Matt Gaetz Announces Interest In Running For Florida Governor
Matt Gaetz, a former U.S. representative turned conservative cable host, may not be leaving the political arena entirely.
In a recent interview with the Tampa Bay Times, Gaetz disclosed that he is “starting to think about running for governor” in 2026. This revelation comes only weeks after a congressional report on sexual misconduct allegations against him was released.
One of Gaetz’s primary policy focuses is Florida’s escalating insurance crisis, according to the report.
“I have a compelling vision for the state,” Gaetz stated. “I understand how to fix the insurance problem, and it’s not to hand the keys to the state over to the insurance industry. If I run, I would be the most pro-consumer candidate on the Republican side.”
With the gubernatorial election still 22 months away, Gaetz emphasized that he needs time to pray and discuss the decision with his wife, Ginger, before making any formal announcement.
Nevertheless, the mere consideration of a gubernatorial bid by Gaetz is significant, the outlet noted.
Gaetz remains a prominent figure among MAGA supporters. His platform of economic populism and advocacy for cannabis legalization, coupled with his controversial personal history, makes him a distinctive figure within the Republican Party, the paper reported.
However, he is also one of the most divisive Republicans, drawing significant criticism from Democrats. When Gaetz received an endorsement from Donald Trump for attorney general, Florida Democratic Party chairperson Nikki Fried labeled him a “chaos agent who cares about nothing but his own personal power.”
Speculation about Gaetz’s interest in a gubernatorial run has been circulating for some time.
A former state representative from Florida’s Panhandle and first elected to Congress in 2016, Gaetz did not build many alliances in Washington—even within his own party. In the final days of his congressional term, the House Ethics Committee released a critical report that found “substantial evidence” he had engaged in illegal drug use, accepted gifts beyond permissible limits, paid for sex, and had sexual encounters with a 17-year-old girl while serving in Congress. Notably, House Speaker Mike Johnson opposed the public release of this report, arguing that Gaetz was no longer a sitting member of Congress.
While the U.S. Department of Justice investigated Gaetz for alleged sex trafficking, no charges were filed in 2023 due to insufficient evidence.
These controversies seemingly derailed Gaetz’s nomination by President-elect Donald Trump for U.S. attorney general. In November, Gaetz withdrew from consideration, stating on X (formerly Twitter) that his nomination had become “unfairly” distracting from the Trump/Vance transition efforts.
Despite this setback, Gaetz has maintained that the allegations will not hinder a future political campaign.
“Those lies have been told about me for years,” Gaetz said. “They’ve never affected my ability to win elections.”
According to the Tampa Bay Times, Gaetz’s personal controversies did not seem to deter Trump’s support. Much of what the ethics report detailed had already been public knowledge or the subject of rumor by the time Trump selected Gaetz for the attorney general role.
Following his resignation from Congress after Trump’s nomination, Gaetz has since taken on a hosting role at One America News.
If Gaetz enters the governor’s race, it remains uncertain who his Republican rivals might be. With Governor Ron DeSantis term-limited, speculation has centered on figures like U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds, Florida Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson, and Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody.
Moody is also widely considered a leading contender for DeSantis’s potential Senate endorsement to succeed Marco Rubio, the Times reported.
Gaetz sees the Republican primary as the pivotal contest in determining Florida’s next leader.
According to Gaetz, certain candidates—particularly Democrats—are unlikely to win a statewide election in Florida.