A.G. Gancarski
Gov. Ron DeSantis is making it clear he doesn’t support a former Speaker of the Florida House pursuing his job next year.
“Governor of what? Oh, look, I’m not supporting Paul Renner. You know, I think it was an ill-advised decision to enter the race,” the term-limited Governor said Wednesday at Valrico’s Grace Christian School.
For his part, Renner is undaunted by DeSantis’ dismissal.
“The governor and I had a fantastic partnership making us the Free State of Florida, and I’m confident I’ll earn his support along the way,” he said, via his campaign.
Renner, a military veteran and a former state prosecutor, represented Palm Coast for eight years through 2024 and worked closely with DeSantis when he led the Florida House. DeSantis then appointed Renner to the State University System Board of Governors thereafter.
When we asked Renner about DeSantis’ predisposition to his campaign in a recent interview before he officially entered the race, Renner stopped far short of saying the Governor backed him and wouldn’t say directly whether he had asked for DeSantis’ endorsement.
“I’ve talked to a lot of people over the last several weeks as I’ve kind of come to a decision-making process and I’ll keep those conversations (private), but what I know is that the Governor wants what’s best for the state and I’m confident, you know, that we’ll have his support if I’m the nominee,” Renner said.
Calling DeSantis the “greatest Governor” in Florida history and one who has been “extremely consequential for our state,” he added that he would not “get in the middle of this endorsement versus that endorsement.”
What’s clear is that one key endorsement isn’t happening.
Meanwhile, Donald Trump endorsed U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds early on, closing the Trump lane at least in the Primary.
Of course, the Governor has been less than complimentary about Donalds, saying the Naples Republican “hasn’t been a part of any of the victories that we’ve had here over the left over these last years.”
The comments came after DeSantis announced a “MAHA” Florida committee helmed by the two most likely people to get his endorsement should one or the other run: First Lady Casey DeSantis and Lt. Gov. Jay Collins.
3 comments
It's Complicated
September 3, 2025 at 1:17 pm
It’s Donald’s to lose at this point. In Spring 2018, I was absolutely certain Putnam would win the GOP Nomination for Governor, and would have graded DeSantis at “little to no chance of winning,” so you never know. Renner hired a very successful campaign team, so he has that going for him.
Malcom Merriweather
September 3, 2025 at 1:30 pm
Cherrio and g’day mates,
Do any of you blokes know whatever became of that fellow Earl? Seems he may be in jail with no internet access because his wife is doing all the posting for him.
Malcom Merriweather
Larry Gillis, Director-at-Large, Libertarian Party of Florida
September 3, 2025 at 1:56 pm
LET THE VOTERS DECIDE.
This horserace-based “crowding at the turn” crap has gotta stop. Let the wannabees put their cards on the table and then the Voters decide who is worthy and who is not.
I mean, the Voters are gonna pay the tab for whatever “bold initiatives” these Clowns come up with, so let the Voters do the winnowing for themselves.
In other words, Governor, if we actually want your opinion, we’ll ask for it. In the meantime, vote Libertarian. Aux Barricades.