Francis Suarez: From Miami Mayor to Presidential Aspirant
(CNN Spanish) — Francis Suarez, the 43rd mayor of the city of Miami, secured a landslide victory in the 2017 election with an impressive 86% of the vote. He was re-elected in 2021, garnering 78% of the vote.
What sets Suarez apart is not only his electoral success but also his unique background. Born and raised in Miami, he became the first mayor of the city not born in Cuba since 1996. His father, Xavier Suarez, a Democrat, also served as the mayor of Miami, while his mother, Rita Suarez, played a crucial role in raising him and his three siblings after immigrating from Cuba.
Prior to assuming the mayoral position, Suarez served as a Miami city commissioner for eight years. He also held the prestigious position of president of the United States Bipartisan Conference of Mayors.
Suarez’s household consists of his wife, Gloria Fonz Suarez, and their two children, Andrew Xavier and Gloriana Pilar.
Education has been a cornerstone of Suarez’s journey. He graduated from high school in 1996 and went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in Finance from Florida International University, graduating in the top 10% of his class. He then pursued a law degree from the University of Florida Levin College of Law, graduating cum laude in 2004.
Prior to entering politics, Suarez founded a successful real estate firm. He currently practices law, specializing in real estate transactions.
Suarez’s Vision: Technology, Innovation, and Climate Change
Throughout his political career, Suarez has championed technology, innovation, and entrepreneurship. He has actively promoted industries such as cryptocurrency and artificial intelligence, even becoming the first American politician to accept a salary in cryptocurrency.
His ambitious goal is to transform Miami into the new Silicon Valley, and he has even extended an invitation to Elon Musk to relocate Twitter’s headquarters to the city.
Furthermore, Suarez has been a vocal advocate for addressing the pressing issue of climate change. In February 2019, he co-authored an article in The New York Times with former United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki Moon, highlighting Miami’s efforts to combat the effects of climate change.
A Departure from DeSantis and Trump
Suarez’s political choices have not always aligned with the Republican Party. In the 2018 Florida gubernatorial election, he voted for the Democratic candidate, despite the eventual victory of current governor Ron DeSantis. This decision drew criticism from within the Republican Party.
Similarly, in the 2020 presidential election, Suarez did not cast his vote for Republican candidate Donald Trump.
As mayor, Suarez has occasionally clashed with DeSantis on various issues, including the governor’s handling of the Covid-19 pandemic, his claims of voter fraud in the state, and most recently, his dispute with Disney.
However, Suarez remains a staunch supporter of a controversial Florida law, dubbed “Don’t Say Gay,” which restricts certain instruction on sexual orientation and gender identity in schools. This law was championed by DeSantis.
Suarez’s Entry into the Republican Race
Suarez’s decision to enter the Republican race marks a significant milestone as he becomes the first prominent Hispanic candidate in the party. While he acknowledges the challenges of competing against in-state favorites like Ron DeSantis and Donald Trump, Suarez is determined to make his mark in the race for the presidency.