Republican Miami Mayor Francis Suarez announced he would seek the GOP nomination for president, making the 2024 campaign a very Florida affair given the state’s Governor Ron DeSantis and its most famous criminal defendant Donald Trump are also in the race, Politico reports.
In his second term in office, Suarez might also be running to avoid a potential self-dealing scandal of his own: Suarez also works as a real estate attorney while serving as mayor, and he reported has served as counsel for a company in negotiations with the city regarding an upcoming development which Suarez’s administration would also approve via permitting. Suarez has met with employees in his administration and advocated for the Location Ventures development in Coconut Grove, receiving $170,000 in billables. According to the city’s code of ethics–Miami is infamous for corruption in its city government–Suarez had to reveal if any business dealing with the city is his client.