Matt Gaetz, the former U.S. representative who has transitioned into a role as a conservative cable host, might not be stepping away from politics for good.
In an interview with the Tampa Bay Times just weeks after the release of a congressional report on sexual misconduct allegations against him, Gaetz revealed he is “starting to think about running for governor” in 2026.
At the forefront of Gaetz’s stated policy priorities is addressing Florida’s growing insurance crisis, the outlet reported.
“I have a compelling vision for the state,” Gaetz said. “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 22 months until the election, Gaetz said he needs more time to pray and consult with his wife, Ginger, before deciding whether to pursue Florida’s highest office.
However, the fact that Gaetz is openly considering a run is noteworthy in itself, the outlet said.
Gaetz remains one of the most popular figures among the MAGA base. His advocacy for economic populism and cannabis legalization—along with his history of personal controversies—sets him apart as a unique Republican candidate, the paper said.
He is also one of the most polarizing Republicans, widely reviled by Democrats. When Gaetz received Trump’s endorsement to serve as 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 considering a gubernatorial run has been circulating for some time.
A former state representative from Florida’s Panhandle who was first elected to Congress in 2016, Gaetz made few allies in Washington, even within his own party. In the final days of his last term, the House Ethics Committee released a scathing report that found “substantial evidence” he used illegal drugs, accepted gifts beyond allowable limits, paid women for sex, and had sexual relations with a 17-year-old girl while serving in Congress. House Speaker Mike Johnson, it should be noted, was against the Ethics Committee publicly releasing its report because Gaetz was no longer a member of the House.
The U.S. Department of Justice investigated Gaetz for sex trafficking but ultimately decided not to file charges in 2023 due to a substantial lack of evidence.
The controversies surrounding the ethics report almost certainly derailed Gaetz’s nomination by President-elect Donald Trump to serve as U.S. attorney general. When the former GOP lawmaker announced his withdrawal from consideration in November via a post on X, he stated that his candidacy was “unfairly becoming a distraction to the critical work of the Trump/Vance Transition.”
Despite this setback, Gaetz has said he does not view the findings as a barrier to a potential gubernatorial run.
“Those lies have been told about me for years,” he said. “They’ve never affected my ability to win elections.”
The outlet added:
Gaetz’s alleged personal shortcomings didn’t seem to bother Trump, the Republican standard bearer. Much about the ethics committee’s report was either known or the subject of substantial rumor when Trump picked Gaetz to serve as his attorney general.
Gaetz resigned his U.S. House seat after getting Trump’s nomination. He now hosts a political show on the cable network One America News.
Should Gaetz run, it’s not yet clear who would join him in the Republican ranks. Gov. Ron DeSantis is term-limited out.
U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds, Florida Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson, and Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody have all been rumored to be considering a run for the Republican nomination.
Moody is also widely regarded as the leading candidate to be Governor Ron DeSantis’ pick to succeed Marco Rubio in the Senate, the Times reported.
Gaetz stated that he views the Republican primary as the decisive contest in determining who will lead Florida in 2026.
Some Floridians—namely Democrats—are simply not electable statewide, said Gaetz.
