MIAMI BEACH - Rep. Fabian Basabe, R-Miami Beach, announced Wednesday that he's received a pair of endorsements from Rep. Jennifer Canady, R-Lakeland, and Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis.
"Rep. Canady, you are one of the first of Florida’s leadership team to come down to my district and understand the needs of my magnificent cities and beautiful and unique community," Basabe said. As our future speaker you proved to be a colleague I respect and admire as well as a friend I can rely on. Thank you for your continued support."
Basabe is running against Democratic candidate Joe Saunders and unaffiliated candidate Mo Saunders Scott in November's general election. In 2022, Basabe defeated Democratic candidate Jordan Leonard by just 240 votes in his first bid for HD 106.
Represented by Basabe, HD 106 includes North Bay Village, Sunny Isles Beach, and Miami Beach. At around 180,000 people, the district is about half Hispanic and has a prominent Jewish population.
In recent weeks, Basabe has defended the Jewish state, as well as reacting to the death of Hamas leader Yahwa Sinwar.
"Thank you to our Florida CFO and fire marshal Jimmy Patronis for reminding us all good government is about the economy and accountability. I look forward to our continued work together and investing, largely in the infrastructure of my cities so that we can lower [the] cost of insurance and keep more money in the pockets of my hard-working constituents," Basabe said.
Along with Canady and Patronis, Basabe also picked up an endorsement from Florida Republican Sen. Marco Rubio. In addition, he received support from former Miami Beach Democratic Mayor Matti Bower.
Basabe has prioritized enhancing public safety, fortifying infrastructure and flood mitigation, supporting local businesses, keeping taxes low, helping homeowners, protecting district beaches, ending housing insecurity, and increasing K-12 education if elected to a second term.
Originally from New York City, Basabe spent his early childhood in Ecuador before moving to Miami Beach in 1987. After graduating from Pepperdine University, Basabe became a reality television star and well-known socialite before running for political office.
Among his roles, Basabe appeared on E!’ Entertainment Television, TLC, and Oprah. He also has contributed to LA Confidential, Paper Magazine, Gotham, and Miami's Plum Magazine.
The HD 106 general election is Nov. 5.
