In a 2024 Republican presidential field packed with long-shot candidates stands Miami Mayor Francis Suárez, who last week launched his campaign for the Republican nomination for president.
In an interview with Gloria Ordaz, he spoke of the alleged investigation to which he is being subjected for receiving payments from a developer, and clarified that neither the FBI, the Prosecutor’s Office, nor any Ethics Commission have warned him about the possibility that he is being investigated. “They haven’t contacted me,” he noted.
After being questioned about the bad reputation given to him by Florida congressman Carlos Giménez, who called him “a complete fraud” and spoke in an interview about the ceremonial position that Suárez allegedly holds in his position as mayor, he defends himself by saying that The two clashed over the issue of a “strong mayor for Miami” and now it appears the battlefield has turned personal.
“It’s sad, obviously it’s something personal … he and I had a public battle and we didn’t agree during COVID-19,” insists Suárez, who declares himself a “conservative Republican” candidate despite the fact that in the past voted for and supported Democrats.
But for the mayor of Miami, everything is going well, he explains how he received thousands of congratulations after his campaign announcement.
Suárez assured that he is confident that he will reach the first presidential debate on August 23 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, for which he requires an average 1 percent vote intention in the polls. At the same time, he clarified that he is now focused on securing the contributions from 40,000 unique donors that are necessary to participate.
No sitting mayor has ever been elected president of the United States, a position that has historically been won by governors, vice presidents, senators, or cabinet secretaries. Some former mayors have become commanders-in-chief, but only after serving in high-profile positions.
Nothing has deterred Suárez, who announced his campaign by speaking of his experience leading the city of some 450,000 inhabitants. Being mayor of Miami for two terms, he said, has helped him understand the problems most Americans face, such as crime and homelessness.
