Francis Suarez, the former mayor of Miami, is contemplating a bid for Florida’s gubernatorial race in 2026.
During a recent event, he was asked by Axios/The Race about his potential candidacy to succeed term-limited Governor Ron DeSantis. He replied, “I’m not saying I’m not thinking about it completely,” while attending the Formula 1 event in Miami.
However, he pointed out that Governor DeSantis has garnered support from President Trump for Rep. Byron Donald, which could complicate matters for other contenders. Donald has officially announced his run for governor following Trump’s endorsement.
Suarez, who briefly ran for president last year before backing Trump, has mentioned his interest in the past. In an NBC News interview during last summer’s Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, he expressed curiosity about the idea of running for governor.
He remarked, “One interesting thing is seeing an ecosystem like Florida and it could run for the governor. That’s something I certainly think about.”
Many see Trump’s backing as critical and wonder if it effectively sidelines other candidates in the primary. DeSantis, who has faced his own controversies, recently downplayed his contributions to Florida’s conservative successes, sparking discussions with Donald over their differing views on state politics.
This dynamic could set the stage for a heated GOP primary, especially given the tensions from Donald’s endorsement of Trump over the governor for the 2024 election.
Rumors also swirl around Casey DeSantis, the governor’s wife, potentially entering the race. When asked, both she and DeSantis have been noncommittal, with her saying, “We’ll see,” back in March.
According to Axios, Suarez has not yet made a definitive decision regarding his campaign, but he did tout his achievements in tax, crime, and economic policies during his tenure as mayor.
Oka has reached out for comments from DeSantis.
