Gaetz ‘starting to think about’ run for governor

SUMMARY

Former Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) is considering a 2026 run for Florida governor, citing the state’s insurance crisis as a key focus. “I have a compelling vision for the state,” Gaetz told the Tampa Bay Times. “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 added, “If I run, I would be the most pro-consumer candidate on the Republican side.” Now a television host, Gaetz said he needs more time to pray and discuss the decision with his wife. His comments come after his resignation from Congress in 2024, following his nomination as President-elect Trump’s attorney general. Gaetz withdrew amid an ethics probe into allegations of sexual misconduct and drug use, which he denies. A House Ethics Committee report found “substantial evidence” of rule violations, but Gaetz dismissed the findings, saying, “Those lies have been told about me for years. They’ve never affected my ability to win elections.”