Matt Gaetz Dubs Himself "True Florida Man," Weighs Run for Governor

The ex-Florida congressman said he will continue to pray and think about it with his family.

January 9, 2025

Image: Matt Gaetz looking away from camera smiling.

Florida, Matt Gaetz isn't going anywhere. Photo by Gage Skidmore/Flickr

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Apparently, ex-U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz isn't batting an eye about the prospects of his political future in the wake of the damaging House Ethics Committee report that found the then-congressman paid thousands of dollars for sex, sometimes involving illegal drug use, and had sex with a 17-year-old girl.

On Wednesday night's episode of The Matt Gaetz Show, the congressman turned TV host said he is indeed considering running for Florida governor in 2026.

"Of course I am," Gaetz proclaimed as the lower third of the screen read, "Media Thirsty for Gov. Gaetz." "I am the true Florida man, after all. There are early smoke signals that if a return to Tallahassee is in God's plan for my family, lots of Florida republicans would be pretty excited."

Despite boasting about his chances of taking the governor's seat, the 42-year-old went on to slam the media about "bugging" him about the next election, all while President-elect Donald Trump hasn't been sworn in yet.

"Maybe that's why so little gets done by politicians in their current jobs because they can't stop obsessing about their next job," Gaetz added. "My family and I will think and pray about this. We have plenty of time."

"I've always loved Tallahassee, even went to college there," he noted.

Before last night's comments, Gaetz told the Tampa Bay Times that he has a "compelling vision for the state" and knows how to fix the ongoing insurance crisis if he is elected.

While time will tell if Gaetz throws his hat into the race, other names are already circulating as potential candidates. U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds, Florida Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson, and democratic state Sen. Jason Pizzo have all been rumored to be possible contenders.

It appears some people are excited at the idea of Gaetz mulling a gubernatorial run in 2026.

"FLORIDA MAN has my vote!" an X user wrote.

FLORIDA MAN has my vote! Godspeed From Titusville.
— JamesKaneInFlorida (@JamesKInFlorida) January 9, 2025

Another chimed, "You have my and my family's votes here in the Space Coast, Matt!

You have my and my family’s votes here in the Space Coast, Matt!👍
— Rich Mulligan (@richmulliganall) January 9, 2025

Others, not so much.

"As if Florida wasn't already weird enough..."

As if Florida wasnt already weird enough...
— Matt Larsen 🔊 (@_mattlarsen_) January 9, 2025

One X user threw the sexual misconduct allegations back into his face.

"Seventeen-year-old girls can't vote," the comment reads. "No matter how much Matt pays them for sex."

17 year old girls can't vote.🤣 No matter how much Matt pays them for sex.
— Musk for president (@PresidentMusk99) January 9, 2025

Naomi Feinstein is a staff writer of Miami New Times where she primarily focuses on news. Naomi started her career with New Times as a summer intern in 2019, then returned as a fellow in August 2022 before joining the staff full-time in February 2023. She graduated from University of Miami where she contributed to the student-run newspaper, the Miami Hurricane. She holds a master’s degree and graduated with honors from the Columbia School of Journalism. In 2021, Naomi was recognized as the College Journalist of the Year from the Society of Professional Journalists of Florida, and she placed second for Best General News Story in the 2021 Pinnacle Awards.

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