Francis Suarez, the mayor of Miami, entered the crowded field of candidates for the Republican presidential nomination on Wednesday by filing paperwork to begin his campaign.
Suarez did this just one day after GOP front-runner Donald Trump appeared in court on federal charges in Suarez’s hometown.
The only Hispanic candidate in the campaign, the 45-year-old mayor registered with the Federal Election Commission.
Suarez is the U.S. president. Conference of Mayors’ father was Miami’s first mayor of Cuban descent.
His efforts to entice businesses to Miami to become the city of the next Silicon Valley and a crypto hub have garnered him widespread attention in recent years.
Suarez, who is hoping to become the first serving mayor to be elected president, joins a GOP primary battle that also features former New Jersey governor Chris Christie, former vice president Mike Pence, South Carolina senator Tim Scott, former UN ambassador Nikki Haley, and Florida governor Ron DeSantis.
Despite having a field of candidates in the double digits, Trump and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis are usually seen as the front-runners in the race.
However, Trump’s numerous legal weaknesses, none more significant than his federal indictment on allegations of mishandling secret information and refusing to return them, have given the other contenders hope for an opportunity.
In Miami federal court on Tuesday, he entered a not-guilty plea to 37 felony counts.
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