Mike Huckabee for Florida Governor?

mike huckabee

Mike Huckabee for Governor (of Florida)?

The former Arkansas governor and two-time Republican presidential hopeful is said to be eyeing a run for the governor’s mansion in 2018. That’s what two prominent Florida Republicans with statewide cachet (one a top-ranking lobbyist, the other a well-known member of the Florida Legislature) have told FloridaPolitics.com in recent days.

Although its difficult to game-out a path to victory for Huckabee, the former presidential candidate has taken an active role in Panhandle politics, endorsing Matt Gaetz for Congress and getting linked to a political committee in Walton County.

Gaetz, who recently attended a fundraiser with Huckabee and said he has not heard any “Huckabee in 2018” rumors, thinks highly of his north Florida neighbor.

“Mike Huckabee is beloved in Northwest Florida,” said Gaetz. “He could count on a lot of support from this area if (he) were to seek public office again.”

Continued Gaetz, “He is the conscience of the Republican Party.”

Huckabee, who lives in the Panhandle, served as the governor of Arkansas from 1996 until 2007. He was one of the longest serving governors in the state’s history, and, according to his website, he left a legacy of “tax cuts, jobs creation, the reconstruction of his state’s road system,” and education reforms.

He first ran for president in 2008, where he was heralded as a conservative champion. He lost the nomination bid to John McCain, but kept a high profile in the years that followed. He hosted his own Fox News show, and wrote a dozen books over the years.

Huckabee decided to give it another go in 2016, but didn’t make as much of an impact as he did eight years earlier. He dropped out of the race in February, after a poor showing in the Iowa caucuses.

He has remained politically active, though. So far this year, his political committee has given $12,000 to campaigns. That sum includes a $1,000 contribution to Matt Gaetz’s congressional campaign. Huckabee endorsed Gaetz in Florida’s 1st Congressional District this week.

If he were take the plunge (and win), Huckabee would follow Sam Houston to be the second governor elected in two states.

Peter Schorsch

Peter Schorsch is the President of Extensive Enterprises and is the publisher of some of Florida’s most influential new media websites, including Florida Politics and Sunburn, the morning read of what’s hot in Florida politics. Schorsch is also the publisher of INFLUENCE Magazine. For several years, Peter's blog was ranked by the Washington Post as the best state-based blog in Florida. In addition to his publishing efforts, Peter is a political consultant to several of the state’s largest governmental affairs and public relations firms. Peter lives in St. Petersburg with his wife, Michelle, and their daughter, Ella.


3 comments

  • Francisco Escobar

    July 28, 2016 at 1:24 pm

    I am Florida resident l live in Miami l support Mr Huckabee ‘s run for Tallahassee

  • Macontherock

    July 28, 2016 at 11:52 pm

    Both Gaetz governed like liberal as Florida legislature more RINO than anything else. Would not support the un-American Florida Parent Empowerment Law 1002.33 3b

  • Mary Peterson

    July 30, 2016 at 12:17 pm

    I would like to see him as our Governor of Florida.

Comments are closed.


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