Trump Makes Endorsements for 2 US House Seats in Florida

President-elect Donald Trump speaks at Trump National Golf Club in Palos Verdes, Calif., on Sept. 13, 2024. John Fredricks/The Epoch Times

President-elect Donald Trump on Monday announced his endorsements for two Florida congressional seats that will be up for grabs soon.

Earlier this month, Trump named Rep. Michael Waltz (R-Fla.) to become his national security adviser, and Waltz is expected to step down to take that role. Trump also announced he would select now-former Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) to become his attorney general, leading Gaetz to step down from Congress before withdrawing his name from consideration last week.

“I am hearing that America First Patriot Randy Fine is considering launching his Campaign for Congress in Florida’s 6th Congressional District!” Trump said on Truth Social, referring to the seat currently held by Waltz. “Should he decide to enter this Race, Randy Fine has my Complete and Total Endorsement. RUN, RANDY, RUN!”

Fine is currently a member of the Florida state Senate and previously served in the state’s House of Representatives. In response to the president-elect, Fine said: “It would be the honor of my life to be one of your footsoldiers. Your confidence is overwhelming and I will have news to share soon!”

In a social media post on Monday, Trump similarly said he is endorsing Florida Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis to run for the First Congressional District, which was formerly held by Gaetz.

“As your next Congressman, Jimmy would work tirelessly alongside of me to Grow our Economy, Secure our Border, Stop Migrant Crime, Strengthen our Incredible Military/Vets, Restore American Energy DOMINANCE, and Defend our always under siege Second Amendment,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.

“Should he decide to enter this Race, Jimmy Patronis has my Complete and Total Endorsement. RUN, JIMMY, RUN!”

Patronis has been the Florida chief financial officer since Gov. Rick Scott chose him to replace Jeff Atwater in 2017. In 2018, Patronis won his first election and was reelected in 2022.

If he resigns as chief financial officer to run for the First Congressional District seat, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis would name his replacement.

Last week, Patronis wrote on social media platform X that he is “strongly considering running for Florida Congressional District 1” because there is a “historic opportunity to fight the swamp, end lawfare, and return power back into the hands of Americans.”

It’s not clear whether Patronis or Fine have submitted paperwork to run for Congress.

Both Waltz’s congressional district and Gaetz’s former district have long been safely Republican. In the 2024 race, Waltz was overwhelmingly reelected with more than 75 percent of the vote. Gaetz, meanwhile, was reelected in the same contest with 66 percent of the vote in his favor.

Last week, Gaetz announced he would not be seeking the attorney general nomination, writing on X that claims that were being made about him in the media were becoming a distraction for the Trump transition team.

A day later, the former congressman confirmed to conservative pundit Charlie Kirk that he would also not be returning to Congress next year.

“I’m still going to be in the fight, but it’s going to be from a new perch,“ Gaetz said in the Nov. 22 interview. ”I do not intend to join the 119th Congress; there are a number of fantastic Floridians who’ve stepped up to run for my seat, people who have inspired with their heroism, with their public service.”

After Gaetz’s decision to withdraw his name, Republican former Attorney General Pam Bondi was named by Trump to become his attorney general, which requires Senate confirmation.

Earlier this month, Trump named Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) to be his secretary of state, also requiring the Senate’s confirmation. His replacement in the Senate would be chosen by DeSantis, who announced this month that he would make a decision by early January 2025.