Disgraced Former Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz Eyes Run for Governor Despite GOP Backing Byron Donalds

The race for governor in Florida to replace Ron DeSantis is getting crowded as disgraced former Rep. Matt Gaetz reportedly continues eyeing a possible run for office. If he ends up actually throwing his hat in the ring, he would join Trump-backed Rep. Byron Donalds and Florida First Lady Casey DeSantis in the high-profile 2026 contest.

If both Donalds and DeSantis run, Gaetz, who left Congress because of concerns about past sexual misconduct allegations, sees a possibility for him to win the governorship. A three-way Republican primary in what is now a GOP powerhouse state can open up the opportunity for a dark horse candidate to win the GOP nomination with just roughly 30% of the vote, NBC News explains.

"Matt is always thinking— I could see him as a potential multi-way race presenting him an opportunity to re-emerge for a run," a veteran Florida Republican operative told the outlet.

A potential Gaetz campaign has been discussed for months, particularly after his nomination to be Trump's attorney general fell through due to his sexual misconduct allegations and the release of a House Ethics panel report that accused him of "regularly" paying for sex and using drugs.

Back in January, The New York Times reported that Gaetz was "starting to think about running for governor" next year. "I have a compelling vision for the state," he also told The Tampa Bay Times that month.

In his remarks to the outlet, Gaetz suggested if he were to run for office, he would work to stabilize an insurance crisis that has been gripping Florida, which has been exacerbated by Hurricanes Helene and Milton last year and has roiled both the industry and those who rely on its coverage.

"I understand how to fix the insurance problem, and it's not to hand the keys to the state over to the insurance industry," he said. "If I run, I would be the most pro-consumer candidate on the Republican side."

If Gaetz decides to effectively run, he would undoubtedly face an uphill battle. While he has positioned himself as a staunch Trump ally, the president has already passionately endorsed Donalds, and a Trump adviser said his support "is set" only for the Congressman no matter what happens.

Donalds has already raised more than $14 million, including a significant amount from Trump's national fundraising network, making him a front-runner in this race. Other major national donors to Donalds include Jeff Yass ($5 million), Richard Uihlein ($1 million) and Thomas Peterffy ($1 million).

Florida First Lady Casey DeSantis has also shown interest in replacing her husband in 2026. Although her potential candidacy has been plagued by scandal after Republicans in the Florida Legislature have been investigating whether DeSantis' administration illegally used $10 million tied to a federal Medicaid settlement to help defeat a 2024 ballot measure to legalize recreational marijuana in the state. One of the groups the money flowed through along the way was Hope Florida, an organization tied to the first lady.

Since the scandal broke out, talks of the first lady running for office have quieted down, despite DeSantis' administration passionately denying the rumors.