Laura Loomer talks Florida Capitol, 2026 Governor’s race, Donald Trump and more

TALLAHASSEE, FLA. 5/2/25-Political activist Laura Loomer talks with media, Friday at the Capitol in Tallahassee. Earlier Loomer was introduced to the House of Representatives by Rep. Meg Weinberger, R-Palm Beach Gardens. COLIN HACKLEY PHOTO

Arguably the most live quote in politics, Laura Loomer shocked many observers in The Process when she was a featured guest in the Florida House on Day 60 of the Legislative Session.

And if people were shocked to see her, they likely were doubly shocked by the standing ovation she got when she was recognized.

Loomer, who was invited by Rep. Meg Weinberger (who shares an interest in animal advocacy with her) was not surprised though.

She noted during a phone conversation on Saturday that she has a “lot of relationships with Republican lawmakers,” who had been trying to get her to come up to Tallahassee for months. And given that she had a chartered flight to Palm Beach for a Byron Donalds fundraiser, the timing and the transport worked out for her to be “present for the last day of Session.”

“There really wasn’t that much to it,” she added.

Loomer noted that in addition to Republicans, a “lot of Democrats stood in support” of her.

“I’m kind of an anomaly in a sense when it comes to right-wing figures because I’m probably the most outspoken Republican in the entire country against Ron DeSantis. And even President Trump himself credits me with dismantling Ron DeSantis’ failed presidential campaign, and one of the main issues that I used to dismantle his campaign was his role in the now widely reported insurance fiasco,” Loomer said.

She also said she was the first to point out that DeSantis’ former Chief of Staff, James Uthmeier, was the chairman of the Keep Florida Clean PAC, which got a national spotlight during the Hope Florida Foundation controversy about using $10 million received in a Medicaid settlement for political advertising after being passed through other committees.

“So, I’ve done a lot to hold Ron and Casey DeSantis accountable and to expose GOP corruption here in the state of Florida, and it was really nice to be recognized and appreciated for my work,” she added.

Because of that, she said, her reception was warm.

“Turns out a lot of the staffers and a lot of the lawmakers themselves are pretty big supporters of mine,” she said. “When I was walking through the Capitol, I got so many high fives and attagirls from so many lawmakers, Republican and Democrat, including their staffers, who told me that they were just very grateful for my work exposing the governor. That’s something that I never would have imagined hearing out of the mouths of lawmakers who were essentially whipped into submission into supporting DeSantis’ campaign, now openly, you know, talking about their disdain for the governor.”

But it wasn’t just lawmakers and their staff.

Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson, who famously was called a “fox in the henhouse” by DeSantis during the debate over immigration legislation earlier this year, gave her one of the Gulf of America signs used in the official DeSantis signing ceremony for legislation earlier this year.

Loomer went on to discuss more of the anti-DeSantis sentiment in the state, which she saw reflected among the “big money players” at Donalds’ fundraiser, where she estimates he raised $2.5 million.

Much of that money came from “disillusioned former DeSantis donors” who consider the Governor “ungrateful” and want a “new generation of leadership that doesn’t consist of a DeSantis political dynasty.”

The conversation moved toward the Trump administration, where Loomer functions as a unique external critic with access to the President.

She was blunt on Mike Waltz’s reassignment as Ambassador to the United Nations, saying he’s been “exiled to Siberia,” and he was only able to have that role because of Trump’s “gracious and kind and courteous” political nature.

Loomer takes a dim view on the efficacy of the UN, but hopes Waltz can make himself useful as a voice against anti-semitism and Jihadism.

Regarding Marco Rubio taking on Waltz’s old role as National Security Advisor, Loomer hopes it’s “temporary,” not because of disrespect to the Archivist and Secretary of State, but because he has a “lot of hats to wear” in his expanding portfolio of jobs.

Loomer also takes a dim view of prospects for the GOP and the slender majority in Congress.

She says that “RINOs” dominate the Congressional caucus, that they have no real interest in codifying Trump’s ambitious agenda, and that many of them would like to see Democrats regain control of the lower chamber next year and inevitable impeachment proceedings against Trump, who she says is his “own worst enemy” in part because he “continues endorsing these RINOs simply because they kiss his ass and say something nice about him.”

“They’re a very ineffective party. They only come around and support him when they want him to endorse them so that they can raise money. Look at how disloyal so many of them were when he was being indicted and when he was on trial,” Loomer said. “And they’re jealous that President Trump is an inspirational, generational leader. A one of a kind, once in a lifetime leader. Name one member of Congress who is inspiring.”

She argues that Democrats, with Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez and Bernie Sanders, are better positioned for a post-Trump world.

“Democrats like AOC and Bernie are going to be able to get people out to vote based off of Astroturf messaging and sensationalism,” Loomer said, calling them “motivational to their respectiv evoting blocs.”

“I don’t really see anyone in the GOP that is using that same type of activist energy to mobilize people,” she added. “The Republican Party is the party of perpetual loss because they don’t know how to keep a win or maintain a win or sustain a win after a mandate like we had in November, right? They’re going to fumble the ball because they’re reactive, they’re not proactive.”

Loomer also expects a very competitive race for President in 2028, even as Vice President JD Vance dominates every poll without Trump in it.

She notes that DeSantis, who is polling in single digits, is looking to build a “$30 to $50 million war chest,” even as that would be a fraction of what he burned getting 20% of the vote in Iowa before closing up shop last year.

Rubio and even Sen. Rick Scott could also be in the mix, along with Tulsi Gabbard and Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin.

“There’s going to be a lot of people,” Loomer predicted. “You’re gonna see a lot of dysfunction in the GOP when Trump’s done because they’re not going to need anything from Trump anymore because it’s going to be bye-bye time, right? You think that these people in the Cabinet who served together are going to be loyal to each other? No.”

For her part, Loomer has no intention of running for office again.

“I could easily do it, but I have no desire,” she said

She believes her last election against Daniel Webster was stolen, and blames former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy for showing Trump a “fake poll” that discouraged him from endorsing her.

“Why would I want to waste my thirties? I already wasted my twenties trying to become a part of the cool kids club, but then I realized they’re ineffective and they don’t get anything done,” she said. “So, I don’t want to be a part of them. I’d rather spend my time on the outside holding them accountable.”

In addition to holding people accountable, Loomer also will be doing more in the political consultancy space, putting her oppo research skills to work via Loomered Strategies.

“People can say a lot of things about me, right? I have haters on the left and the right, but they cannot deny the fact that I am the best at digging up the receipts.”