Meet the 2025 Miami Mayor Contenders (L to R): Top row: Elijah John Bowdre, Joe Carollo, Christian Cevallos. Middle row: Kenneth James "KJ" DeSantis, Alex de la Portilla, Emilio González, Michael Hepburn. Bottom row: Eileen Higgins, Ken Russell, Jane Savage, Xavier Suarez. (Not pictured: Laura Anderson.)Photos Via Campaign Websites And Public Domain
Miami’s mayoral election is just a week away, and 13 candidates are competing for one of South Florida’s most influential political roles.
With Mayor Francis Suarez term-limited, the race has drawn a mix of veteran politicians and newcomers from a variety of fields. Early voting began Saturday ahead of next Tuesday’s election — one that has already sparked national attention, thanks in part to Miami-based right-wing provocateur Laura Loomer, who recently called fellow Trump supporter Joe Carollo “woke.” Yes, that actually happened.
While some names are familiar to longtime Miamians — including former mayor Xavier Suarez and Commissioner Joe Carollo — the ballot features a broad range of résumés and priorities. Below is a rundown of all candidates, in alphabetical order:
Laura Anderson
A freight conductor with CSX Transportation in Hialeah since 2019. At publication time, Anderson did not appear to have campaign social-media accounts or a website.
Elijah John Bowdre
Executive director of the Miami-Dade Digital Commission, a nonprofit coalition focused on technology and education. He calls himself the “Crypto Commissioner,” citing prior work on state crypto legislation.
Joe Carollo
Longtime Miami political figure, previously serving on the city commission from 1979–1987 and again since 2017. He is term-limited this year. Carollo has been embroiled in multiple controversies, including a federal lawsuit that resulted in a $63 million judgment against him in 2023. He does not appear to have a campaign website.
Christian E. Cevallos
Entrepreneur and Florida International University graduate. His campaign highlights community work ranging from distributing masks during COVID-19 to supporting children with special needs and recognizing International Women’s Day.
Alyssa Crocker
Legislative advocate who began pushing for medical transparency following her father’s death at North Shore Medical Center. A mother of two children with special needs, she focuses on government transparency, public safety, domestic-violence support, and services for veterans.
Kenneth James “KJ” DeSantis
Attorney specializing in general-liability cases. DeSantis has publicly suggested he may be entering the race late and could consider running in the next cycle instead. His campaign messaging emphasizes that Miami’s success stems from its residents rather than City Hall leadership.
Alex Díaz de la Portilla
Political consultant and former state lawmaker who served in the Florida Legislature (1994–2010) and on the Miami City Commission (2019–2023). He was suspended in 2023 after bribery and money-laundering charges later dropped in 2024. He says he was “vindicated” and promises to “make Miami great again.”
Emilio González
Partner at a Los Angeles-based asset-management firm and former Miami city manager (2018–2020). Previously served as director of Miami International Airport and director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. He describes himself as a “battle-tested leader” with a lifelong record of service.
Michael A. Hepburn
Miami native and nonprofit executive. Hepburn cites his upbringing by a single mother and focuses on boosting the local economy and creating a stronger sense of community.
Eileen Higgins
Former Miami-Dade County District 5 commissioner. Higgins pledges to rebuild trust in city government, make Miami more affordable, improve public transit, and support law enforcement.
Ken Russell
Consultant and former Miami city commissioner (2017–2022). He campaigns on restoring integrity at City Hall, drawing parallels between his civic activism and efforts to revitalize his neighborhood park.
June Savage
Miami native and real-estate associate with Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices in Coral Gables. She describes herself as a mother, grandmother, longtime community advocate, and cyclist-safety supporter. She is also a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution.
Xavier L. Suarez
Attorney, former Miami mayor, and father of current Mayor Francis Suarez. Served two separate mayoral terms; his second term (1997–1998) ended following an absentee-ballot investigation. He does not appear to have a campaign website.
