President-elect Donald Trump has officially thrown his support behind Jimmy Patronis for Florida's congressional seat recently vacated by Matt Gaetz.
According to the Washington Examiner, the endorsement comes via Trump's Truth Social platform, promoting Patronis as an ideal successor to Gaetz.
In his public endorsement, Trump dubbed chief financial officer Jimmy Patronis a "wonderful friend" to him and his Make America Great Again (MAGA) ideology.
He emphasized that Patronis would be a strong advocate for economic initiatives, border security, and strengthening U.S. military and veterans, should he choose to run for the congressional seat.
The former president encouraged Patronis with the phrase, "RUN, JIMMY, RUN!" giving him his "Complete and Total Endorsement," signaling that Patronis's potential candidacy aligns well with the larger MAGA movement’s goals.
Jimmy Patronis, on his part, expressed his serious consideration of a run on X, a popular social media platform. He acknowledged the timely nature of his potential candidacy, given the political landscape and his recent legislative efforts.
Patronis has been a Florida political figure pushing for impactful legislation – including the controversial "Freedom Fighters Fund," which was designed to cover up to $5 million in legal fees for Floridians running for president who are under legal scrutiny. The legislation especially targeted aiding Donald Trump, who has been facing legal battles across several states.
Addressing these legal challenges, Patronis criticized perceived partisan uses of the judicial system against conservative figures, labeling it as an attempt to derail Trump's campaigns rather than beating him in an electoral process.
We’ve got a Florida Man — Donald Trump — running for President, and he’s facing ongoing legal challenges from Democrats in New York, Washington DC, and Atlanta. The Left is really good at weaponizing the courts, and because President Biden is so unpopular, they’re not just trying to beat Trump at the ballot box, they’re trying to throw him behind bars, which is outrageous. If we can help and support a Florida candidate for the White House, that’s just good from a dollars and cents perspective.
This political climate frames Patronis's possible congressional bid as not just a campaign for a seat, but as part of a larger strategy to strengthen the GOP's hold and challenge Democratic strategies, particularly in judicial confrontations.
Governor Ron DeSantis has scheduled the primary for Gaetz’s congressional seat for January 28, with the special election following on April 1. This timeline gives potential candidates like Patronis and others including Republican state Reps. Michelle Salzman and Joel Rudman, along with former U.S. Army Capt. John Frankman, limited time to campaign.
Matt Gaetz resigned from his congressional post to accept a nomination as attorney general but later rejected the role amidst various allegations, an Ethics Committee report, and a Department of Justice investigation that ultimately resulted in no charges. He had won his latest election with a significant margin, capturing 66% of the vote.
Moreover, the competition is anticipated to be fierce, as all candidates align with varying segments of the Republican base. Yet, Trump's endorsement may give Patronis a distinct edge by rallying the MAGA faithful behind his anticipated campaign.
In summary, as Jimmy Patronis weighs entering the race, his potential candidacy is already shaping up to be a central part of Florida’s and perhaps the national political discourse, powered by Trump’s endorsement and looming legislative battles and electoral strategies.
