WITHDRAWN: November 20, 2019

Wayne Messam (MESS-uhm), a relatively unknown mayor of a Miami suburb, said in his announcement video, “I’m passionate about the American dream, because it’s not a fictitious thing for me. It’s real for me.” The son of Jamaican immigrants, Messam said, “The promise of America belongs to all of us.”

Accomplishments: Messam attended Florida State University on a football scholarship and played on the 1993 national championship team. After graduating with a degree in management information systems, he started a construction company, focusing on energy-efficient buildings. In 2015, he defeated a 16-year incumbent to become the mayor of Miramar, which has about 140,000 residents. He was re-elected in March.

Foreign policy: Messam said, according to The Associated Press, “China just released a manifesto, a 50-year plan about their dominance and how the world is going to need China’s exceptionalism and greatness and leadership. Where is our plan?” He said the United States needs a plan that emphasizes educating people to better compete internationally.

What sets him apart: Messam noted that he is the only candidate from Florida, an important battleground state. He is one of the few candidates who does not have experience in Washington and is only the second mayor to enter the race, after Pete Buttigieg of South Bend, Indiana. Messam has touted the fact Miramar is prospering and has argued that many politicians are not aware of the challenges faced by cities and communities. If elected, Messam would be the country’s second black president.

Platform: Messam supports universal health care, reducing student loan debt and tackling climate change. He also wants to ban military-style rifles and tighten background checks on gun purchases.