Ron DeSantis does not want former Florida House Speaker Paul Renner to succeed him as governor, he told a packed crowd Wednesday.
“I’m not supporting Paul Renner,” DeSantis said during a Valrico press conference, hours after the Palm Coast Republican filed for the 2026 governor’s race. Renner will face the only other high-profile Republican in the race, Donald Trump-endorsed U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds.
“I think it was an ill-advised decision to enter the race,” DeSantis added.
His blunt take on the 48-year-old’s candidacy stood in contrast to Renner’s campaign launch earlier Wednesday, when the former House Speaker lauded himself as a top GOP figure who played a key role in advancing DeSantis’s agenda.
“As a legislator and Speaker of the House, I stood with Ron DeSantis to brand our state the Free State of Florida. I’m running for Governor so that when the DeSantis era comes to an end, we can defend our victories and solve the challenges that remain,” Renner said in a press release.
DeSantis doesn’t think so.
Less than a year before the gubernatorial primary, Renner is the second high-profile Republican DeSantis has publicly dismissed in the governor’s race. When Trump endorsed Donalds in February for Florida’s top job, DeSantis accused the three-term member of Congress of missing out on Florida’s “wins” during his tenure in Washington.
Still, Renner remains confident that he can “earn the support” of DeSantis as his campaign continues.
“The governor and I had a fantastic partnership making us the Free State of Florida, and I’m confident I’ll earn his support along the way,” he said in a statement to the Florida Phoenix.
DeSantis has yet to formally announce who he does support as a successor. For months, he juxtaposed Donalds and First Lady Casey DeSantis, touting her as a Rush Limbaugh-approved gubernatorial candidate while hinting that she might run. But those rumors faded to a faint whisper after Hope Florida, a charity championed by the First Lady, was barraged with scandalous financial allegations.
Recent reports suggest that Jay Collins, a former state senator elevated by DeSantis as lieutenant governor, will be DeSantis’ pick as his successor.
Renner’s gubernatorial hopes are not new to DeSantis.
In July, as the Jacksonville attorney was touting his pro-DeSantis record on social media, Renner told the governor he wanted to succeed him. The private conversation came after a brutally long legislative session marked by rare infighting between the governor and top GOP lawmakers, when Renner publicly sided with DeSantis on a controversial insurance revamp bill.
Citing distaste for diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, the former House Speaker also led the charge to block Santa Ono, a former University of Michigan president, from becoming president of the University of Florida.
A month-and-a-half later, Renner’s plan came to fruition. And evidenced by Wednesday’s pithy public questioning of Renner’s decision making, DeSantis isn’t pleased.
–Livia Caputo, Florida Phoenix
Pogo says
@Just what Florida needs
… rat fights.
Susan says
If they are gop they are not for me
Deborah Coffey says
It’s amazing how these Republican “leaders” demand so much loyalty and then throw the loyalists right under the bus. Cruelty, stupidity, lack of empathy, narcissism, meanness, love of violence, power, power, and more power…all traits of a true Fascist.
Thomas Hutson says
What a crock of HORSESH-T these wannabe candidates are! They are all minions of their BIG DADDY WARBUCKS aka TACO ORANGE MAN! The Voters of FLORIDA have had enough of this RED CRAP! Who cares anymore what BABY MUSSOLINI SAYS ABOUT A CANDIDATE or who he endorses! The next GOVERNOR OF FLORIDA WILL BE A DEMOCRAT. He will be coming for you, BABY MUSSOLINI IS AT THE TOP OF THE LIST!
What Else Is New says
Must we suffer through another racist Republican attempting to govern the State of Florida? Being rid of Ron Charity Fraud DeSantis is a blessing. Renner has let us down so many times and the latest crime he committed was preventing University of Michigan president Santo Ono from becoming president of The University of Florida as stated in Livia Caputo’s article.
Some Florida voters can’t see past their propensity to vote for anyone merely due to having an R after their name. We deserve better.
Jim says
I love it! Two right-wing dimwits at odds. This will make for great viewing in the coming months. I’m sure the name calling will get nasty! It does appear that all is not well in the Republican party. Turmoil over the next governor and a plethora of candidates to replace Randy Fine. At least with Fine, we have no where to go but up so I just hope he continues his charming ways and he’ll soon be in the rear view mirror!
Ron, you and Renner can just keep on working on your relationship. Of course, since Ronny wants his unqualified wife to replace him, Renner should have expected a less than warm welcome.
And, by the way, I hope that regardless of what DeSantis’ wife decides to do, after he’s out I’m expecting a proper investigation into Hope Florida and how $10M got diverted from charity to political election interference…
Pogo says
@DeSantis
… is saluting with der wrong arm.
Just say'n says
This is gona be great,you leftists are in the wilderness and just wait till a black conservative man is the next governor of florida.I can’t wait to vote for Byron and make florida so red it makes your eyes bleed. Just so you know I sent 50 bucks to the lunatic running in NYC just to help prove the left has lost there minds with this guy.All you leftists can move back to NYC for your new promise land and us ignorant racists can enjoy our new black governor leading the way forward. You all are gona loose it when he’s president someday.