Miami GOP Mayor Francis Suarez filed paperwork with the Federal Election Commission on Wednesday, entering the 2024 presidential race.
Suarez, the two-termed mayor of Miami, is the third Republican from Florida to enter the GOP primary for president. Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL) and former President Donald Trump are the other two Florida men running.
HOUSE PASSES FIRST BILL TO BLOCK FEDERAL GOVERNMENT’S GAS STOVE BAN
A super PAC supporting Suarez dropped a two-minute video blitz in three early nominating states on Wednesday, touting the mayor’s success at lowering crime rates in Miami. The filing and videos come the day before he was expected to announce his candidacy for the Republican primary.
Suarez has been mentioned as a possible candidate to be Trump’s vice president for 2024 but told CBS News last month that he was considering running for the presidency.
“It’s flattering to be in any discussion for the vice presidency or the presidency,” Suarez said.
“My parents came to this country at 12 and 7 from Cuba, exiled from their country of birth. I never thought in a million years that I would ever be on Face the Nation with you, talking about the possibility of running for president. I think that demonstrates the greatness of this country, that this country provides opportunities to everyone who cares about the American dream,” he added.
The Democratic National Committee blasted Suarez in a statement on Wednesday evening, accusing the mayor of shady business dealings. Suarez is currently facing an ethics investigation for payments he received outside of his position for consulting privately.
“Francis Suarez is yet another contender in the race for the MAGA base who has supported key pieces of Donald Trump’s agenda,” the DNC said.
“As mayor of Miami, Suarez has repeatedly used his position to benefit himself, prioritizing pay raises for himself, accepting lavish gifts, and taking shady payments — all while ignoring the biggest challenges facing the people he was elected to serve. As the MAGA field keeps growing, we’ll keep reminding the American people that there’s not a dime’s worth of difference between these extreme, self-serving candidates,” it added.
Other candidates in the primary include former Vice President Mike Pence, Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC), former U.N. Ambassador and South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson, and former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER
The filing comes a day after Trump was arraigned in a federal court in Miami. Trump pleaded not guilty to the charges, which stem from the FBI raid at his Mar-a-Lago resort last year. Charges include alleged violations of the Espionage Act, according to special counsel Jack Smith‘s 49-page indictment released after the case was considered by a Miami grand jury, making him the first former U.S. president to be charged with federal crimes.
Suarez’s formal announcement is expected during his address at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute “A Time For Choosing” speaker series on Thursday.
