Ken Griffin, a serious donor to Republican politicians, is backing the reelection of Miami-Dade County’s Democratic mayor, because the founding father of Citadel expands his political clout in his new house base.
Griffin, who moved to Miami from Chicago two years in the past, has given $500,000 to Daniella Levine Cava’s marketing campaign in June, in response to a submitting. Cava, 68, was elected because the county’s first girl mayor in 2020. The place is nonpartisan.
A spokesperson for Griffin didn’t instantly reply to a request looking for remark exterior of enterprise hours. Up to now, Cava’s political motion committee has raised $1.6 million this 12 months, with Griffin’s being the most important particular person contribution.
Griffin, who’s price $42 billion, in response to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, has given over $60 million to GOP candidates this election cycle. Since shifting to Miami in 2022, he’s vowed to grow to be extra concerned in Florida politics and has donated to different native politicians together with Governor Ron DeSantis and the town of Miami mayor, Francis Suarez.
In South Florida’s tiered authorities construction, the county mayor has substantial extra energy than her metropolis counterparts, together with Suarez. In contrast to Suarez, a one-time Republican presidential contender who’s come underneath fireplace for conflicts of curiosity on his aspect jobs, Cava’s place is full time. Again in 2023, Griffin donated $1 million to Suarez’s native political motion committee.
As Miami-Dade County mayor, Cava oversees 34 cities, together with Miami, an annual price range of about $10 billion and almost 30,000 staff.
Griffin has additionally given cash to charities endorsed by Cava. That features $5 million to a park and bike pathway and $3 million to a nonprofit Cava’s administration additionally backed, the Miami-Dade Innovation Authority Inc., which fingers out grants for corporations engaged on options to points like housing and local weather change.
