Cuban-American Mayor Francis Suarez reelected in Miami; Steve Bovo wins in Hialeah

Miami Mayor Francis Suarez achieved reelection on Tuesday night, receiving nearly 79% of the vote. His primary opponent, Max Martinez, tallied a mere 11%. According to the Miami-Dade County Supervisor of Elections, the Cuban-American incumbent secured his second term by capturing 21,479 of 27,323 total votes after thousands of South Florida voters took to the polls.

Suarez, who was first elected in 2017, shared a Florida Politics video on Twitter, which read, “Miami Mayor Francis Suarez overwhelmingly wins reelection.” 

The Republican, who previously served two terms as commissioner for Miami’s 4th district, and is the son of former Mayor Xavier Suarez, managed to attract many tech firms to Miami despite facing criticism for wanting to transform the city into an innovation hub. 

"We have not altered the services offered to the people of our city,” said Suarez. “It is about protecting the future of young people.”   

New Mayor in Hialeah

Hialeah voters elected Esteban Bovo as the city's new mayor on Tuesday, after a tough election bid in which five candidates battled to replace outgoing Mayor Carlos Hernández. 

Bovo, also a Cuban-American, received 59% of the votes, easily defeating Isis García-Martínez, who received 22% of the votes.

On Oct. 7, former President Donald Trump released a statement supporting Bovo's mayoral candidacy. 

“Bovo will fight for the values that are now under attack by the Radical Left,” he wrote. “That’s why I’m asking the amazing people of Hialeah to join me in this fight by supporting Esteban ‘Steve’ Bovo for Mayor of Hialeah. He has my Complete and Total Endorsement!,” the Miami-Herald reported.

Julio Martinez and activists Fernando Godo and Juan Santana also ran mayoral campaigns in Hialeah. 

Last year, Bovo unsuccessfully ran for mayor of Miami-Dade County, losing to Daniella Levine Cava.