Alex Diaz de la Portilla
Also known as: ADLP
Former Miami City Commissioner & Mayoral Candidate
Known For
Alex Díaz de la Portilla is best known for his long tenure in Florida state legislature, rise to Senate majority leader, and recent mayoral run following dismissal of public corruption charges that derailed his city commission role.
About
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.