FILE - This photo combination show, from top left, Florida House Speaker Paul Renner, R-Palm Coast, speaking on Jan. 9, 2024, in Tallahassee, Fla., U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds, March 28, 2025, in Bonita Springs, Fla. Florida first lady Casey DeSantis, March 5, 2025, in Tampa, Fla. and Florida Lt. Gov. Jay Collins, Aug. 21, 2025, in Stockton, Calif. (AP Photo/Gary McCullough, Chris Tilley, Chris O'Meara, Benjamin Fanjoy)
FILE - Florida House Speaker Paul Renner speaks during a press conference in Miami, on May 9, 2023. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell, File)
FILE - This photo combination show, from top left, Florida House Speaker Paul Renner, R-Palm Coast, speaking on Jan. 9, 2024, in Tallahassee, Fla., U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds, March 28, 2025, in Bonita Springs, Fla. Florida first lady Casey DeSantis, March 5, 2025, in Tampa, Fla. and Florida Lt. Gov. Jay Collins, Aug. 21, 2025, in Stockton, Calif. (AP Photo/Gary McCullough, Chris Tilley, Chris O'Meara, Benjamin Fanjoy)
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — A Republican former speaker of the Florida House is joining the race to succeed term-limited Gov. Ron DeSantis next year.
Paul Renner announced his bid for governor on Wednesday, even as President has already endorsed Republican Rep. for the job.
“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 statement.
Renner said he will build on DeSantis' legacy, noting that he helped deliver the “legislative victories” that made Florida what it is today.
But the governor said Renner doesn’t have his backing.
“I’m not supporting Paul Renner. I think it was an ill-advised decision to enter the race,” DeSantis said at a news conference Wednesday.
Other Republicans rumored to be eyeing the state's top job are Lt. Gov. and first lady . The race could shape up to be another between the popular GOP governor and Trump, whom DeSantis challenged for their party's in 2024.
A Navy combat veteran and former prosecutor, Renner presided over the Republican-dominated Florida House at a time when legislators worked diligently to , including , restricting initiatives, and implementing a ban on most abortions after .
Under new leadership and as DeSantis' term comes to a close, Republican legislators have as the party faithful compete to .
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Associated Press writer Curt Anderson in St. Petersburg contributed reporting. Kate Payne is a corps member for The Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues.
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