Ex-Rep. Matt Gaetz teases run for Florida governor

Former Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz suggested Saturday that he might run for governor of the Sunshine State, days after he withdrew from consideration as President-elect Donald Trump’s attorney general pick.

The 42-year-old Republican posted a GIF of the state flag waving on X, teasing he is open to running. He was responding to ex-Florida House Rep. Anthony Sabatini, who posted Gaetz “will be the next Governor of the State of Florida.”

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is term-limited from seeking re-election.

Former Rep. Matt Gaetz suggested that he might run for governor of Florida in 2026. Aristide Economopoulos

Gaetz announced Thursday he was no longer a candidate to run the Justice Department, causing some Republicans to question whether he’d attempt to reclaim the House seat he was re-elected to earlier this month or seek a different position — including potentially lobbying to take over for Marco Rubio in the Senate once Rubio resigns to become Trump’s secretary of state.

Gaetz resigned from the lame-duck 118th Congress immediately after Trump announced his choice of the lawmaker as AG Nov. 13, but he left the door open to taking his seat in the 119th Congress, which convenes Jan. 3.

If Gaetz decides he wants to return to House, he will have to contend with an ethics probe into allegations of sexual misconduct and illicit drug use. Gaetz has denied wrongdoing.