Miami Mayor Francis Suarez is donating money to the city’s developers to promote his plans to the White House.
Despite facing federal and state investigations into the private money she received from producer Rishi Kapoor, Suarez made the accusation at a crowd of Republican presidential hopefuls on Wednesday. The Magic City’s top nominee is facing more challenges in a major race currently dominated by Florida’s two other top candidates: former President Donald Trump and Gov. Ron DeSantis.
For several months, Suarez has not been known to seek the GOP nomination in 2024. A Super PAC called SOS America that supports his call has collected $6 million so far, according to federal campaign finance reports.
Those in a Miami-based development group boosted SOS America’s reserves, pouring in nearly $2.6 million in December, reports show.
Jorge Mas, the billionaire chairman of MasTec, is the largest donor to SOS America, throwing $500,000 into two separate organizations. Mas and his partners, including retired soccer player David Beckham, are co-developing the Miami Freedom Park mixed-use project that will be home to a Major League Soccer stadium.
Moishe Mana, a major property owner in Wynwood and downtown Miami, and Gencom, a Miami-based international real estate company, each donated $100,000 to SOS America. Gencom and Hyatt are waiting for the Miami City Commission to approve a 99-year permit to redevelop the city-owned James L. Knight Center and adjacent hotel into a $2 billion mixed-use project.
Organizations run by United Group Chairman Jorge Pérez, Property Markets Group CEO Ryan Shear and Vlad Doronin’s OKO Group each donated $50,000 to the Suarez Super PAC. Pérez did not respond to a voice request for comment, and Shear declined comment through a spokeswoman. Doronin could not be reached for comment.
Nir Shoshani, CEO of Miami-based real estate firm NR Investments, and Alex Sapir, a New York-based software developer, each received $25,000 from SOS America.
Craig Robins, CEO of Dacra, who spearheaded a major transformation of Miami’s Design District into an upscale shopping and dining destination, also gave SOS America $25,000 through the organization he oversees. Robin said The Real Deal He did not support any other presidential candidate.
“Right now, it’s just Francis,” Robins said. “He’s an amazing guy, and he’s done a great job in Miami. I’m glad he threw his name in.”
Arnaud Karsenti, CEO of Miami-based 13th Floor Investments, donated $5,000 to the Super PAC.
“Mayor Suarez has been an exceptional ambassador for Miami culture and business,” Karsenti said via email. “He prioritized critical issues in our community as mayor and during his time as a city commissioner.”
Robins and Karsenti declined to comment on Suarez’s feud with Kapoor, and whether it could affect the mayor’s presidential campaign.
This week, SOS America released a two-minute ad featuring Suarez as an alternative to President Joe Biden.
The video begins with a warning: “This video contains images that the liberals may find disturbing.” The video shows a New York City police SUV on fire, a man defecating on the sidewalk, a man in camouflage climbing a border wall with a rope and a Chicago story about a shooting that injured 52 people over the weekend.
The video also features clips of Suarez being interviewed by Tucker Carlson, the former TV personality who was recently fired from Fox News.
