Renzo Downey
Florida’s new Republican supermajority in the Legislature could open the door for Gov. Ron DeSantis to stay on as Governor if he decides to run for President.
Florida law says officials must resign their office when running for a new one. However, when it comes to the presidency, there are questions about when that resignation must occur.
Asked by reporters on Tuesday, new House Speaker Paul Renner said it was a “good idea” for the Legislature to alter Florida’s “resign-to-run” law to allow officials to keep their current seat while seeking federal office. For DeSantis, who is considered a leading contender for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, it could be a gift if he runs for President and fails.
Renner said the House would look at election law in general. But on resign-to-run, he made his position clear.
“You will find me to always try to hone toward being principled and consistent,” Renner said. “This is one area that, going back in history — you don’t have to go very far on a kind of two-second Google search — we’ve been totally inconsistent on. If you think that’s based on anything in your hypothetical, you would be right, and I’ll be very open and transparent about that.”
Renner shared his thoughts following Tuesday’s Organization Session, in which the House formally elected him as Speaker. Senate President Kathleen Passidomo, who was also named to her new position in her own ceremony, seconded Renner’s opinion.
“If Speaker Renner thinks it’s a good idea,” Passidomo said in jest, “I think it’s a good idea.’
“When you think about it, if an individual who is from Florida, who is a Florida Governor is running for President, I think he should run and do it. I really do.”
Lawmakers loosened Florida’s resign-to-run law when former Gov. Charlie Crist was in the running to share the ticket with Arizona U.S. Republican Sen. John McCain during the latter’s 2008 presidential run. However, the Legislature reverted it in 2010 after then-Gov. Rick Scott took office.
Lt. Gov. Jeanette Nuñez would succeed DeSantis if he resigned for any reason.
While DeSantis has denied any intention of running for President, there is widespread speculation he will capitalize on his national profile and challenge former President Donald Trump for the nomination. Calls for him to run have increased since many conservative leaders have blamed Trump for the GOP’s underwhelming Midterm performance.
Statewide polling across the country shows DeSantis surging in a potential Primary matchup. Days after the election, Trump savaged DeSantis as an “average Republican Governor” in a widely circulated statement.
16 comments
Charlie Crist
November 22, 2022 at 5:37 pm
Just like I said during the debate. Ron will wine you, dine you, and leave you people standing there holding your meat. He will be derelict in his duties as governor to run for emperor of Rome, and he will lose the presidential race. Then what??
Darrell
November 23, 2022 at 8:50 am
😭😢
eva
December 2, 2022 at 4:14 pm
hy
just sayin
November 29, 2022 at 7:50 am
Have a lot of free time these days, Charlie?
Frankie M.
November 22, 2022 at 7:08 pm
Sounds legit.
Sue G
November 22, 2022 at 8:23 pm
Looks like DeSantis is going to change Florida law because it behooves him to do so. He already did quite a bit of redistricting to make sure that his party has the advantage all over the state.
Joe Corsin
November 22, 2022 at 10:13 pm
It was a Christian fascist takeover using a deplorable campaign of far right propaganda. Mini Hitler and his army of anti-government terrorists must be annihilated. Nuclear weapons might have to be used.
Rocky Mazzolli
November 24, 2022 at 2:15 am
Yeah, “So, you’se got a choice, awright? Either grease the skids … or sleep with the squids, capiche?”
Tallahassee Insider
November 22, 2022 at 11:22 pm
Rumors are starting to swirl around Tallahassee that Ron DeSantis has been suffering from untreated syphillis. It would definitely help explain his bizarre behavior as of late.
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nadine voelz
November 23, 2022 at 8:32 am
“While DeSantis has denied any intention of running for President, there is widespread speculation he will capitalize on his national profile and challenge former President Donald Trump for the nomination.” INCORRECT!! He did not deny the run for President during the debate when he was specifically asked.
robert stipe
November 23, 2022 at 10:39 am
What would be next? No term limit for Republicans?
Harold Finch
November 23, 2022 at 12:42 pm
Run Ron Run!!!!!
Virginia
November 24, 2022 at 9:09 am
As reported in this space, DeSantis recently said, “I did not take any polls when I became Governor all the way through this entire term.”
Does anyone else find this lack of concern for the needs of citizens frightening?This Governor is also famous for blocking reporters from debating with him or even attending his events. He instead likes to stare at data, and at his list of dark money providers, and thereby find his “vision” on issues of real consequence.
It's Complicated
November 30, 2022 at 9:43 am
No, because DeSantis governs following the guiding principles upon which he campaigned and lives his life. To characterize that as “lack of concern…” is disingenuous.
An excellent example of following the polls as an elected official is Charlie Crist, who figuratively wetted his finger and had it in the air at every moment seeking to sense slight changes in the wind of public opinion. No one appreciates the latter because it reflects ‘a man who is unstable in all of his ways.’
tom palmer
November 30, 2022 at 6:23 pm
I am confused. A DeSantis flack recently posted on this GOP-oriented site that state law already gives the governor a free ride to run for President.’ Why is legislative action necessary?
Comments are closed.