As we shared over the weekend, Miami Mayor Francis Suarez told “Fox New Sunday” host Shannon Bream that Americans should stay tuned for a “major announcement” on Thursday, when he’s scheduled to appear to deliver a speech at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library near Los Angeles. My colleague Bob Hoge wrote that there have been hints that he was considering making a move in the 2024 GOP primary:

He’s reportedly been considering a presidential run for months and has visited four early primary states. According to the Reagan Foundation, Suarez will appear at the Santa Clarita, CA, library on June 15 for the “A Time of Choosing” speaker series.

Now, the mayor has now joined the rest of the GOP field, as he filed the necessary paperwork Wednesday to run for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination.

Via the Associated Press:

MIAMI (AP) — Miami Mayor Francis Suarez filed paperwork Wednesday to launch his bid for the Republican presidential nomination, jumping into the crowded race just a day after GOP front-runner Donald Trump appeared in court on federal charges in Suarez’s city.

The 45-year-old mayor, the only Hispanic candidate in the race, declared his candidacy with the Federal Election Commission.

Suarez, the president of the U.S. Conference of Mayors, is the son of Miami’s first Cuban-born mayor. He has gained national attention in recent years for his efforts to lure companies to Miami, with an eye toward turning the city into a crypto hub and the next Silicon Valley.

The report continues with some of Suarez’s background, and some hints at policy differences with fellow 2024 primary contender, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis:

Suarez, who is married with two young children, is a corporate and real estate attorney who previously served as a city of Miami commissioner. He has also positioned himself as someone who can help the party further connect with Hispanics. […]

Suarez has been critical of DeSantis, dismissing some of the state laws he has signed on immigration as “headline grabbers” lacking in substance. […]

….Suarez has criticized DeSantis’ feud with Disney over the same law, saying it looks like a “personal vendetta.”

Further ingratiating himself with the Trump team, Suarez has echoed Trump’s attacks on DeSantis’ demeanor, saying the governor doesn’t make eye contact and struggles with personal relationships with other politicians.

That said, Mayor Suarez did support DeSantis and the Republican-majority state legislature’s Parental Rights in Education Act, which the Florida governor signed into law in 2022.

If elected, he would become the first sitting U.S. mayor to serve as president, the AP noted, adding that Suarez says he didn’t vote for former President Donald Trump in either 2016 or 2020, instead opting to write in candidates—Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) and former Vice President Mike Pence, respectively.

In August 2022, we reported on Suarez and what he referred to as the “Miami miracle,” in an interview with Fox Business’ Maria Bartiromo. He said:

When you compare the Miami miracle to the Washington nightmare, you see a situation where in Washington, inflation is rampant, everyday goods are more expensive because of deficit spending. […]

The numbers that we’re seeing actually tell a different story, that either more Republicans are moving over here or people are changing to become Republicans because they’re sort of fleeing the socialist model, which we know has never worked in the history of humanity, hasn’t worked in any country, and it hasn’t worked in any setting.

It’s not going to work because it pushes people out … Like New York famously pushed out Amazon HQ, too, and San Francisco famously pushed out Elon Musk.

(see: Mayor Francis Suarez Explains How Miami Remains Safest Major City in America)

It’s expected that Suarez will use Thursday’s address at the Reagan Library—a venue that might resonate with people since it holds a deep connection to the life and legacy of Ronald Reagan, our 40th president and a champion of conservativism—to declare his run for President of the United States. I encourage you to read Hoge’s whole piece, for a preview of the topics Suarez might discuss during the speech.