TALLAHASSEE 鈥� Senate Democratic Leader Jason Pizzo has stoked speculations that he will run for governor in 2026, but said on Friday that if he does he would stick with the party that has been unable to climb out of superminority status.
Despite Democrats鈥� waning political influence in a ruby-red Florida, the former prosecutor said he wouldn鈥檛 consider running as an independent candidate, even after acknowledging voters without party affiliation sway elections.
More than 3.7 million Floridians fall into that category, whereas 4.4 million identify as Democrats and 5.6 million as Republicans, according to the Florida Division of Elections.
鈥淚t would have been easy for me to be a Republican in the state of Florida,鈥� Pizzo told reporters following a Capital Tiger Bay Fund forum in Tallahassee at which he discussed what鈥檚 ahead for the Legislature and took pride in being labeled a centrist and moderate.
bashed Republicans for trying to out-MAGA each other but said his party has a 鈥渟ocialism problem.鈥�
鈥淭his is traditionally the party of democratic values, of working middle-class people that try to provide equal opportunity but not equal outcomes. So, our party, folks sort of abuse it to the far left. The right has abused it. They鈥檝e been in power for 30 years, and no one鈥檚 life is really that much better.鈥�
Two state lawmakers in the House, Hillary Cassel and Susan Vald茅s, from Democrat to Republican in December. Democrats are set to elect leaders in Orlando on Saturday after their loss at the polls in November. Pizzo highlighted a need to focus on policy.
鈥淚鈥檓 not that critical of party leadership because it鈥檚 a job I would not want right now in this situation,鈥� he said.
Others include Republicans Matt Gaetz and U.S. Rep Byron Donalds. Following reports that Gaetz might for the statewide office, Pizzo posted on X that he would 鈥渒ick his ass.鈥�
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