TALLAHASSEE, Florida — Jimmy Patronis, a mainstay in Tallahassee who rose to the statewide submit of chief monetary officer, is headed to Congress in response to the Related Press after voters in Matt Gaetz’s former district picked him to interchange the firebrand.
The 52-year-old Republican defeated Democrat Homosexual Valimont in a particular election held after Gaetz resigned late final yr to mount a short-lived quest to turn out to be President Donald Trump’s lawyer normal.
Valimont, a gun violence prevention activist who ran towards Gaetz final November, considerably outraised Patronis within the run-up to the election and faulted him over the state’s property insurance coverage disaster as a result of his key position in regulating the business. She additionally stated federal price range cuts supported by the Trump administration would hurt veterans within the military-reliant district.
However the 1st District — which stretches from the Alabama border to only west of Panama Metropolis — has been ruby-red, with Trump profitable 68 p.c of the vote again in November. Trump endorsed Patronis on the outset of the competition, and Patronis simply gained the GOP main over 9 different candidates.
Patronis leaned into the Trump endorsement, asserting Valimont was “loopy” and that her monetary benefit got here from Democrats outdoors the northwest Florida district who “hate Donald Trump.”
“Frankly, they don’t like individuals from the Florida Panhandle,” Patronis stated final week throughout a phone rally held with Trump.
Gaetz, whose father is a former state Senate president and have become a distinguished GOP politician within the space, was first elected to Congress again in 2016. He was focused final yr by former Home Speaker Kevin McCarthy for his position in serving to take away him from the chamber’s prime submit, however Gaetz simply gained the GOP main after which defeated Valimont.
Gaetz stepped down from Congress after Trump tapped him for a Cupboard submit — solely to ultimately withdraw from consideration amid a looming Home Ethics investigation into sexual misconduct allegations, which he denied.
Patronis, whose household runs a widely known Panama Metropolis restaurant, was a state legislator who bucked the GOP institution in 2010 and threw his help behind Rick Scott within the main for governor. After he left the state Legislature, Scott picked Patronis to serve on the Florida Public Service Fee, the regulatory physique that oversees utilities. Scott then tapped Patronis to turn out to be chief monetary officer after then-CFO Jeff Atwater introduced his resignation.
Patronis gained two phrases to the statewide submit however was barred by time period limits from working once more. He made the choice to leap into the race to interchange Gaetz, though his house is simply outdoors the northwest Florida district.
Patronis’ departure as chief monetary officer has created a little bit of intrigue within the state Capitol, since Gov. Ron DeSantis has not but named a successor. A key Trump ally, state Sen. Joe Gruters, desires the job and plans to run for the place in 2026. However state Sen. Blaise Ingoglia, one among DeSantis’ most stalwart defenders, additionally desires the submit. Trump has already endorsed Gruters for chief monetary officer, so if DeSantis faucets Ingoglia, it might inflame tensions as soon as once more between the governor and the president.
DeSantis stated Tuesday that he plans to call an appearing CFO someday quickly and would title a everlasting alternative “no later than the center of Might.” The governor stated he was “vetting” potential candidates, and that “some persons are expressing curiosity.” Patronis has raised questions on whether or not Florida will pay its payments and not using a everlasting CFO in place, however DeSantis stated his workplace doesn’t agree with that interpretation of legislation.
