Latest news with #Gaetz
Newsweek
21-05-2025
- Politics
- Newsweek
Matt Gaetz's Chances of Winning Florida Governor Race, According to Poll
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Former Representative Matt Gaetz is speculated to be considering a run in Florida's 2026 gubernatorial race, but polls suggest other Republicans have carved out early leads. Newsweek reached out to Gaetz for comment via email. Why It Matters Gaetz's entry into the field could upend the competition for the Republican nomination and test the limits of President Donald Trump's power. Gaetz remains popular among many conservatives in the state, but Trump has endorsed Representative Byron Donalds in the race. The election would give Gaetz a chance to return to politics after leaving Congress to pursue his nomination for U.S. attorney general. Gaetz later withdrew from consideration after accusations of sexual misconduct, which Gaetz has denied, that threatened to tank his confirmation. What To Know The latest poll of the Republican field, conducted by the James Madison Institute, did not place Gaetz as a leading figure but highlighted the evolving Republican field where endorsements and name recognition are key factors that could shape the eventual outcome of the race. The poll, conducted by Targoz Market Research from May 5 to 7, indicated that Florida first lady Casey DeSantis has an early lead with 29 percent, compared to Donalds' 28 percent and Gaetz's 10 percent support. When informed about Trump's endorsement, however, Donalds' support grew to 44 percent, while DeSantis' share of the vote fell to 25 percent. Donalds is the only Republican to officially declare his intention of running, although rumors continue to swirl about DeSantis and Gaetz, who has not ruled out a run, NBC News reported on Wednesday. Gaetz's history as a Trump ally and national media figure on One America News Network could give him a base among the state's conservative primary base. A Gaetz victory would be a "long shot," J. Edwin Benton, professor of political science and public administration at the University of South Florida, told Newsweek. Benton said Gaetz would appeal to "very conservative" Republican primary voters, but Donalds is an early favorite due to the Trump endorsement. "I think that Donalds having been endorsed by President Trump would hurt Gaetz tremendously," he said. Former Representative Matt Gaetz speaks to a reporter in Washington, D.C., on April 19, 2024. Former Representative Matt Gaetz speaks to a reporter in Washington, D.C., on April 19, would bring "excess baggage that no campaign needs," and accusations of wrongdoing, even without an indictment, would "weigh very heavily against him," he said. Polling results and campaign fundraising place Donalds as the current frontrunner. He has reportedly raised more than $14 million, according to NBC News. An April James Madison Institute poll showed Gaetz winning 8 percent of Republican primary voters, compared to DeSantis' 28 percent and Donalds' 22 percent. Florida has shifted toward Republicans in recent years. Although former President Barack Obama won the state in both of his runs, it has proven elusive for Democrats ever since. Trump carried it in 2016, 2020 and 2024. In his most recent election, he won by 13 points. Gaetz told The Tampa Bay Times in January he is considering a run. "I have a compelling vision for the state. I understand how to fix the insurance problem, and it's not to hand the keys to the state over to the insurance industry. If I run, I would be the most pro-consumer candidate on the Republican side," he said. What People Are Saying Kevin Wagner, associate dean of research and creative achievement at Florida Atlantic University, told Newsweek: "Matt Gaetz has the advantage of name recognition in Florida, and he would likely have a vocal base of support in a Republican Primary. While he would likely not have a lot of crossover appeal for Democrats, whomever wins the GOP primary will be a strong favorite to win in the general election, as Florida has trended Republican over the last several election cycles. "There are some challenges for Gaetz. He's likely to face other popular and well funded Republican candidates. He is also no longer in the office, and the public can quickly forget about leaders who are not in the news. President Trump's support will be important, and the President has already expressed support for Representative Byron Donalds. Without President Trump's backing Gaetz would face a difficult challenge as he would need strong support from President Trump's voters to win." Former Representative Matt Gaetz told NBC News: "Casey is right about one thing: It's very early. Many tectonic plates can shift in Florida in the next year or so." What Happens Next Gaetz has not formally entered the 2026 Florida governor's race, and no major public poll has included him as a leading candidate. His chances may shift depending on the final field, polling, and the timing of his potential announcement as Florida's legislative session concludes and candidates make their intentions clear.
