David Rivera
Former U.S. Congressman and Florida State Representative
Miami Connection
Rivera significantly influenced Miami-Dade's political landscape as Executive Director of the local Republican Party and through state budget advocacy that supported new professional schools at FIU. His leadership in the Florida House helped the Miami-Dade delegation navigate tight budgets, benefiting local education and fiscal priorities. His career has shaped Republican strategies in South Florida's Cuban-American community.
About
David Rivera, born in New York in 1965 and raised in Miami since 1974, graduated from Florida International University with a B.A. in Political Science and an MPA. He served in the Florida House of Representatives from 2002 to 2010, chairing the Rules and Appropriations committees, and was elected to the U.S. House for Florida's 25th district from 2011 to 2013. A prominent Republican, he acted as State Committeeman for the Republican Party of Florida and Executive Director for the Republican Party of Miami-Dade County. Rivera has deep Miami connections, having shared a home with Marco Rubio during their legislative years in Tallahassee. As of 2026, he is embroiled in a federal trial accusing him of secretly lobbying for Venezuela's government and money laundering.