Florida Governor Ron DeSantis speaking – Courtesy: Shutterstock – Image by The Old Major
TALLAHASSEE, FL. — Paul Renner, the former speaker of the Florida House, became the second well-known Republican to enter the campaign to succeed term-limited Governor Ron DeSantis on Wednesday when he filed to run for the office.
In an interview on Tuesday, Renner described his tenure as speaker from 2022 to 2024 as “the two most conservative years in Florida history.” “I oversaw a group of outstanding men and women who helped shape Florida into what it is today.”
Rep. Byron Donalds, a Republican, is thought to be the front-runner. Along with being on the campaign trail for months and having received President Donald Trump’s endorsement, he has already amassed $25 million in campaign funds. In March, Donalds declared his intention to run for governor.
But in the Republican field, which is probably still up in the air before the 2026 midterm elections, Renner sees a way forward.
At the end of the day, people will consider endorsements, but it will all depend on who they trust, he said, adding that starting now “allows us to raise money, reach voters in all 67 counties.”
It is unlikely that DeSantis will support Renner, who was seen as a close ally while he was speaker. Most people believe that DeSantis is still looking to find a candidate he can back who will run in the upcoming months.
Renner, 48, is an attorney from the Jacksonville region who was elected to the state House in 2015 and in 2022 became its presiding officer. He held that position until 2024, when term restrictions applied.
During DeSantis’ ascent to national prominence and subsequent unsuccessful presidential campaign, he presided over the House. At the time, DeSantis had no opposition from the Republican-controlled Legislature, which gave him legislative victories to bolster his resume in the hopes that he would become the first governor of Florida to be elected president.
Passing comprehensive school choice legislation and bringing long-sought insurance reforms hailed by the state’s business community were two of Renner’s greatest achievements as speaker.
Some people stated, “You will never get it done,” Renner recalled.
Since entering the race, Donalds has been the front-runner, but he hasn’t been able to hold the lead.
It is generally anticipated that DeSantis will hire a candidate in addition to Renner’s arrival.
Recently appointed Lt. Gov. Jay Collins, a former state senator and one of his closest political allies, is one of the people he is thinking about. Despite the fact that the Florida Constitution does not specify the office of lieutenant governor, it is generally accepted that Collins’ appointment as DeSantis’ second-in-command was a sign that he might run for governor.
A distinguished former Green Beret, Collins has already had a more prominent position than is customary for someone in his position. DeSantis most famously sent him to California to “ensure” the return to Florida of Harjinder Singh, an Indian immigrant who was suspected of causing an accident in Florida while operating a semi-truck that killed three individuals later confirmed to be Haitian immigrants.
After the accident, Singh went to California, but he had already signed extradition documents in the state guaranteeing his return to Florida, which led some detractors to label Collins’ attempt to apprehend him an unnecessary political ploy.
In recent months, DeSantis’ wife, Casey, who is well-known and well-liked by Florida Republicans, has also contemplated running for office, but she has not yet made an announcement regarding her political future.
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Melissa’s career in writing started more than 20 years ago. Today, she lives in South Florida with her husband and two boys.