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Matt Gaetz flirts with a run for Florida governor, adding a bit of chaos to the race
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Former Rep. Matt Gaetz, a close ally of President Donald Trump, is still considering a run for governor of Florida — a twist that complicates a Republican primary that already has a Trump-endorsed candidate and, potentially, the current governor's wife. Trump has backed Rep. Byron Donalds, R-Fla., for the 2026 race, and a Trump adviser said the endorsement of Donalds — and only Donalds — 'is set' no matter what happens. But with Gaetz and Gov. Ron DeSantis' wife, Casey, in the wings, the field remains unsettled. Trump won Florida by 13 percentage points last year, and while he is considered a kingmaker in the state, his support for Donalds has not cleared the field. There is a belief that the GOP primary field is not yet set, according to 10 longtime national and state-level Republican operatives interviewed by NBC News, including those directly involved in the race. Many of them requested anonymity to speak candidly. The thought process that is settling in is that Gaetz sees an opportunity if both Donalds and Casey DeSantis run. A three-way primary in what is now a Republican-leaning state can open up the opportunity for a dark horse candidate to win the GOP nomination with just roughly 30% of the vote. 'Matt is always thinking — I could see him seeing a potential multi-way race presenting him an opportunity to re-emerge for a run,' a veteran Florida Republican operative said. Gaetz, whom Trump initially nominated to be his attorney general — only to see the nomination fall through because of concerns about past sexual misconduct allegations — is doing nothing to downplay increasing chatter he is again seriously considering a run for governor. Gaetz, who is a news anchor for the conservative TV network OAN, has repeatedly denied the allegations of sexual misconduct. 'I host a television show on One American News,' he told NBC News on Monday. 'Casey is right about one thing: It's very early. Many tectonic plates can shift in Florida in the next year or so.' Casey DeSantis told reporters this month that she understands why "it's a big conversation, but I will also say it's more than a year away from qualifying."Gaetz had been widely believed to be considering running for state attorney general, but that changed over the past few weeks as he started posting publicly about his support for a potential Casey DeSantis campaign. Gaetz's praise was notable; he had frequently gone after Casey DeSantis, including on his OAN show, around the Hope Florida scandal. 'Matt is using the patented tried and true Gaetz backhanded compliment,' a longtime Republican Florida operative involved in the race said. 'He believes a three-way race would benefit him, and he is thinking 'Why not me?' on a double [Trump] endorsement.' Republicans in the Legislature had been investigating whether DeSantis' administration illegally used $10 million tied to a federal Medicaid settlement to help defeat a 2024 ballot measure to legalize recreational marijuana in the state. One of the groups the money flowed through along the way was Hope Florida, organization tied to the first lady. The Legislature has dropped its probe, but the Tampa Bay Times/Miami Herald reported Tuesday that the effort is now being investigated by Leon County prosecutor Jack Campbell. On Tuesday, Ron DeSantis defended Hope Florida, which aims to offer grants to help low-income state residents become more financially self-sufficient. 'I believe in this program deeply, and I stand by it 100%,' DeSantis said. Donalds is considered the front-runner in large part because of the Trump endorsement but also because he has already raised more than $14 million — including a significant amount from Trump's national fundraising network. Major national donors to Donalds include Jeff Yass ($5 million), Richard Uihlein ($1 million) and Thomas Peterffy ($1 million). Casey DeSantis, meanwhile, was once seen as almost certain to run to replace her husband, who is term-limited, but the scandal centered on Hope Florida dampened that enthusiasm over the past few weeks. Last week, however, she and her husband held public events to hype and defend Hope Florida, a signal to many that she is working to wrest back the narrative about the social welfare group — and is still considering running for governor. A Republican operative familiar with Casey DeSantis' thinking said the news conference she and the governor held about Hope Florida this week "was intended to be a new trial balloon over a potential candidacy." 'It seems that there is no one else the governor can find, so he's back to pushing his wife," the operative said. Taryn Fenske, a DeSantis world political operative, declined to comment for this article. For now, Fenske is among the only consultants working for the DeSantis political machine, which itself is raising questions about that operation. A series of longtime operatives who have worked for Ron DeSantis, including on his failed 2024 presidential bid, are not considering working for Casey DeSantis if she runs. Florida pollster Ryan Tyson, who was a mainstay on Ron DeSantis' presidential campaign, and his top 2024 fundraiser, Makenzi Mahler, are among those who intend to sit out a bid by his wife. 