Francis Suarez: American voters ‘want to hear’ about ‘my track record,’ 2024 plans
MIAMI (FLV) – Miami Mayor and now-GOP presidential candidate Francis Suarez appeared on ABC News’ Good Morning America to discuss his recent 2024 campaign announcement.
He is the third major Floridian to jump in the race for the Republican nomination.
“As I’ve traveled to the United States from States like Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina and Nevada, what people want is someone to bring them together,” Suarez said. “They want to hear more about my track record about what I’ve accomplished, and what I could do for them and their children.”
“This isn’t about me, this isn’t about my generation. This is about our children,” he continued.
Suarez is a lower-profile candidate to jump into the race, but drew nationwide eyes as he challenges former President Donald Trump and Gov. Ron DeSantis, both major Florida Republicans vying for the White House.
“I’m running for president because I think I have a different message than what other candidates have,” Suarez said. “[I have created] prosperity in the city. I’m someone who was a president of the U.S. Conference of Mayors.”
Suarez was asked about facing Trump, along with his opinions on the former president’s recent indictment and arraignment of 37 federal charges, including violation of the Espionage Act, in handling classified information.
“Look, it’s not what I would have done,” he said. “I would have turned over the documents.”
“But if I were the former vice president and the current president [Joe Biden], I wouldn’t have stored classified documents in my garage.”
When pressed by the ABC host on whether Suarez thinks Trump’s conduct was “legal” or “reckless,” Suarez pivoted and said “we should be talking about the issues that Americans care about.”
“I think if we start having a healthier conversation in this country, which is, by the way, all the messages that I’ve received in the last 24 hours about how refreshing my candidacy is and how different it is because it’s positive and unifying and focused on a positive future for Americans…” he said.
“If my candidacy is going to be about responding to, you know, things that former President Trump did, then there’s not going to be much of a candidacy.”
Suarez has not appeared in any notable GOP 2024 primary polls.
