Now that former Florida Congressman Matt Gaetz has resigned from his northwest Florida seat, there鈥檚 a lot of interest in replacing him. Who are the potential candidates? And will Gaetz鈥檚 seat really be empty when the new Congress returns?
President-elect Donald Trump nominated Gaetz for U.S. Attorney General, but the congressman withdrew from consideration amid calls for the House of Representatives to release the findings of a sex trafficking investigation with Gaetz at the center.
After just eight days as the nominee, during which Gaetz met with senators who would decide his fate, he wrote on X: 鈥淲hile the momentum was strong, it is clear that my confirmation was unfairly becoming a distraction to the critical work of the Trump/Vance Transition.鈥�
READ MORE: Former Rep. Matt Gaetz withdraws as Trump's attorney general pick
Gaetz can鈥檛 legally rescind his resignation from the 118th Congress, but it鈥檚 been unclear whether he could join the 119th Congress, to which he was elected this month. But on Friday, Gaetz told conservative commentator Charlie Kirk he doesn't plan to do that.
A number of people are interested, though. Republican Rep. Michelle Salzman of Escambia County has already thrown her hat into the ring.
鈥淭here were hundreds of cases of documented physical assault, torture, rape and death 鈥� but the school remained open,鈥� Salzman said.
Salzman sponsored a new law that provides money for surviving victims of the Dozier School for Boys, a state reform school that is now closed. The measure appropriates $20 million to be divided among survivors who apply for compensation. It has taken years to pass. The survivors are known as 鈥渢he White House boys鈥� because the atrocities took place in a small white building on the Dozier campus. Here鈥檚 Salzman:
鈥淎s I listened to the testimony from these victims, as I watch these documentaries, the heat just came over me, my face got flushed, my throat swelling up, my stomach is turning 鈥� and I can smell the smell of that room," she said. "I can still smell it.鈥�
Salzman also sponsored proposals to impose term limits on Florida鈥檚 county commissioners 鈥� a measure that failed 鈥� and another to combat human trafficking, which succeeded. That measure would require the state Department of Children and Families to conduct more oversight of adult safe homes and tighten standards for hotels and motels where trafficking may be taking place.
鈥淚t creates adult safe house standards in requiring certification for providers of adult safe houses," said Salzman. "It provides for age-appropriate education and public awareness at certain homes, and it creates enforcement standards for hotel training and signage.鈥�
Meanwhile, another prominent Republican is also considering a run for Gaetz鈥檚 old job. Jimmy Patronis, Florida鈥檚 chief financial officer and state fire marshal, wrote on X on Tuesday: 鈥淚 am strongly considering running for Florida Congressional District 1. We鈥檝e got an historic opportunity to fight the swamp, end lawfare and return power back into the hands of Americans.鈥�
Patronis, a former legislator from Panama City, is facing term limits and has shown interest in running for governor. As CFO, he鈥檚 championed the My Safe Florida Home program, showing that insurance premiums drop when homes are hardened against storm damage. Following this year鈥檚 Hurricanes Helene and Milton, he warned Floridians who have sustained such damage not to fall for scams and asked them to clear such offers through his office.
鈥淚n some cases you鈥檝e got quality contractors out there that work with a reasonable set of terms and provide an estimate," said Patronis. "In other cases, you have somebody knocking on your door, noticing you鈥檝e got roof damage, asked you to sign a contract 鈥� and now they have taken over your benefits. And that鈥檚 predatory.鈥�
As state fire marshal, Patronis has become an advocate for firefighters. He鈥檚 backed legislation that provides benefits for firefighters with cancer, an occupational hazard. He understands what motivates them and what brings them down.
鈥淎 three-year-old child had entered into a retention pond back in 2017 in Palm Beach County," Patronis said. "And all I could think about is: The child didn鈥檛 make it, and some first responder had to go out there and wade into the retention pond to grab this child. And somebody had to go and tell the mom and dad they鈥檙e never going to hug their little baby ever again.鈥�
The primary in the special election to fill Gaetz鈥檚 seat will be on Jan. 28, 2025, and the general election on April 1.
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