'The first thing you need is a general consultant and a fundraiser,' said a national Republican operative not yet aligned in the race. 'She has none. That has to be the starting point, and I don't know how they get past that.' Trump did offer a double endorsement in the GOP primary in the Arizona governor's race, but his advisers told NBC News not to expect him to do it again in any race, including the Florida governor's contest. Trump advisers also view Donalds as doing what it takes to signal to Trump that he is willing to work to keep other potential GOP rivals boxed out. 'You have to work for something like this, and we see him doing that,' a Trump adviser said. 'There is no reason President Trump would deviate at this point.' Developments are expected to pick up after Florida's legislative session, which, after an extension because of a state budget fight, will go through the end of June. 'All eyes are on Casey and what she decides to do,' a longtime Republican familiar with her thought process said. 'A post-session decision is expected, and until she decides one way or the other, it all remains in flux.'This article was originally published on
NBC News
21-05-2025
- Politics
- NBC News
Matt Gaetz flirts with a run for Florida governor, adding a bit of chaos to the race
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Former Rep. Matt Gaetz, a close ally of President Donald Trump, is still considering a run for governor of Florida — a twist that complicates a Republican primary that already has a Trump-endorsed candidate and, potentially, the current governor's wife. Trump h a s ba cked Rep. Byron Donalds, R-Fla., for the 2026 race, and a Trump adviser said the endorsement of Donalds — and only Donalds — 'is set' no matter what happens. But with Gaetz and Gov. Ron DeSantis' wife, Casey, in the wings, the field remains unsettled. Trump won Florida by 13 percentage points last year, and while he is considered a kingmaker in the state, his support for Donalds has not cleared the field. There is a belief that the GOP primary field is not yet set, according to 10 longtime national and state-level Republican operatives interviewed by NBC News, including those directly involved in the race. Many of them requested anonymity to speak candidly. The thought process that is settling in is that Gaetz sees an opportunity if both Donalds and Casey DeSantis run. A three-way primary in what is now a Republican-leaning state can open up the opportunity for a dark horse candidate to win the GOP nomination with just roughly 30% of the vote. 'Matt is always thinking — I could see him seeing a potential multi-way race presenting him an opportunity to re-emerge for a run,' a veteran Florida Republican operative said. Gaetz, whom Trump initially nominated to be his attorney general — only to see the nomination fall through because of concerns about past sexual misconduct allegations — is doing nothing to downplay increasing chatter he is again seriously considering a run for governor. Gaetz, who is a news anchor for the conservative TV network OAN, has repeatedly denied the allegations of sexual misconduct. 'I host a television show on One American News,' he told NBC News on Monday. 'Casey is right about one thing: It's very early. Many tectonic plates can shift in Florida in the next year or so.' Casey DeSantis told reporters this month that she understands why "it's a big conversation, but I will also say it's more than a year away from qualifying."Gaetz had been widely believed to be considering running for state attorney general, but that changed over the past few weeks as he started posting publicly about his support for a potential Casey DeSantis campaign. Gaetz's praise was notable; he had frequently gone after Casey DeSantis, including on his OAN show, around the Hope Florida scandal. 'Matt is using the patented tried and true Gaetz backhanded compliment,' a longtime Republican Florida operative involved in the race said. 'He believes a three-way race would benefit him, and he is thinking 'Why not me?' on a double [Trump] endorsement.' Republicans in the Legislature had been investigating whether DeSantis' administration illegally used $10 million tied to a federal Medicaid settlement to help defeat a 2024 ballot measure to legalize recreational marijuana in the state. One of the groups the money flowed through along the way was Hope Florida, organization tied to the first lady. The Legislature has dropped its probe, but the Tampa Bay Times/Miami Herald reported Tuesday that the effort is now being investigated by Leon County prosecutor Jack Campbell. On Tuesday, Ron DeSantis defended Hope Florida, which aims to offer grants to help low-income state residents become more financially self-sufficient. 