Former Congressman David “Nine Lives” Rivera just sucked all the air out of the Florida state primary this August.
Rivera surprised everybody when he filed late Friday to run for state rep in the open 119 District against a bunch of other Republicans who are suddenly in an interesting, nationally-watched race.
That’s because David Rivera is Miami’s original and favorite Republican bad boy — Alex Diaz de la Portilla can go back to being No. 2 for now — and was always good for a scandalous headline. He was once named “one of the most corrupt members of congress” by the Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington.
But whether it’s funding the O.G. ghost candidate, Justin Lamar Sternad, in the Dem primary to weaken his eventual opponent, Joe Garcia, or shipping his cohort and on-again, off-again girlfriend Ana Sol Alliegro off to Nicaragua, funneling GOP monies to his late mother’s inactive company, misusing campaign funds or concealing money he received while working as a consultant for a dog track seeking voter approval for slot machines — accusations against David Rivera never stick.
Read related: Ana Sol Alliegro is back — with a vengeance and a story
He’s allegedly been under one FBI investigation after another — but has never been charged with anything.
In 2020, he was accused of taking $50 million from the Nicolás Maduro Venezuelan government to lobby on behalf of the state-controlled oil industry, which might not be illegal but would be a 180-degree turn from his public stance against totalitarian regimes.
And this past March, Rivera lost his appeal of a $456,000 fine from the Federal Elections Commission for the 2012 ghost candidate shenanigans. It is one of the top-15 largest fines ever handed down by the FEC.
Ooooooh. Wait, wait, wait. Is that why he’s running again? He needs a new source of income?
A state rep from 2002 to 2010, Rivera was elected to Congress for one term before he got beat by Garcia in 2012 in the newly-drawn 26th District, despite the ghost candidate. He ran again in the 2014 primary but lost to Carlos Curbelo, getting only 7.5% of the vote. Two years later, he ran for state house, but lost to former State Rep. Robert Asencio — by 54 votes. Then he said he was going to run in District 105. But he didn’t.
In addition to his legislative office, Rivera has served state committeeman for the Republican Party of Florida and as executive director for the Republican Party of Miami-Dade. Pre Proud Boys (more on that later).
He’s also BFF’s with former Tallahassee roommate Marco Rubio, who is facing his first real challenge this year from Val Demmings and is probably not too happy about this new development.
“I have served this community as a state representative and congressman for 10 years,” Rivera says in a video uploaded to YouTube on Friday. “Whether at the United Nations or Radio Martí, I have always fought to defend human rights and freedom for Cuba.”
Sounds like he’s joining the patriotic, anti-socialism bandwagon. And could there be a better time for a David Rivera comeback?
In the message — which shows a slideshow that includes a photo of a 12-year-old Nine Lives with President Ronald Reagan — Rivera seems to be campaigning more against the Miami Herald than any actual candidate. Maybe because he has to cast doubt on the Venezuelan business story, which could hurt him more than any wannabe.
“For decades, I have fought the lies of the Miami Herald. Now, the Herald tries to fabricate another lie, linking me falsely to the Venezuelan government,” he says in the 29-second video, a length that makes it perfect for TV. “But I have faith that voters know my record and will reject the Herald’s new lie.”
True or false, the Maduro connection going to come up — again and again.
Read related: David Rivera’s ‘Maduro money’ spread to Esteban Bovo, Alex Diaz de la Portilla
“If anything, it emboldens my campaign,” said Juan Carlos Porras, a former legislative aide who worked with State Rep. Alex Rizo the last two years. “I’d like to talk to any South Florida voter to see if they’d vote for someone who’s worked for the Venezuelan government.”
Porras is one of five Republican hopefuls who want to beat Rivera to the wide open, newly-drawn 119 general. He’s been campaigning for weeks and qualified with more than 700 petitions. He says he’s knocked on 3,000 doors himself.
“Every single voter has highlighted that we need new blood, new people,” Porras told Ladra, adding that Rivera represents “the old and negative part of the party.
“And it’s not what people want anymore.”
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Rivera told Ladra that his video statement was all he would say for now. He will have more to say next week and is expected to be interviewed by Ninoska Perez on Tuesday.
“When the bull sees the red cape, he charges,” he texted Ladra, literally calling himself a bull. “It’s time for the Herald to pay the piper.”
Porras has raised $44,378, according to the latest campaign report. Also in the race: Miami-Dade Area 11 Community Council Vice Chair Ashley Alvarez has raised $3,400, personal injury attorney Roberto Gonzalez has raised $98,000 and loaned himself $17,000, hotelier Ricky Tsay — who would be the first Guatemalan-Tawainese-American elected to the state House — has loaned himself $150,000 and raised $8,045, and teacher Jose Soto has raised $2,375.
