In an unprecedented political move, President-elect Donald Trump has thrown his support behind a potential congressional candidate who hasn't yet declared their intention to run.
According to the New York Post, Trump endorsed Florida Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis to fill the congressional seat recently vacated by former Representative Matt Gaetz, even though Patronis has only expressed interest in running without making an official announcement.
The endorsement comes as Patronis, 52, considers entering the race for Florida's 1st Congressional District, a Republican stronghold in the Panhandle region. The fourth-generation Floridian and seafood restaurant owner has been a loyal Trump supporter, previously advocating for legislation that would have allocated up to $5 million in Florida taxpayer funds to support Trump's legal expenses.
Trump took to Truth Social to express his confidence in Patronis's potential candidacy. The president-elect emphasized Patronis's roots in the Panhandle region and his connection to the MAGA movement.
In his endorsement message, Trump outlined what he believes Patronis would accomplish as a congressman, focusing on economic growth, border security, and Second Amendment rights. These priorities align closely with Trump's own political agenda and campaign promises.
The timing of Trump's endorsement is particularly notable as it comes before any official campaign announcement from Patronis, who currently serves as Florida's CFO, a position he has held since 2017.
The congressional seat became available after Matt Gaetz's recent resignation, which followed a complex series of events involving Trump's administration plans. Gaetz, 42, who had represented the district since 2017, initially received Trump's backing for the attorney general position.
However, Gaetz's potential appointment faced significant challenges due to an ongoing sex scandal, though he has consistently denied any wrongdoing. The former representative later announced his decision not to return to the 119th Congress.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has set January 28 for the primary election and April 1 for the general election to fill the vacant seat. Several candidates have already expressed interest in running, including Republican Nathan Nelson, former Green Beret and Army Capt. John Frankman, state Rep. Michelle Salzman, and Keith Gross.
Patronis publicly addressed his potential candidacy on social media platform X. The current Florida CFO stated:
I am strongly considering running for Florida Congressional District 1. We've got an historic opportunity to fight the swamp, end lawfare and return power back into the hands of Americans
The race for Florida's 1st Congressional District represents a significant political opportunity in one of Florida's most conservative regions. The special election timeline set by Governor DeSantis creates a compressed campaign period that could benefit candidates with existing name recognition and established political networks.
In this developing political scenario, President-elect Trump's early endorsement of Jimmy Patronis for the congressional seat formerly held by Matt Gaetz has set the stage for an intriguing special election in Florida's Panhandle region.
While Patronis contemplates his official entry into the race, several other candidates have already begun positioning themselves for the January primary, leading to what promises to be a closely watched campaign in early 2024.
