Matt Gaetz’s Dad Is Running for the Florida State Senate Again Ahead of Son’s Anticipated Gubernatorial Campaign

AP Photo/Phil Sears

Don Gaetz, the former President of the Florida State Senate and father of Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL), intends to run for his old senate seat again.

The elder Gaetz previously served in Florida’s upper legislative chamber from 2006-2016, and as its president from 2012-2014.

His son, Matt, is one of the most recognizable members of the United States Congress, a ubiquitous face on cable news, and a diehard supporter of former President Donald Trump. At present moment, the younger Gaetz is currently attempting to mount a mutiny against Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) with the help of his Democratic colleagues. He was also the ringleader of a group of Republican rebels who forced McCarthy to go through 15 rounds of voting in order to secure the speaker’s gavel.

Gaetz is widely expected to run for governor in 2026 when incumbent Ron DeSantis (R) will be term-limited. NBC News reported last month that Gaetz told attendees at an event for the Florida House Speaker last month “to basically expect him to be in,” but the congressman has insisted that while “many did encourage me to consider running for governor one day,” his “only political focus right now is Trump 2024.”

Should both Gaetzes succeed electorally, each will have boast a powerful ally in the executive and legislative branches, respectively.

The Republican who had previously declared his intention to run for the seat Don Gaetz will run for has already said he will drop out to make way for Gaetz, while the retiring Republican incumbent, State Senator Doug Broxson, has already endorsed Gaetz.

“I think he is considered one of the best Senate presidents,” said Broxson. “His members thought he was so inclusive and willing to serve with them and work on projects they thought were important.”

The elder Gaetz has denied any connection between his son’s alleged ambitions and his own decision to return to electoral politics.

“Matt’s not pursuing any run for governor. He’s pushing forward tackling budget and spending problems in Washington and fighting for term limits,” he told the Pensacola News Journal.

Don Gaetz went a bit further in an interview with Politico’s Gary Fineout, insisting that his son “is not focused on running for governor” and “has no plans to run for governor.”

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