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Former Rep. Matt Gaetz, a Republican of Floridatold Fox News Digital on Wednesday that he is “reviewing the opportunity” to possibly mount a run for governor.
The former House lawmaker noted that if he ultimately decides to throw his hat in the ring, he would need to take “active steps toward a career” by the end of 2025.
Gaetz, who recently began hosting a One America News Network show, said many Floridians have encouraged him to run, and while he thinks it’s a little early to decide, he will pray about the possibility and he will argue with his wife.
He noted that he is “deeply concerned” about rising prices for Florida people, including property and casualty insurance. “I know how to fight the special interests that have raised prices in my home state,” he said, noting that if he believes he could “make a positive change,” then he will “significantly” consider the move.
U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., attends the second day of the Republican National Convention at the Fiserv Forum on July 16, 2024 in Milwaukee, Wisc. (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)
Governor of Florida. Ron DeSantiswho took office in early 2019 and was re-elected in a landslide in 2022, cannot seek re-election in 2026, meaning the field will be wide open for candidates interested in running for the job.
In response to the Tampa Bay Times’ report that Gaetz said he was “starting to think about running for governor,” Florida state Sen. Jason Pizzo, D-D., responded by declaring, “And I’m going to kick his ass ass”.
After winning 2024 re-election in Florida’s 1st congressional district, Gaetz quickly resigned from Congress after the president-elect. donald trump announced the lawmaker as his nominee for attorney general of the United States.
But later that month, Gaetz withdrew from consideration for the role.
“There is no time to waste in an unnecessarily protracted fight in Washington, so I will withdraw my name from consideration to serve as Attorney General. Trump’s DOJ must be in place and ready by Day 1,” he say in a post to X. .
Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Florida, speaks with former President Donald Trump, 2024 Republican presidential candidate, left, at Steer N’ Stein Bar while attending the Iowa State Fair in Des Moines, Iowa , on Saturday August 12, 2023. . (Al Drago/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
Trump has endorsed Florida CFO Jimmy Patronis to fill Gaetz’s old House seat — the GOP primary is later this month.
A report by the House Ethics Committee alleged that “the Committee determined that there is substantial evidence that Representative Gaetz violated House rules and other standards of conduct that prohibit prostitution, statutory rape, illicit drug use, impermissible gifts, special favors or privileges, and obstruction of Congress.”
Gaetz stated in a post on X: “There’s a reason they did this to me on a Christmas Eve report and not in a courtroom of any kind where I could present evidence and challenge witnesses.”
TRUMP LIKES FLORIDA DEM’S DECISION TO LEAVE PARTY, JOIN GOP: ‘THANK YOU HILLARY!’
U.S. House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., (L) speaks with Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., on the House floor after Gaetz voted present during the fourth day of voting for President of the House in the US Capitol Building on January 6, 2023 in Washington, DC. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
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Gaetz instigated the removal of House Speaker Kevin McCarthy from the presidency in 2023.
