Matt Gaetz, the former member of Congress and current OANN host, has confirmed he is “starting to think about” running for governor of his home state of Florida.
“I have a compelling vision for the state,” Gaetz, 42, told the Tampa Bay Times in an interview published Tuesday.
Gaetz resigned from Congress on Nov. 13, after President-elect Donald Trump announced he would nominate Gaetz for the position of attorney general. Gaetz removed his name from consideration eight days later, after it became clear he did not have the votes to be confirmed by the Senate.
On Dec. 23, the House Committee on Ethics released a report finding Gaetz used illegal drugs, including cocaine and ecstasy, while paying thousands of dollars to multiple women with whom he had sex — including a 17-year-old high school junior.
Gaetz has long been considered a top contender for the GOP gubernatorial nomination in 2026, when incumbent Gov. Ron DeSantis is term-limited.
Gaetz told the Tampa Bay Times his “vision” for the Sunshine State includes solving skyrocketing homeowner insurance premiums.
“I understand how to fix the insurance problem, and it’s not to hand the keys to the state over to the insurance industry,” he said. “If I run, I would be the most pro-consumer candidate on the Republican side.”
Before throwing his hat in the ring, Gaetz said, he had to pray and discuss the prospect with his wife, Ginger.
The former lawmaker also shrugged off the ethics report’s lurid revelations.
“Those lies have been told about me for years,” he told the outlet. “They’ve never affected my ability to win elections.”
Since leaving office, Gaetz has joined the site Cameo — charging hundreds of dollars to send personalized video messages — and debuted an eponymous show on the right-wing One America News Network.
Others who have publicly expressed interest in running for governor on the Republican side include Reps. Byron Donalds, former Pensacola Mayor Ashton Hayward and Miami Mayor Francis Suarez, a former candidate for the 2024 GOP presidential nomination.
State Lt. Gov. Jeanette Nuñez and Attorney General Ashley Moody are also considered top contenders, but neither has said whether they will seek the job.
