New Candidates Step Up to Fill Gaetz’s Vacant House Seat
After his nomination for U.S. attorney general, Gaetz resigned from his congressional seat for the remainder of his term and announced his decision not to take the oath of office on Jan. 3, 2025.
The fate of former Rep. Matt Gaetz’s (R-Fla.) congressional seat in the 119th Congress seems uncertain after he withdrew his bid to become U.S. attorney general in the Trump administration on Nov. 21.
Several Floridians have already announced their intention to run for his replacement.
Gaetz secured a significant victory in Florida’s First Congressional District on Nov. 5.
However, on Nov. 13, he submitted a resignation letter to House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) for the rest of his current term and announced his intention not to take the oath of office on Jan. 3, 2025.
Gaetz also informed Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, who instructed his Secretary of State Cord Byrd to prepare for a special election.
Shortly after abandoning his attorney general aspirations, Gaetz’s wife Ginger posted a picture of them at the Capitol Building with the caption “the end of an era.”
It is currently unclear whether Gaetz can retract his decision not to take the oath of office and adhere to his reelection victory or if he will attempt to reclaim it by participating in the special election.
No date has been set for the election.
The expectation is that the winner of the special election will serve most of Gaetz’s term, and multiple eager Floridians have already thrown their hats in the ring.
The Epoch Times has reached out to Gaetz’s office and Florida’s secretary of state for further information.
Candidates to Replace Gaetz
Veteran and Florida state rep. Michelle Salzman officially declared her candidacy for Gaetz’s seat on Nov. 19.
In her announcement on social media platform X, she stated: “I want to do what is best for our country … assisting President Trump with the Make America Great Again agenda!”
Salzman, from Pensacola, has served Florida’s first state district in Tallahassee since 2020.
Her campaign website highlights her efforts in areas such as border security, supporting veterans, mental health, education enhancement, and combatting the spread of fentanyl.
John Frankman, a former Green Beret and captain in the special forces, who was discharged from the armed forces for refusing the COVID-19 vaccine, has also thrown his hat in the ring.
He attended the State of the Union address as Gaetz’s guest and remains outspoken about holding the government accountable for vaccine mandates.
He advocated for the elimination of the IRS.
“I fought for our freedoms in the Army, and I’m ready to do it again,” Frankman announced on X.
Keith Gross is another candidate. The army veteran, pilot, and venture capitalist has already received an endorsement from the Florida State University College Republicans.
Gross told voters on X that he is “a Constitutional, America First conservative running for Congress to keep Washington out of your life.”
He called for the abolition of the ATF and the Department of Education.
Following Gaetz’s decision, Gross proposed that DeSantis appoint Gaetz to Sen. Marco Rubio’s upcoming vacant Senate seat.
“I was really looking forward to seeing AG @mattgaetz crack heads at the Justice Dept,” he said. “Now that he is free: Matt Gaetz for Senate! Put Matt in @SenMarcoRubio’s seat, and we’ll have a reliable vote to confirm Trump’s appointments.”
Meanwhile, Democrat Gay Valimont is making another bid for Gaetz’s seat despite losing by over 30% of the vote on Nov. 5.
“After Matt Gaetz resigned just days after voters entrusted him with their representation, it’s clear: our district deserves better,” her campaign said on X.
“Gay is ready to bring accountability, integrity, and real solutions to Congress—and she’s here to stay and fight for you.”
Additionally, Florida’s current chief financial officer and fire marshal, Jimmy Patronis, stated that he is “strongly considering” running for the seat.
“We’ve got a historic opportunity to fight the swamp, end lawfare, and return power back into the hands of Americans,” he wrote on X on Nov. 19.
DeSantis also called for a special election to fill Rep. Mike Waltz’s vacant seat in Florida’s sixth district.
Waltz was nominated to become Trump’s national security adviser—a role that Trump looks to elevate this term.
