Álex Díaz de la Portilla
City Commission official portrait, circa 2020
Member of the Miami City Commission from the 1st district
In office January 7, 2020 – September 15, 2023
Preceded by	Willy Gort
Succeeded by	Miguel Ángel Gabela
Majority Leader of the Florida Senate
In office November 4, 2008 – November 2, 2010
Preceded by	Daniel Webster
Succeeded by	Andy Gardiner
President Pro Tempore of the Florida Senate
In office 2002–2004
Member of the Florida Senate
In office January 25, 2000 – November 2, 2010
Preceded by	Alberto Gutman
Succeeded by	Miguel Díaz de la Portilla
Constituency	34th district (2000–2002) 36th district (2002–2010)
Member of the Florida House of Representatives from the 115th district
In office November 8, 1994 – January 25, 2000
Preceded by	Carlos A. Manrique
Succeeded by	Renier Díaz de la Portilla
Personal details
Born	Alejandro Díaz de la Portilla (1964-08-25) August 25, 1964 (age 61) Miami, Florida, U.S.
Party	Republican
Spouse	Claudia Davant (divorced)
Relatives	Miguel Díaz de la Portilla (brother) Renier Díaz de la Portilla (brother)

Alejandro Díaz de la Portilla (born August 25, 1964) is an American political consultant and former politician from Florida. A Republican, Díaz de la Portilla was a City of Miami commissioner for District 1^[1] and a member of the Florida Senate from 2000 to 2010, representing parts of Miami-Dade County. He also served in the Florida House of Representatives from 1994 until his election to the Senate.^[2] Former Miami Commissioner Álex Díaz de la Portilla is no longer facing charges following an investigation into alleged bribery and money laundering.

Díaz de la Portilla was born in Little Havana community of Miami.^[3] He was previously married to Claudia Davant.^[4]

Díaz is one of the four children of Cuban exiles Miguel Ángel Díaz Pardo and Fabiola Pura de la Portilla García.^{[citation needed]} Díaz de la Portilla's progenitors include several men (including his great-grandfather) who had served in the Cuban government (including in the Senate and House of the former Congress of Cuba and as the Minister of Justice).^[5] His paternal great-grandfather served in the Cuban Senate; two of his^[who?] sons served simultaneously in the Cuban House of Representatives. His maternal great-grandfather served as the Cuban Minister of Justice..^{[citation needed]}

Díaz de la Portilla's two brothers have also held public office. Miguel Díaz de la Portilla served as a member of the Miami-Dade County Commission from 1993 to 2000 and succeeded Alex in the Florida Senate, serving from 2010 to 2016. Renier Díaz de la Portilla served two terms on the Miami-Dade County School Board (1996–1998 and 2006–2012). He also succeeded Alex in the House of Representatives, serving one term from 2000 to 2002.

Díaz de la Portilla served in the Florida House of Representatives (1995–2000) and the Florida Senate (2000–2010).

Díaz de la Portilla's career in politics began in 1994, when he was elected to the Florida House of Representatives, District 115. Díaz de la Portilla served in the Florida House until 2000, when he was elected to the Florida Senate in a special election.^[6] He was reelected to the Senate three times. He served as president pro tempore from 2002 to 2004.

Díaz de la Portilla ran unsuccessfully to return to the Florida House of Representatives in 2012, for the Florida Senate in 2017. He also ran for the Miami-Dade County Commission in 2018.

In 2019, Díaz de la Portilla won a run-off election to the district 1 seat on the Miami City Commission (city council).

In September 2023, Díaz de la Portilla was arrested on charges of money laundering, bribery, criminal conspiracy, and illegal compensation for official acts.^[7] The arrest affidavit^[8] cited a combined 14 charges against Díaz de la Portilla and William “Bill” Riley Jr., an attorney and lobbyist. Díaz de la Portilla pleaded not guilty.

Díaz de la Portilla left office on September 15, 2023, after Governor Ron DeSantis suspended him from serving.^[9] The commission voted to leave the seat vacant until the November election.^[10] Díaz de la Portilla remained a candidate for another term in his seat. On November 21, 2023, Díaz de la Portilla was defeated by Miguel Angel Gabela in the election for Miami Commissioner District 1.^[11]

Díaz de La Portilla was an unsuccessful candidate in the 2025 Miami mayoral election, and was regarded to be one of the six leading candidates in the thirteen-candidate field.^[12]

• Florida Senate - Alex Díaz de la Portilla