The 2024 Republican presidential race is brimming with underdog candidates, but Miami Mayor Francis Suarez might be the most improbable contender, at least on paper.
No incumbent mayor has ever secured the U.S. presidency, typically held by individuals with backgrounds as governors, vice presidents, senators, or Cabinet secretaries. While some ex-mayors have held the title of Commander in Chief, they usually climbed through the ranks of higher-profile roles first.
Despite this, Suarez remains undaunted. He recently launched his campaign, underscoring his experience governing a city with approximately 450,000 residents. According to Suarez, serving as a two-term mayor of Miami has enabled him to tackle issues such as crime and homelessness, common concerns among the American populace. In his campaign launch video, Suarez showcased his history of tax reductions and his efforts to boost Miami’s tech economy.
“We ceased waiting for Washington to take the lead in Miami,” Suarez stated.
The 45-year-old corporate and real estate lawyer, who previously presided over the U.S. Conference of Mayors, is battling for the nomination alongside other Florida-based contenders, former President Donald Trump and Governor Ron DeSantis. The pair have consistently led the early primary polls, leaving other candidates in the dust.
This dominance has thus far posed challenges for other potential nominees, including former Vice President Mike Pence, Sen. Tim Scott, former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley, ex-New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson, North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, radio host Larry Elder, and businessman Vivek Ramaswamy.
Throughout the country’s history, only three presidents served as mayors before their presidency — Andrew Johnson, Grover Cleveland, and Calvin Coolidge. However, they all occupied roles such as governor or vice president beforehand. Although a mayor becoming a leading candidate, or even a non-political individual becoming president, may seem unlikely given this year’s crowded field, recent history provides examples of both.
Donald Trump, a businessman and former reality TV personality, is the only individual who ascended to the presidency without any prior public service or military background.
During the 2020 election cycle, Pete Buttigieg, the youthful mayor of South Bend, Indiana, was a surprise success in the Democratic primary. “Mayor Pete,” as he was known during his campaign, did exceedingly well in the initial Iowa caucuses and New Hampshire. Still, his momentum faltered in more diverse states, leading him to withdraw and endorse Joe Biden.
After Biden secured the presidency, he appointed Buttigieg as his transportation secretary, elevating him to a promising potential future presidential candidate within the party.
Buttigieg highlighted his mayoral experience during his campaign, using his efforts to revitalize a struggling Rust Belt city as a testament to his leadership. His proposal that Washington should emulate the best-run U.S. cities resonated with voters, as did the notion that mayors, with their hands-on roles, are more directly accountable to their constituents than senators or governors, said Lis Smith, a senior adviser to Buttigieg’s campaign.
However, Smith also cautioned that mayors, while they can take credit for their community’s successes, must also shoulder responsibility for any failures.
Suarez, the son of Miami’s first Cuban-born mayor and the sole Hispanic candidate in the race hopes to make the Republican party more attractive to Hispanic voters. He touts his youth relative to other candidates, most of whom are in their 50s to 70s, positioning himself as a symbol of the “generational change” the nation needs.
“We need a leader who can connect with demographic groups that Republicans have historically struggled to win over,” Suarez said during a speech at the Ronald Reagan Library in California.
Then, emphasizing his role as Miami’s leader, Suarez momentarily reverted to his familiar mayoral rhetoric.
“This city needs more than a loudmouth or a brawler,” Suarez said, seemingly substituting “city” for “country.”
“What it needs is a servant. It needs a mayor.”
In sum, Suarez’s presidential bid marks an intriguing departure from the norm. His campaign challenges historical trends and underscores the potential of mayors, who directly grapple with issues affecting everyday citizens, to lead nationally. As he strives to bring his vision for “generational change” to the White House, whether the American electorate will be ready to embrace a sitting mayor as their Commander in Chief remains to be seen. Regardless of the outcome, Suarez’s attempt could redefine the political landscape and pave the way for more diverse routes to the presidency.