'I believe in this program deeply, and I stand by it 100%,' DeSantis said. Donalds is considered the front-runner in large part because of the Trump endorsement but also because he has already raised more than $14 million — including a significant amount from Trump's national fundraising network. Major national donors to Donalds include Jeff Yass ($5 million), Richard Uihlein ($1 million) and Thomas Peterffy ($1 million). Casey DeSantis, meanwhile, was once seen as almost certain to run to replace her husband, who is term-limited, but the scandal centered on Hope Florida dampened that enthusiasm over the past few weeks. Last week, however, she and her husband held public events to hype and defend Hope Florida, a signal to many that she is working to wrest back the narrative about the social welfare group — and is still considering running for governor. A Republican operative familiar with Casey DeSantis' thinking said the news conference she and the governor held about Hope Florida this week "was intended to be a new trial balloon over a potential candidacy." 'It seems that there is no one else the governor can find, so he's back to pushing his wife," the operative said. Taryn Fenske, a DeSantis world political operative, declined to comment for this article. For now, Fenske is among the only consultants working for the DeSantis political machine, which itself is raising questions about that operation. A series of longtime operatives who have worked for Ron DeSantis, including on his failed 2024 presidential bid, are not considering working for Casey DeSantis if she runs. Florida pollster Ryan Tyson, who was a mainstay on Ron DeSantis' presidential campaign, and his top 2024 fundraiser, Makenzi Mahler, are among those who intend to sit out a bid by his wife. 'The first thing you need is a general consultant and a fundraiser,' said a national Republican operative not yet aligned in the race. 'She has none. That has to be the starting point, and I don't know how they get past that.' Trump did offer a double endorsement in the GOP primary in the Arizona governor's race, but his advisers told NBC News not to expect him to do it again in any race, including the Florida governor's contest. Trump advisers also view Donalds as doing what it takes to signal to Trump that he is willing to work to keep other potential GOP rivals boxed out. 'You have to work for something like this, and we see him doing that,' a Trump adviser said. 'There is no reason President Trump would deviate at this point.' Developments are expected to pick up after Florida's legislative session, which, after an extension because of a state budget fight, will go through the end of June. 'All eyes are on Casey and what she decides to do,' a longtime Republican familiar with her thought process said. 'A post-session decision is expected, and until she decides one way or the other, it all remains in flux.'
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Steve Bannon Floats Worst Person Ever as Trump's Successor
So long as the Constitution remains as written, conservatives will have to find a new presidential frontrunner to replace Donald Trump on the 2028 ballot. But options, so far, seem scant. An obvious choice would be Vice President JD Vance, who has emerged as a 'clear favorite' in the race, per The New York Post. Most vice presidents in recent decades have attempted a run for the presidency (19 out of 49 prior veeps have shot their shot), with a third of them actually making it to the White House. But Steve Bannon, one of the far-right's most resilient political operatives, has another possibility in mind: ex-Florida Representative Matt Gaetz. 'I don't say this lightly. I'm a pretty good judge of horseflesh in this area,' Bannon, a former Trump adviser, told Gaetz on his podcast War Room. 'If you keep doing what you're doing, if you have interest, you're a future president of the United States.' 'Only if you're a future chief of staff,' Gaetz replied to Bannon. The remarkably unpopular Florida politico lost his House seat in an unlikely gamble after Trump nominated him to serve as attorney general in November. The conveniently timed appointment—and Gaetz's subsequent resignation—had the added benefit of killing the House investigation into Gaetz's alleged misconduct with women and minors that include accusations of sex trafficking. He has denied any wrongdoing. Unfortunately for Gaetz, the unsuccessful bid for Trump's Cabinet also left him without a job, as he was forced to drop his own nomination when it became clear that Republicans weren't going to vote for him. Gaetz reportedly pulled his nomination just minutes after CNN reached out to the ex-lawmaker for comment on a bombshell revelation that the Ethics Committee had been notified of a second sexual encounter between Gaetz and a 17-year-old he was accused of having sex with. In a statement following Gaetz's withdrawal, Trump said he had 'much respect' for the Florida politician and predicted Gaetz would have a 'wonderful future.'
