Miami Mayor Francis Suarez has hinted that he plans to enter the 2024 Republican presidential primary this week.
During a Fox News Sunday appearance, Suarez urged viewers to "stay tuned" for a "major announcement" he planned to unveil during a speech on Thursday at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute. The presidential library is hosting Suarez as part of its ongoing "Time for Choosing" series, which features leading conservative voices "to address critical questions facing the future of the Republican Party."
"My announcement is to stay tuned," Suarez said Sunday. "Next week, like you said, I'm going to be making a big speech in the Reagan Library, and I think it's one that Americans should tune into. It's one where we're gonna talk about what the future of our country should be. It should be a future that creates prosperity, not poverty."
Suarez has been openly critical of former President Donald Trump and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, the respective frontrunners in the Republican primary, who call the Sunshine State their home. He took issue with several items on the Florida governor's 2023 legislative agenda, including parts of his immigration reform package, the six-week abortion ban, and bills that went after Disney. The Miami mayor began publicly floating a 2024 bid in late spring as Trump and DeSantis maintained their holds on the top two spots in polling.
Should he enter the race on Thursday, Suarez will become the third major GOP candidate representing the state of Florida. In addition to the fractured Florida coalition, Suarez will face a growing GOP field that includes the recent proliferation of North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, Sen. Tim Scott (SC), former Vice President Mike Pence, and former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie. Former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson, biotech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, and conservative talk radio host Larry Elder have also thrown their hats in the ring.
"My message is resonating," Suarez said. "I have traveled across the country. I've been to Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina, Nevada. I can tell you when I take the message to people, they want to hear more."
Suarez's potential candidacy comes at a time when the Republican Party is grappling with its identity and future direction. The "Time for Choosing" series at the Reagan Library is a testament to this struggle, as leading conservative voices seek to address critical questions facing the party. Political observers and Republican voters alike will closely watch Suarez's speech on Thursday, as he aims to make his mark in a crowded and competitive field.
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