Gov. Ron DeSantis seems unamused by the speculation about former U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz’s political future.
Gaetz on Tuesday told the Tampa Bay Times that he was eyeing a gubernatorial bid in 2026.
At a meeting of governors at Mar-a-Lago on Thursday, DeSantis, who will be forced out of office in two years due to term limits, was asked about Gaetz’s plans.
“My thing is, I had to do a special election to fill that seat because he resigned from the seat. I wish we had full strength in the House to help the president get his agenda done. That’s where the fight is right now,” DeSantis said of Gaetz resigning from Congress shortly after being reelected. “… We’ve got it handled here. The people need to be up there fighting for President Trump.”
The Panhandle-area seat once represented by Gaetz is the only empty House seat in the country. Republicans hold a 219-215 majority in the chamber, meaning that if Democrats stay unified, the party can afford just one defection if it is to pass any legislation.
Gaetz announced he was resigning his seat in November after President-elect Donald Trump picked him to be his attorney general. However, allegations of sexual misconduct dogged Gaetz’s nomination, and he ultimately withdrew his name from consideration.
Other Republican members of Congress appointed by Trump, such as Sen. Marco Rubio and Rep. Michael Waltz, did not resign their seats immediately, giving Republicans some breathing room in Washington. They will leave their current posts once Trump is inaugurated later this month.
Gaetz on Tuesday was also somewhat critical of Republicans in Tallahassee — particularly with how lawmakers have handled the insurance issue.
“I understand how to fix the insurance problem, and it’s not to hand the keys to the state over to the insurance industry,” Gaetz said.
Kirby Wilson is a politics reporter, covering the leaders of Florida and explaining the political landscape. Reach him at kwilson@tampabay.com.
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