There’s a Democrat named Gabriel Gonzalez, but whoever wins the Aug. 23 primary in this Republican stronghold is likely the new state rep.
Which could be the old state rep.
He’s baaaack! David ‘Nine Lives’ Rivera is running for Florida state rep, again added by Ladra on
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$456,000 fine. Did Rivera ever pay the fine he got? Did Rivera qualify to run for office? Make the filing deadline?
IMO MOST Hispanics suffer from a self defeating disease which is ethnic voting .
Its not just here , its PR’s in NY , Mexicans in Ca where my two sisters live , etc, etc.
The ONLY winners are the con artist who get elected .
If I were to knock on someone’s door here and say ‘ Hi , I’m Jose born in Cuba and here to rob you ‘ .
That person is not going to say ‘ Oh how nice , please come on in , the money is in the top drawer and while you are helping yourself let me make you something to eat ‘ .
This is pretty much what goes on here as far as politics .
Btw , if not an imposition 4 fried eggs with fried SPAM , that’s right fried SPAM would be a lovely gesture and real butter not that less calorie stuff .
I admit I am an ‘ extremist opposite’ because if my call there would not be ONE Hispanic politician as all I see are self serving , low standards and embarrassing .
“Cubans have contributed so much to America, including by building Miami!” I’ve heard this so many times over the years but to date I’ve never seen anyone be able to say it with a straight face, not even a Cuban in Miami!
I am reading now about Rivera and looks like he did not qualify BUT he is corrupt enough to at min find something in Hialeah
‘ For a moment, it looked like former GOP U.S. Rep. David Rivera was mounting yet another attempted political comeback, filing to run in the open House District 119 contest on the final day of qualifying for state legislative offices.
However, inexplicably, Rivera did not qualify as a candidate, according to the Florida Division of Elections.
June 18, 2022
One of my ‘ skits ‘ –
‘ An elderly Cuban couple are taking a tour of Hialeah City Hall , as they walk down the corridor they are looking at the hanging pictures of all the politicians , top brass city officials that Hialeah has had .
The wife turns to her husband and ask ‘ We left Cuba for this ?’ , the husband replies ‘ Maybe the years have caught up to me but I’m not sure we even left Cuba ‘.
‘ The criminal Alex DLP, sleazy Carlos Gimenez and the Miami Coin Salesman Francis Suarez are all Republicans. (Miami Coin is down 98%).’
Party here is simply a hollow letter in front of a corrupt name , Most Cubans who fled Cuba in the 60s even 80s are Republican so professional self serving criminals run under the letter R but as things change more and more professional self serving criminals will run under the letter D and they have .
Look at the head of the serpent , the enabler , DA Rundle she runs under the letter D .
My parents live further north in the state in a moderate Republican area and ACCOUNTABILITY , things done once done correctly is the norm there .
If you are a Democrat in a second you would vote for them over the flunky D’s here . Cava is so weak the Commissioners own her .
She spends all her time with aimless tv interviews yet whatever the Commissioners want to do for their developer masters they do and no resistance at all from her . I voted for her only as she isn’t Bovo .
This place is a Banana Republic where the flunky letter they run under is a con.
In fact Carlos Gimenez has run under both worthless letters but the real goal is to line his pocket .
I feel for real Republicans in Miami because they have NEVER had any Republicans here since Cubans took over , other Hispanic politicos aren’t any better .
Pretty much anyone into politics but especially here will suffer EOG so we all have it , lol but am I wrong about the way I see Miami politics ?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s1dAxWX0_dQ
Btw , I lean left on a lot of issues so not a Republican nor a Democrat which again here is a farce . I simply vote here on who I think is the least dirty so often it is simply a coin toss.
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Normally one would say . He is so corrupt that he will not get reelected but here the saying is , He is corrupt enough to get reelected , lol and that is Miami .
‘ According to a lawsuit filed in 2020, the contract Rivera quietly signed with the company in 2017 was worth $50 million, an extraordinary deal for a former Republican lawmaker who had built a career in South Florida railing against Cuba’s communist regime under former leader Fidel Castro. Rivera’s firm has since been sued by PDV USA for $15 million over allegations that he did not do enough work.’
$456,000 fine? How will pay Republican David Rivera pay off this fine? Using money from new campaign contributors?
The criminal Alex DLP, sleazy Carlos Gimenez and the Miami Coin Salesman Francis Suarez are all Republicans. (Miami Coin is down 98%).
Please Just Show “One” Politician in Miami Dade That is NOT CORRUPT ? We are Number 1 in Corruption and Fraud ! Thanks To The Lack of ENFORCEMENT from SAO .
David Rivera is so corrupt he makes every list for being the most corrupt politician/scammer in Florida. In fact, he makes national lists too. And to top it off he is a Republican.