Add a Miami Beach icon to the list of South Florida notables backing Republican Rep. Fabián Basabe’s re-election campaign.
Robert “Raven” Kraft, a local legend who crossed a jaw-dropping milestone this past New Year’s Day — recognized by the state — by running on the sands of South Beach every day for 50 years, wants to see Basabe win another term in House District 106.
It’s not necessarily that the two agree on everything politically, though Basabe and Kraft are both registered Republicans, according to state records.
Instead, Kraft credited his support to Basabe’s actions last year, when Kraft came close to losing his longtime condo after the maintenance and repair fees at the building skyrocketed to untenable levels.
Kraft lived modestly. While thousands of people from across the world had joined him on his daily “Raven Runs” and many publications had chronicled his journey, he’d largely earned a living working security and forwent many of life’s indulgent trappings to afford his home.
His longtime partner launched a GoFundMe page to help him, and it raised 66% of its $50,000 goal.
He ultimately managed to keep his home, and last month, Miami Beach recognized Kraft by renaming 3 Street along Ocean Drive “Robert Raven Kraft Way” in recognition of his contribution to the city.
Robert ‘Raven’ Kraft leading his world-renowned ‘Raven Run.’ Image via GoFundMe.
At the dedication ceremony, he thanked local officials and runners for pushing for the street designation. But afterward, he felt his message was incomplete and set to Facebook to say more.
In the post, Kraft said the same officials he’d thanked at the street naming hadn’t helped him last year when he was at risk of homelessness.
In fact, he said, just one person who did.
“There is exactly one person in elected office who stepped up to actually help me and that is State Representative FABIAN BASABE,” Kraft said, adding that Basabe “personally intervened to stop” him from losing his home.
“He did not do it for attention or a headline or a handshake, he did it because it was the right thing to do. He fought the bureaucracy, pulled in state and county departments and worked with my so called legal team to help me stay in my home. If Fabian had not stepped up to help me I would have lost my home. It may have even put my run streak in jeopardy.
“This is very hard for men and I am grateful that good men still exist and that I know one of them, FABIAN BASABE.”
Kraft didn’t go into detail about what Basabe did, and neither did the lawmaker, who called Kraft “an extraordinary man whose story and spirit have brought people together from all walks of life.”
“He’s a symbol of resilience and hope who has inspired thousands through his runs, his art, and his heart. His honesty in sharing what he endured makes his support even more meaningful to me,” Basabe said in a statement.
“I’m grateful for his strength, authenticity, and belief in doing what’s right. Miami Beach is better because of people like Raven.”
Basabe — who last month requested an audit of Miami Beach’s finances, contracts and homelessness policies — is seeking a third term representing HD 106, which covers a coastal strip of Miami-Dade between Miami Beach and Aventura.
During the 2025 Legislative Session, he passed five bills, including measures to safeguard historic structures and crack down on irresponsible owners of derelict vessels, while securing millions of dollars in state funding for projects in and outside of his district.
He is also representing himself against a defamation lawsuit brought by a pair of former House employees who accused him of sexual harassment. Two House probes into those staffers’ complaints found “no evidence” and “inconclusive” evidence of wrongdoing by him.
Two Democrats have filed to run against Basabe: former Miami-Dade School Board member Lucia Báez-Geller, whom he’s accused of lodging “false, malicious” accusations against him, and lawyer Ashley Litwin Diego, who has enlisted the services of influential consultant Christian Ulvert.