"While I have decided to suspend my campaign for President, my
commitment to making this a better nation for every American
remains," he said in a post on X, formerly called Twitter.
Suarez, 45, entered the race in June. He described his vision
for a youthful, upbeat and cross-cultural campaign in an
interview with Reuters.
A Cuban-American who has sought to create a tech-driven economic
boom in Miami, Suarez was the only Hispanic candidate in the
Republican field and the third candidate from Florida, joining
former President Donald Trump and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis.
"I will continue to amplify the voices of the Hispanic community
- the fastest-growing voting group in our country," Suarez said
in the online post in which he announced the suspension of his
campaign.
In the post, the Republican also criticized the administration
of Democratic President Joe Biden over issues like inflation and
crime.
Suarez was always going to be a long shot in a race that has
been dominated by Trump. Most opinion polls show DeSantis a
distant second, with Suarez placed near the bottom of the pack
of candidates.
Suarez has had thorny relationships with both Trump and DeSantis.
He did not support Trump in his 2020 reelection bid and was
critical of some of DeSantis' COVID-19 pandemic-era policies.
Suarez had also drawn criticism for championing cryptocurrency
firms such as the bankrupt FTX, which bought naming rights to
Miami's basketball arena but was then forced to surrender them.
However, the city has seen an influx of more traditional tech
companies and wealthy investors during his tenure, as well as a
construction boom that has helped contribute to Miami's
reputation as a top international tourism destination.
(Reporting by Kanishka Singh in Washington; Editing by Chris
Reese and Jonathan Oatis)
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