Gaetz has not ruled out running in the 2026 Florida governor race.
It's not too early to think about the 2026 midterms – Republicans certainly are.
Ron DeSantis cannot run for a third term. So the political focus these days in Florida is on who will succeed him. And the GOP primary could turn out to be a free-for-all involving Ron's wife Casey, Matt Gaetz, and Rep. Byron Donalds who was endorsed by Trump.
The latest poll of the Republican field, conducted by the James Madison Institute, did not place Gaetz as a leading figure but highlighted the evolving Republican field where endorsements and name recognition are key factors that could shape the eventual outcome of the race. The poll, conducted by Targoz Market Research from May 5 to 7, indicated that Florida first lady Casey DeSantis has an early lead with 29 percent, compared to Donalds' 28 percent and Gaetz's 10 percent support.
Trump is a wild card.
When informed about Trump's endorsement, however, Donalds' support grew to 44 percent, while DeSantis' share of the vote fell to 25 percent. Donalds is the only Republican to officially declare his intention of running, although rumors continue to swirl about DeSantis and Gaetz, who has not ruled out a run, NBC News reported on Wednesday.
Gaetz was Trump's original choice for attorney general. And Trump is notorious for not being as loyal to his supporters as they are to him. So Byron Donalds should not treat Trump's backing as ironclad.
Gaetz told The Tampa Bay Times in January he is considering a run. "I have a compelling vision for the state. 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," he said.
Right: Matt Gaetz – champion of consumers. 😂
It should be pointed out that Trump's popularity in Florida in autumn of 2026 may not be what it is right now.
With NOAA and FEMA in chaos, hurricane-prone Florida may become less appreciative of MAGA-DOGE cuts to disaster preparedness and relief. Those enormous cuts to the federal budget to give bigger tax breaks to billionaires may seem less "beautiful" after two Atlantic hurricane seasons.
