Former Miami Mayor Francis Suarez (R) is considering throwing his hat into the ring in Florida’s 2026 gubernatorial race.
Suarez, during an event hosted by Axios/The Race earlier this week, was asked whether he would consider launching a bid to replace the term limited Gov. Ron DeSantis (R).
“I’m not saying I’m completely not considering it. I certainly have considered it,” he said Thursday at the event ahead of Miami’s Formula 1 race.
But, he acknowledged, President Trump’s endorsement of Rep. Byron Donalds (R-Fla.) for the post likely “makes it hard” for other candidates to compete. Donalds officially launched his gubernatorial bid after receiving support from the president.
“There may be other ways to serve,” he added.
Suarez, who ran a brief presidential campaign last year before endorsing Trump, has floated the idea in the past. In an interview with NBC News on the sidelines of the Republican National Convention (RNC) in Milwaukee last summer, he suggested he would be interested in launching another political campaign.
“One thing that would be interesting is looking at an ecosystem like the state of Florida, potentially running for governor,” he told the outlet at the time. “It’s something that I would consider, for sure.”
Trump’s support in the Sunshine State is considered valuable, and many have questioned whether his backing of Donalds means the primary is effectively over.
DeSantis, however, has not been as enthusiastic about the Florida lawmaker, claiming he had not previously been part of the state’s conservative accomplishments. The two exchanged words after the sitting governor suggested Donalds was not part of the state’s conservative wins.
The fissure could set the stage for a potentially bruising GOP primary, one that resurfaces tensions after Donalds endorsed the president over the governor during the 2024 race.
Speculation has also mounted over a possibility of Florida first lady Casey DeSantis joining the fray. Both the governor and his wife have played coy when asked about the issue. In March, she told reporters, “We’ll see.”
While Suarez hasn’t made a decision yet on whether to jump in the race, he did tout his record on taxes, crime and the economy while serving as the mayor of Miami during his speech, according to Axios.
The Hill has reached out to DeSantis for comment.