Francis Suarez is fundraising with drawing for tickets to Messi’s Inter Miami debut

Miami Mayor Francis Suarez’s presidential campaign is raffling off Inter Miami tickets as part of a blitz to secure enough donors to make the first Republican primary debate in August.

Federal campaign laws generally permit raffles, but the campaign’s actions could raise questions about compliance with Florida’s gaming laws. A donation to Suarez for President, Inc., his official nonprofit campaign organization, is not required to enter the drawing. The free-to-enter policy is required for nonprofits to legally hold raffles. But other public notices required by state law, including contest rules and the location and time of the drawing, were not shared in the tweet Suarez sent promoting the contest.

For the prize, his campaign turned to a familiar source. Miami’s MLS franchise is leasing city-owned land to build a stadium and commercial complex under an agreement Suarez publicly supported through years of City Hall approvals.

The mayor’s tactics also suggest he needs a boost to attract 40,000 donors so he can qualify for the first GOP primary debate in August. The campaign has not officially released donor numbers. A pro-Suarez super PAC is also holding a raffle for a $15,000 prize to cover college tuition, a contest announced Thursday morning.

One month into his bid, Suarez tweeted about the Inter Miami tickets raffle Thursday to encourage people to contribute $1, which will enter the donor into a drawing for two front-row seats to see soccer star Lionel Messi’s debut for the Major League Soccer franchise on July 21.

Buried in the fine print at the bottom of the image Suarez tweeted to draw donors: You don’t have to donate to his campaign to enter the drawing, which will be held July 20.

“You may also enter by mailing a postcard to 2308 Mt. Vernon Avenue, Box 204, Alexandria, Virginia 22301,” reads the statement.

Federal election law attorney Kenneth Gross told the Miami Herald that generally, federal election laws do not prohibit fundraising raffles. Gross said campaigns can run into issues when it comes to state gaming laws.

“However, if a campaign allows participation without donating, this may help the raffle pass muster under state gaming laws,” Gross said. “Ideally this option of participating without donating should be made apparent to an individual who is hoping to win the prize.”

Florida gaming laws regulate raffles by nonprofits. Promotional materials for such drawings are required to include rules of the contest; the full name of the organization doing the raffle and its place of business; the source of funds used to purchase the prize; the date, hour and place of the drawing, and a disclosure that no purchase or contribution is necessary to enter.

Suarez’s tweet states that no purchase is necessary, and it includes a P.O. box for the nonprofit campaign group sponsoring the drawing. It states that the drawing will take place July 20, and it explains how to enter the raffle, but it does not include detailed rules or provide an hour and location for the drawing.

The Suarez campaign did not immediately respond to the Herald’s questions about the raffle. The campaign’s official website, Twitter page and Instagram account did not list any additional information about the raffle as of Thursday night.

In a statement, Inter Miami said that the Suarez campaign recently bought two tickets at face value. The team did not immediately respond to the Herald’s questions about the value of the tickets.

The value of the tickets could trigger additional requirements under Florida’s gaming laws. Game promotions with prizes totaling more than $5,000 must file with the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services one week before the contest begins, and a surety bond is required.

According to Inter Miami’s website, two front-row tickets for the July 21 match against Mexico City’s Cruz Azul football club are priced at about $2,000.

The mayor has received significant political support from the team’s managing owner Jorge Mas, who is chairman of infrastructure engineering firm MasTec. Mas has donated to Suarez’s municipal campaigns over the years, and he contributed $500,000 to a super PAC supporting Suarez in December, according to campaign finance records.

Freebies to expensive events have been a recent source of scrutiny for Suarez. The mayor received tickets to an exclusive viewing area for this year’s Formula 1 race in South Florida from billionaire Ken Griffin, who is prohibited from giving city elected officials gifts under Florida’s ethics laws.

The mayor’s office told the Herald he is covering the costs of the tickets, though the mayor, City Attorney Victoria Mendez and Griffin’s representatives have refused to produce proof that the payment has occurred.

Suarez has also refused to answer questions about his trip to Qatar in late 2022, where he appeared in photographs with Inter Miami co-owner David Beckham during the World Cup.

READ MORE: Billionaire treated Mayor Suarez to $30K Grand Prix weekend. Miami says he’s paying it back

Suarez, who is polling far behind most candidates in a crowded field led by former President Donald Trump, needs 40,000 individual donors to make the debate stage on Aug. 23 in Milwaukee. He needs at least 200 unique donors per state or territory in more than 20 states or territories, according to criteria set by the Republican National Committee. Suarez also needs to be polling at least 1% in three national polls.

Other longshot GOP candidates have launched similar efforts to meet the debate requirements. Michigan businessman Perry Johnson is selling T-shirts supporting former Fox News host Tucker Carlson. North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum’s campaign is offering $20 gift cards in exchange for $1 donations.

SOS America PAC, a committee that is supporting Suarez’s bid, also launched a raffle Thursday. Contributors are entered into a drawing to win $15,000 for college tuition. The prize is billed as a “free year of college.” The prize would only cover a typical in-state tuition bill for a public institution, according to figures compiled by U.S. News and World Report.

The super PAC used a chatbot avatar of Suarez to promote the contest, which is steering contributions to Suarez’s official campaign.

Similar to the soccer tickets raffle, people don’t have to donate to enter. They can enter the college tuition contest by filling out a form on the PAC’s website.