Former Miami Mayor Xavier Suarez Announces 2025 Mayoral Run After Election Postponement Ruling

Xavier Suarez, Miami's first Cuban-born mayor and father of current Mayor Francis Suarez, has announced his candidacy for the upcoming November 2025 mayoral election following a judge's ruling that deemed the city's attempt to postpone the election until 2026 unconstitutional. Suarez, who served as mayor in the 1980s and 1990s, filed his paperwork shortly after the ruling and expressed his intention to bring serious reform to Miami, including real estate tax reform and opposition to lifetime term limits for elected officials. The election could feature a rematch against City Commissioner Joe Carollo, who previously defeated Suarez in the contentious 1997 mayoral race. The ruling against the election delay was supported by Carollo and opposed by the city commission majority, with the city filing an appeal supported by current Mayor Francis Suarez. Other candidates, including former city manager Emilio González, are also running in the race. If elected, Xavier Suarez could extend the Suarez family's influence over Miami's leadership for a total of 12 years, as his son is term-limited and will leave office after the current term.