
Former Miami City Commissioner & Mayoral Candidate
Born in Miami to Cuban exiles, Alex Díaz de la Portilla built a lengthy political career, serving in the Florida House from 1994 to 2000 and the Florida Senate from 2000 to 2010, where he rose to majority leader. Elected to represent District 1 on the Miami City Commission in 2019, he championed issues in Allapattah, Flagami, and Little Havana until his 2023 suspension over bribery and money laundering accusations linked to a school project, which Broward State Attorney Harold Pryor dropped in November 2024 for lack of prosecutable evidence. After losing a 2023 runoff to Miguel Gabela, he pivoted to political consulting before launching his 2025 mayoral bid, framing himself as a Trump-inspired fighter against political persecution in Miami's Cuban-American strongholds. Now residing in Allapattah, he draws on decades of South Florida governance to tackle urban development and neighborhood priorities.