Francis X. Suarez

Suarez is the face of Miami, a city that captured more hearts, minds, and especially bodies than just about any other in the U.S. recently. The Republican politician is the Magic City’s chief marketer, and he brings a magic touch of his own to the job. As the pandemic chased folks out of cities like San Francisco and New York, Suarez welcomed the greener-pasture-seekers with open arms, touting lower taxes, more affordable real estate, and a more business-friendly climate, both literally and metaphorically. He embraced his ambassadorial role with the vigor of a tech CEO or startup founder, a cohort he has actively—and often successfully—wooed over from Silicon Valley. His policy proposals, while sometimes fanciful, have gotten lots of attention; he has pushed to build Miami into a cryptocurrency haven and even invited Elon Musk to explore building a Boring Company tunnel under the city to alleviate traffic. Assuming Suarez wins reelection in November, he is also slated to lead the U.S. Conference of Mayors next year.