Miami Herald
16-05-2025
- Politics
- Miami Herald
Steve Bannon Opens Up About Life Behind Bars: ‘Drugs, Drones and Despair'
Ex-Trump adviser Steve Bannon has opened up about his experience of prison, saying illicit drug use was widespread, contraband was delivered by drone, and a sense of hopelessness pervaded inmates. Bannon, who served time for contempt of Congress, was speaking of his life inside the Federal Correctional Institution in Danbury, Connecticut, in a recent interview with former Republican Representative Matt Gaetz on his Anchormen podcast. Newsweek contacted Bannon via his podcast email and the Bureau of Prisons via email on Friday outside of usual working hours for comment. Bannon began a four-month prison sentence on July 1, 2024, after he was found guilty in 2022 of two counts of contempt of Congress for failing to respond to a subpoena issued by the House Select Committee investigating the January 6 attack on the Capitol. He was released in October. Speaking to Gaetz about his observations in prison, in a video shared on Gaetz's online accounts, Bannon talked about witnessing drones dropping packages into the prison yard, allegedly containing narcotics like 'K2', a synthetic marijuana drug. "I would say that a third comes in from drones," Bannon said, "which is crazy to think about, it's unbelievable. They had a drone come in on the beginning of Labor Day weekend that dropped phones and drugs down in the yard. They locked the yard down, then they locked us all down for Labor Day." Bannon also claimed that the drug "can come in on paper, on legal documents, on books. People send them books, and they got it on there in prison; you can get anything you want. They get phones, they get drugs in there. " Beyond the contraband issues, Bannon highlighted the psychological toll on inmates, noting that being confined for years can "break a person." "These kids are 25 years old, Hispanic and Black," Bannon said. "Principally, they are in prison for 15, 20, and 25 years in a small place like Danbury. So in Danbury, which is 100 years old, accommodation for 800, I think we had 1,200 at one time there because of so many foreign nationals and child molesters. "It's so overcrowded, these young men get there, they have 20 years of their life [that] are gonna be spent in the confines of Danbury prison, that's hard. It was hard for me for four months, for 25 years, when you're 25 years old, it can break a person. "And what they do is they start doing this drug K2 that can get into the prisons, and once that happens, they're violent, uncontrollable, and that can happen at any time. Bannon emphasized what he sees as a lack of rehabilitative programs, stating, "The federal prison system is set up to break families, and these people, I'm telling you, the Black and Hispanic men in those prisons don't support the Democratic Party. I think the Democratic Party is screwed." As reported by Newsweek, Bannon previously described himself as a "political prisoner" who was sent to federal prison by former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to "break" him. "The four months in federal prison, not only didn't break me, it empowered me," Bannon said. "I am more energized and more focused than I've ever been in my entire life, and I can see clearly, just like in 2016 and in 2020, exactly what's going on here." Reposting the video on his X page, Gaetz simply commented: "Wow." Since his release last year, Bannon has positioned himself as a vocal critic of the current justice system and has looked at prison reform. He continues to assert that his imprisonment was politically motivated and has vowed to remain an active figure in politics. Related Articles Steve Bannon Predicts Friction Between Trump and Pope LeoMutually Assured Law Enforcement Destruction | OpinionMarjorie Taylor Greene Says People In Trump's 'Ear' Are 'Lying to Him'MAGA Leaders Defend Americans' Right to Boycott Israel 2025 NEWSWEEK DIGITAL LLC.
