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Number of Republican candidates hoping to succeed Matt Gaetz in Congress grows • Florida Phoenix
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Number of Republican candidates hoping to succeed Matt Gaetz in Congress grows • Florida Phoenix

Whether Matt Gaetz ever becomes U.S. Attorney General, he will no longer represent Florida’s 1st Congressional District, having resigned his seat last week following Donald Trump’s announcement of his nomination. naming him to lead the US Department of Justice.

Today, many Republicans are announcing their candidacies to succeed him.

State Rep. Michelle Salzman via Florida House

One of them is Michelle Salzman of Escambia County, a fiercely conservative member of the Florida House who was re-elected earlier this month.

“I plan to run for Congress today saying I want to do what’s best for our country and help President Trump with Make America Great Again!” @realDonaldTrump,” she wrote on X Tuesday.

Florida CFO Jimmy Patronis, also a Panhandle native, is also poised to throw his hat into the ring. He is rumored to be considering a run for governor in 2026.

Jimmy Patronis via his Facebook page

“I am strongly considering running in Florida’s Congressional District 1. We have a historic opportunity to address the swamp, end legal disputes and return power to Americans’ hands,” Patronis said. X Tuesday afternoon.

Two other Northwest Florida Republicans have already announced their candidacy for the seat, including John Frankman, a Green Beret who served eight years in the U.S. Army before his career ended — according to his website — when he opposed the COVID-19 vaccine mandate, “a decision he calls his proudest moment in uniform.”

Also now running is Keith Gross, who fell far behind Rick Scott for the Republican nomination for the U.S. Senate in August.

A Democrat who announced her candidacy for the seat. That is Gay Valimont, who lost to Gaetz in the general election in District 1 earlier this month, considered the most conservative in the state.

Gaetz defeated Valmont, 66%-34%, on November 5.

Florida Secretary of State Cord Byrd said last week that his office would soon release a schedule for special elections to the U.S. House of Representatives to “ensure that these special elections are conducted as soon as possible “.