Grassroots Republicans Poised to Oppose Changes to Florida's 'Resign to Run' Legislative Measure

The “Resign to Run” measure signed into law in 2018 by then-Florida Governor Rick Scott appears to be on the chopping block as Florida legislators are on the verge of making changes that could help Gov. Ron DeSantis make his decision to run for President of the United States.

Florida House Speaker Paul Renner and Senate President Kathleen Passidomo have both said that they would change to the statute to allow Gov. DeSantis to run for president.

“Candidly, we have gone back and forth based on the circumstances of the moment,” stated Speaker Renner in a recent statement to reporters. “In this case, it’s an honor for someone from Florida to even consider running for President.”

The statute in question states,” any officer who qualifies for federal public office must resign from the office he or she presently holds if the terms, or any part thereof, run concurrently with each other.”

But, now there has been a challenge levied against the legislature’s effort to change the Florida statute.

Former congressional candidate and conservative activist Laura Loomer has been circulating a resolution she drew up to help prevent Gov. DeSantis's run for President.

While Loomer, who is a staunch supporter of President Donald Trump and his 2024 reelection effort, is aggressively holding Gov. DeSantis accountable for allegedly attempting to change the law in his favor, she is also going after legislators who she believes are pushing the measure through.

Enter State Rep. Blaise Ingoglia.

Loomer is calling Rep.Ingoglia a liar after the Spring Hill, Florida legislator denied her claim that he turned his back on President Trump, calling him “old” and “broke,” and saying that the 2024 Republican presidential nominee would be Gov. DeSantis.

During last weekend’s Republican Party of Florida (RPOF) quarterly meeting where Loome was passing out her resolution, Rep. Ingoglia was confronted by Billy Cayce, President of the Citrus County Republican Club 45.

Afterward, The Floridian asked Ingoglia what the interaction with Cayce was all about.

Ingoglia simply said that he was being accused of saying something anti-Trump that he claims he never said.

Ingoglia did not elaborate any more.

While it isn’t known what was discussed, Cayce sent The Floridian a statement of his accounting of a recent encounter he had with Ingoglia over the proposed “Resign to Run” legislative measure to change the existing law.

Cayce questions Ingoglia’s loyalty to President Trump, accusing him of “jumping off of the Trump Train and jumping on to the DeSantis Train.”

“I called Blaise Ingoglia in October 2022 and asked him if Trump is going to run for president in 2024. His answer was Trump is old, broke, and his family doesn't want him to run. He also stated the Republican nominee will be Ron DeSantis. 

It was at this point I knew he was jumping off of the Trump Train and jumping on to the DeSantis Train. Like most politicians, I believe Blaise Ingoglia's  loyalty is short lived to his Constituents, and he’s looking for any opportunity for self-advancement.

 A bill has been drafted in the Florida Legislature to allow Ron DeSantis to run for President and stay in office as Governor.

This bill has no sponsor and it appears they are waiting for the right time to pass it without any opposition.  It looks as though they know what the pre-determined result will be.

 Governor DeSantis needs to abide by his commitment to govern the State of Florida for the next four years and run for President in 2028.

At the recent RPOF meeting, I passed out an Enforce "Resign to Run" Resolution to numerous attendees. 

 Florida Statute 99.012, requires an elected official to resign if they become a Candidate for Federal Public Office.

 Every County Chair and Vice-Chair I spoke with stated the are for Florida Statute 99.012 to stay in place and not be altered in any manner.

They also stated they wanted Governor DeSantis to stay in office for his four years and Run for President in 2028. If Governor DeSantis abides by his commitment and runs in 2028, we will back him!

I am the President of the Citrus County Republican Club 45 which was chartered by the RPOF in March of 2017. I am a loyal supporter for President Trump and I will stay the course until he is elected in 2024.

Respectfully, Billy Cayce

 

Ingoglia could not be reached for comment.

The Floridian has learned that several county Republican Executive Committees have already agreed to vote on Loomer’s resolution in the coming weeks.

There are currently 67 Republican RECs that could vote on the resolution.

The Florida legislative session begins on March 7^th.