Francis Suarez, a 2024 presidential candidate, discusses key issues at New Hampshire town hall event
Conversation with the Candidate
Conversation with the Candidate
Conversation with the Candidate
Miami Mayor Francis Suarez, a Republican presidential candidate, touched on a number of topics recently in a "Conversation with the Candidate" town hall event with New Hampshire voters.
Watch the full conversation in the video player above or the links below. Included is a 30-minute, online-only portion of the conversation:
- Watch Part 1: Suarez says there is sentiment Trump indictments are ‘a bit unfair’
- Watch Part 2: Suarez says he’s in ‘position to negotiate what’s needed’ to help immigration crisis
- Watch online exclusive: Suarez outline strategies to combat opioid epidemic
Conversation with the Candidate is a town hall-style program recorded in advance of when it airs. It is intended to allow the candidate to convey their points of view on a wide range of topics. During the program, the moderator may challenge the candidates' assertions, but every fact may not be checked in real-time. WMUR News 9 is committed to holding the candidates accountable on their claims throughout the election cycle.
Learn more about Suarez's background
Suarez is the mayor of the city of Miami. He was first elected in 2017 and re-elected in 2021 to lead the city of about 450,000 residents.
Suarez also served as a past president of the U.S. Conference of Mayors.
Previously, he was a city of Miami commissioner, a position he held for eight years.
Suarez is also an attorney, specializing in corporate and real estate transactions.
In announcing his bid for president, he said he believes he can "grow the tent (of the Republican Party) – not for an election, but for a generation."
Suarez earned a bachelor's degree in finance from Florida International University and earned his law degree from the University of Florida.
He is married to Gloria Fonts Suarez. Together, they have two children, Andrew and Gloriana.
See the full "Conversation with the Candidate" event through the following links:
- Watch Part 1: Suarez says there is sentiment Trump indictments are ‘a bit unfair’
- Watch Part 2: Suarez says he’s in ‘position to negotiate what’s needed’ to help immigration crisis
- Watch online exclusive: Suarez outline strategies to combat opioid epidemic
As mayor, Saurez runs 5K at every Miami homicide scene to raise awareness
Voter Charles Jesse asked Suarez what policies he has enacted as mayor that he would implement across the U.S. to reduce crime and violence while protecting civil rights.
Suarez pointed to the importance of using leadership to shape culture, citing two examples. One of his efforts is running a 5K after every homicide in his city. He said he’d start his runs exactly 24 hours down to the minute of when the death occurred and would begin them – and end them -- at the precise location of the crime.
“I wanted my police department to understand the gravity of what just occurred,” he said. “Sometimes we get desensitized to some of the things that are happening in our community. I wanted it to be a little bit of shock, right? This just happened. If the mayor would have been standing in this very spot just 24 hours to the minute, I would've been shot.”
Suarez also shared that he keeps a collection of artworks by Sheila Reagan in his office, each piece depicting a young, black child that was shot and killed prematurely in Miami.
“Any one of those kids could have been the mayor of Miami. Any one of those kids could have cured cancer,” he said.
In these ways, Suarez said he believes that honoring the lives of those who died can direct society to a less violent culture.
See his full answer in the video player below:
Saurez says exceptions for any federal abortion ban should be clearly worded
Voter George Matthews asked Suarez how he, as an anti-abortion candidate, would protect expectant mothers whose lives are jeopardized by ambiguous medical exemptions in abortion legislation.
Suarez said he would support a 15-week abortion ban but emphasized the importance of having clear exceptions to protect mothers and give doctors the confidence to provide proper care.
“My sister is an OB-GYN, I don't think I've ever said that publicly, but I have confidential conversations about some of the struggles that she has. It's hard as a doctor, it's very difficult,” he said. “When you hear some of the cases that you're talking about, the struggles that mothers have to go through, it's very heart-wrenching.”
Suarez called abortion dialogue “very nuanced,” saying America cheapens the issue. He calls for profound discussions to ensure that any future legislation on abortion will include clear exemptions so that doctors can save a mother’s life during a troubled pregnancy.
See his full answer in the video player below:
Suarez speaks about southern border, artificial intelligence, teacher shortage
When asked about the how to solve issues associated with the southern border, Suarez said a fence needs to be completed to have certain control over the border to prevent fentanyl and human trafficking. In regards to the teacher shortage in many places around the country, Suarez said teachers need to be prioritized over administration and be well paid.
"I think it's important to have some level of competition to keep our school systems honest, and to give parents choices. If parents want to put their kids in a charter school, they should have that ability. We've got to make our teachers feel valued, pay them well, and by the way, both of those go hand-in-hand."
See his full responses in the player below:
See the full "Conversation with the Candidate" event through the following links:
- Watch Part 1: Suarez says there is sentiment Trump indictments are ‘a bit unfair’
- Watch Part 2: Suarez says he’s in ‘position to negotiate what’s needed’ to help immigration crisis
- Watch online exclusive: Suarez outline strategies to combat opioid epidemic
Other "Conversation with the Candidate" events will be held throughout the campaign season. The full list of candidates who participate will be updated here.
Conversation with the Candidate is a town hall-style program recorded in advance of when it airs. It is intended to allow the candidate to convey their points of view on a wide range of topics. During the program, the moderator may challenge the candidates' assertions, but every fact may not be checked in real-time. WMUR News 9 is committed to holding the candidates accountable on their claims throughout the election cycle.
