Carlos Giménez

Carlos Giménez was born in Cuba in 1954 and came to the United States as a child, settling with his family in Little Havana.¹ He married his high school sweetheart, Lourdes, and they have three adult children and six grandchildren.²¹

His public service began in 1975 with Miami's fire department, where he spent twenty five years, including nine as chief.¹ A Christopher Columbus High School graduate, he earned a public administration degree at Barry University and completed Harvard Kennedy School's program for senior state and local government executives.¹

Giménez became Miami city manager in 2000, a Miami-Dade commissioner in 2004 and county mayor in 2011, winning reelection in 2012 and 2016.¹ Elected to Congress in 2020, he serves on Armed Services and Homeland Security and chairs the latter committee's Transportation and Maritime Security Subcommittee.¹

His current work includes strengthening maritime border security and Coast Guard capabilities against trafficking, with an emphasis on staffing, intelligence sharing and specialized forces.³ He also supports pressure on Cuba's government through restrictions on its oil supply.³ In April 2026, he and Salazar urged restoration of federal funding for Catholic Charities' program serving unaccompanied children.⁴ He faces Democratic retired Navy commander Phil Ehr in the 28th District.⁵