January 1, Florida GOP Race Heats Up After Renner Jumps In

Wyatt’s Take

• Paul Renner joins Florida governor race, facing Trump-backed Byron Donalds.
• Current Gov. Ron DeSantis says he won’t support Renner’s run.
• Both candidates promise to uphold conservative values and the state’s progress.

Paul Renner, former Speaker of the Florida House, announced he’s running for governor, entering a race where Rep. Byron Donalds has strong backing from President Trump.

Renner posted,

“As a legislator and Speaker of the House, I stood with Ron DeSantis to brand our state the Free State of Florida. I’m running for Governor so that when the DeSantis era comes to an end, we can defend our victories and solve the challenges that remain.”

Gov. Ron DeSantis isn’t supporting Renner, saying,

“I think it was an ill-advised decision to enter the race.”

Florida’s constitution prevents DeSantis from running again in 2026 after two consecutive terms.

Renner also said,

“As a military veteran of two wars, a state prosecutor, and Speaker of the House, I’ve fought the tough battles, and I will never back down from the fight for our conservative values. As a father, I am committed to securing Florida’s safety and prosperity for the next generation.”

Earlier this year, Trump voiced strong support for Byron Donalds, calling him a “truly Great and Powerful Governor for Florida” and urging him to run. Trump stated,

“Byron Donalds would be a truly Great and Powerful Governor for Florida and, should he decide to run, will have my Complete and Total Endorsement. RUN, BYRON, RUN!”

Senator Rick Scott has also thrown his endorsement behind Donalds.

Florida conservatives will have a clear choice in this race—one backed by Trump and another who says he’ll continue what DeSantis started.

Read more at Fox News

Wyatt Matters

The race for Florida governor highlights the importance of strong leadership rooted in conservative principles, which matter deeply to folks in the heartland who value tradition, safety, and prosperity for their families.