s and a master’s degree.
- Now 42, Hepburn is leaning on years of public and private sector experience to make the case that Miami is ready for new leadership.
Michael Hepburn, a lifelong Miamian of Bahamian descent, is seeking to become the first Black mayor in the City of Miami’s history.
His campaign for the city’s 44th mayoral seat is part of a growing effort to bring reform, transparency, and affordable housing solutions to the forefront of local politics.
Born and raised in Miami, Hepburn’s roots run deep. His family has lived in the city since 1896, and he is a proud product of Miami-Dade County Public Schools and Florida International University, where he earned both a bachelor’s and a master’s degree. Now 42, Hepburn is leaning on years of public and private sector experience to make the case that Miami is ready for new leadership.
Hepburn’s background includes time as an executive with the NFL, over a decade in project management roles with Fortune 500 companies and nonprofit organizations, and most recently, a leadership position with the Miami HEAT organization, where he focused on fan and employee experience.
His platform centers on increasing transparency in city government, introducing participatory budgeting initiatives, and drafting a comprehensive affordable housing master plan. That plan includes expanding workforce housing options, preserving aging units, and lowering property taxes to rates not seen in decades.
In the past, Hepburn ran for Florida’s 27th congressional district in 2018 and for a seat on Miami’s city commission in 2021. Though unsuccessful, he remains a visible figure in civic life, having served on more than 11 advisory boards and organizations throughout the city.
Since launching his campaign on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Hepburn has built a following of over 10,000 subscribers to his campaign newsletter and raised more than $150,000 in financial and in-kind contributions. His campaign reports that it has reached 60% of its quarter-million-dollar goal, with Hepburn personally contributing to the effort to maintain independence from special interests.
He has also secured endorsements from national political action committees, elected officials, and former professional athletes, which will be formally announced in the coming weeks as part of the campaign’s “Team Hepburn” rollout.
Michael Hepburn joins a five-person race that includes youth mentor Ijamyn Joseph Gray, entrepreneur Maxwell Martinez, former City Commissioner Ken Russell, and real estate agent June Savage. The election is scheduled for November 4, with a runoff on December 9 if no candidate receives a majority of the vote.
