Gov. Ron DeSantis is throwing his support behind Miami mayoral candidate Emilio T. Gonzalez in his run for the city's job in November. The move arguably marks the biggest endorsement in the race for Gonzalez, who is set to face 12 other mayoral candidates in the field.
"I am pleased to endorse Colonel Emilio Gonzalez for Mayor of Miami. With 26 years of service and experience at both federal and local levels, Emilio has shown his commitment to our nation and Miami. When local officials tried to cancel the election and extend their own terms, a clear violation of term limits, Emilio stepped up and stopped them in court five times. Emilio is committed to providing property tax relief, strengthening public safety, and reducing government red tape," DeSantis said.
While Miami's mayoral race is technically nonpartisan, the governor's endorsement of Gonzalez, who is a Republican, conceivably puts him in a strong position to win the election. The only other major political figure yet to make a decision, if at all, is arguably President Donald Trump.
Gonzalez thanked the governor for his endorsement in a statement on X.
"I am proud to share that my good friend @GovRonDeSantis has endorsed me to be the next Mayor of Miami," Gonzalez said. "Time to provide property tax relief, eliminate wasteful spending, and put Miami families first."
🚨ENDORSEMENT ALERT🚨
I am proud to share that my good friend @GovRonDeSantis has endorsed me to be the next Mayor of Miami.
Time to provide property tax relief, eliminate wasteful spending, and put Miami families first. pic.twitter.com/vZqG0UEBU5
— Emilio T. Gonzalez for Mayor of Miami (@Emilioformiami) September 23, 2025
Francis Suarez, Miami's current mayor, is term-limited and cannot run for reelection, despite his best partial efforts to do so. Notably, Suarez's father, Xavier Suarez, is running for mayor against Gonzalez and the other candidates.
The elder Suarez, a Democrat, was Miami's mayor from 1985 to 1993 and again from 1997 to 1998. Francis Saurez is a Republican, but has not yet publicly endorsed his father to succeed him.
Other mayoral candidates in the race include Joe Carollo, who currently sits on the Miami City Commission. Carollo, known for his combative nature, was Miami's mayor from 1996 to 1997 and again from 1998 to 2001.
Eileen Higgins, a Miami-Dade County Commissioner, is another candidate in the 13-person field. Along with his biggest endorsement, Gonzalez recently surpassed Higgins as the financial frontrunner in the race, a key factor in any candidate's prospect for higher office.
Along with DeSantis, Gonzalez was endorsed by several former South Florida police chiefs last week. Current chief of the Miami Police Department, Manuel A. Morales, has yet to make an endorsement in the race.
The Miami mayoral election is set for Nov. 4.
