Miami’s Republican Mayor Francis Suarez announced on Aug. 29 that he is dropping out of the 2024 presidential election, saying in a statement on social media that running the campaign was “one of the greatest honors” of his life.
“This country has given so much to my family and me,” Mr. Suarez said. “The prospect of giving back at the highest levels of public service is a motivator if not a calling. Throughout this process, I have met so many freedom-loving Americans who care deeply about our nation, her people, and its future. It was a privilege to come so close to appearing on stage with the other candidates at last week’s first debate.”
The Miami mayor said in his announcement that he had hoped to share the story of his city, which he called “America’s most successful city,” at a time when cities nationwide are “plagued with poverty, unemployment, high taxes, violent crime, and homelessness.”
“I know what we have achieved during my tenure leading the City of Miami can be replicated in every community in our great country,” Mr. Suarez said. “While I have decided to suspend my campaign for President, my commitment to making this a better nation for every American remains.”
The former 2024 candidate asserted that the current presidential administration is “failing our country,” citing concerns about the economy, crime, and the southern border, among other issues.
Debate Disappointment
The mayor had previously suggested that his campaign would end if he did not make the first GOP debate.
Mr. Suarez announced that he did not qualify for the first Republican presidential debate in Milwaukee on Aug. 22, the day before the debate.
“On Monday night, we learned that a Cygnal poll would not be counted due to its affiliation with Vivek Ramaswamy’s campaign, despite multiple published reports confirming the poll was not paid for by any campaign,” the candidate wrote in an official statement.
“Two polls were certified by the RNC—Kaplan and Morning Consult (Aug 11–13)—however, we believed an equivalent Morning Consult poll (July 1–3) showing me at over 1% would certainly be certified.”
The mayor from south Florida, who only began his run for president about two months ago, needed to earn at least 1 percent in three national polls, or 1 percent in two national polls and 1 percent in one of the four early Republican primary states—Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada, and South Carolina—by Aug. 21.
He declared proudly on Aug. 21, that he had satisfied all requirements for the debate. He crossed the donor threshold after already gaining enough ground in the polls and signing a mandatory pledge to support the party’s eventual candidate.
“Now, I will renew my efforts to tell America about how I used conservative ideas to turn Miami into a shining example of what our party can be,” he said. “A party that cares and delivers. A party where your future is only limited by your own efforts.”
But the mayor was missing when the Republican National Committee announced the official eight-person debate lineup the next morning, with no word mentioned about Mr. Suarez.
He finally broke his silence later that afternoon and confirmed his problem with his poll numbers, leaving questions about the future of his campaign unanswered.
The RNC did not respond to The Epoch Times’ request for comment.
The mayor expressed his disappointment, saying “I am sorry that this debate will not include my perspectives from the largest growing voting block in our country—young, conservative Hispanics.”
