Patronis to Leave Florida CFO Job to Run for Gaetz’ Seat in Congress

Florida’s chief financial officer, Jimmy Patronis, whose office oversees insurance agent and adjuster licensing, along with insurance fraud investigations, plans to step down and run for Congress next year.

News outlets reported that Patronis, a staunch supporter of President-elect Donald Trump, sent letters to Gov. Ron DeSantis and to the Florida secretary of state this week, announcing his resignation, effective next spring.

Patronis will be seeking to replace U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz, representing part of the Florida Panhandle in the 1^st Congressional District. Gaetz resigned from Congress last week after he was considered for appointment to be U.S. attorney general, but he has since pulled out of consideration for that job as well. A special election to fill the House seat will be held Jan. 28 (party primary) and April 1 (general election), according to an order signed by DeSantis.

Names floated to replace Patronis as CFO include state Sen. Blaise Ingoglia, R-Spring Hill; and state Sen. Joe Gruters, R-Sarasota, according to news reports. Gruters had already filed paperwork to run for the job in two years. The appointment to finish Patronis’ term would be made by the governor until the regular election in 2026.

The position of CFO is considered vital to the property insurance industry in Florida.

“Over the coming days and weeks, much will be written and reported about who Governor DeSantis will tap to fill the vacancy,” blogged B.G. Murphy, government affairs director for the Florida Association of Insurance Agents. “The decision of who to appoint will be critical to insurance agents across the state, given the CFO’s regulatory authority oversight of insurance agents.”

Topics Florida Talent