Former House Speaker Paul Renner may be trailing in polls, but he still sees a path for victory in August’s Primary for the Republican gubernatorial nomination.
“If we get a fair comparison, we win this race,” Renner told radio host Manny Munoz. “I sense a resistance to the so-called front-runner. Remember, ‘front-runner’ is undecided right now. We see a movement, certainly in our direction and away from him.”
Renner is running in fourth place in various polls of the race, even as he touts favorable straw polls.
He’s at 2% in one from Fabrizio, Lee & Associates, which puts him 52 points behind U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds. He is also at 2% in a poll posted by The Floridian, the content of which appears to align with an internal survey referred to recently by Lt. Gov. Jay Collins.
The Palm Coast Republican is encouraged by people “hearing and saying, ‘Hey, I like that guy, and he would make a better choice because of the lifetime of leadership under pressure, and the military as a prosecutor, as a successful Speaker of the House, actually showing up and delivering results, and not just being about self-promotion and having fun,’ which is what a lot of politicians do,” Renner added.
“If we get a fair comparison on those metrics and a guy who’s got the courage to show up and fight on things like Amendment 3 and 4 and School Board races, that’s what I’ve done,” he continued
“And so people want someone like (Gov. Ron) DeSantis who’s going to lean into the fight. The Governor said those two years that I led the Legislature were unmatched. They were the most successful of any legislative body in America. And so if you want to protect and expand the free state of Florida, I’m your guy,” Renner said.
–A.G. Gancarski, Florida Politics
Deborah Coffey says
No more “Republicans” of any kind this go-round. Florida will thank you for saving its life.
Al says
Florida is great because of us Republicans but if you want democrats to rule then may I suggest a few failed states you can inhabit. You know their names very well and yet you stay here and suffer rather than move to your utopia of democrat rule. Low taxes, low unemployment, lower cost of living and nice weather. How much worse can it get for us productive people.
Deborah Coffey says
Sorry, Al. We’re not going anywhere because we’re winning. MAGAs are the ones in a very small minority. America has fought Fascism before and won those wars. We will certainly win the one in our own country.
P.S. Florida’s unemployment rate is higher than the national average. Google it.
Also, we like facts: AI Overview As of early 2026, Florida’s cost of living ranks among the top 10–20 most expensive states, with its index (~102.2–102.8) sitting above the national average. It is widely recognized as the fourth most expensive state in the South, largely driven by soaring housing costs and the highest home insurance premiums in the nation.
Laurel says
What crap! I was born and raised in Florida, here for 74 years, and I don’t need you to tell us where to live. This is the worst administration, and the most disingenuous group of greedy a-holes I’ve experienced yet. You still refuse to see it, but under this group of nuts, Florida has become the laughing stock of the nation, and I resent it. My state is being trashed with Margaritavilles and Jimmy Buffet Memorial Highways, endless blacktop and removal of native plants and animals.
The only “productive” I see is bigotry, hate and selfishness. Don’t fool yourself.
Pogo says
Renner’s vanity campaign is typical of his, and his party’s, cynical, cunning world view — and way of life: a slush fund for indulging himself, his cronies — and those he owes. He can take shots at everyone, on behalf of anyone — let that sink in.
The final disposition of the residue of his fundraising will tell all.
To borrow a phrase, prove me wrong. Or go back to the children’s table and finish thinking about what you don’t know.
Connie says
We need the “Right” Republicans. When Renner was speaker he helped our county, but he could’ve done so much more.
I think Renner’s time is over. His uber right social beliefs don’t connect well with where we are as a county and state.
Mark says
We don’t need the right republicans or right democrats. We need the right people. We need people who are actual representatives of the people. The problem is those people works jobs that make it impossible to get into politics. Can the nurse working 12 hours shifts fulfill the commitments of an elected official? What about the welder? The electrician? The accountant? The paralegal?
Most workers do not have the time to devote, or they are unable to leave their full-time job, to fulfill the requirements. We elect these people with the hope they will follow through with the what got them elected. Most of them don’t and will provide excuses as to why they couldn’t accomplish what they promised during their campaign. They will then say, “but if I’m reelected, I’ll accomplish those things.”
Until we can elect real people, people who are truly representative of the people, nothing will change.