Sen. Jason Pizzo (I-Sunny Isles), who was Senate Democratic Leader until he called the party dead last month, announced that he's running for governor of Florida in a soon-to-be aired interview on Sunday.
Speaking with CBS News Miami’s Jim DeFede on “Facing South Florida," Sen. Pizzo ended months of gubernatorial rumors with a simple answer: "Yes, I am."
DeFede asked Pizzo, who turned Independent immediately on his way out of the Democratic Party, if he would be spoiling the governor's race for Democrats by running. Notably, a Democrat has not held the governorship in Florida since early 1999.
"Two things. One if they think that I'm a spoiler, then they're concerned about the merit of their own message and the strength of their own message, or policy, or whatever it is," Pizzo told DeFede. But really, the reality is that there are a lot of really excited people and groups about my position, about what I said, and where I am."
Pizzo touted his political success as proof he could win in Florida, which has turned deep red since Gov. Ron DeSantis became governor in 2019.
"I've been in two competitive races. I unseated a sitting state senator in my first race. Remember, it was not a closed primary, so it was open, which meant Republicans, NPA's, and Democrats voted in that race," Pizzo said.
"And I just went to a general this past November where Trump won by three, three and a half points, and I won by sixteen," Pizzo added.
For the record, Trump defeated Vice President Kamala Harris by 13 points in Florida last November. Pizzo was likely referring to his victory over former President Joe Biden in 2020, where he won by just over 3 points.
Regardless, Pizzo is hoping that a large part of the state's electorate that might be dissatisfied with Trump and the current state of the Democratic Party is enough to put him over the top next fall.
"NPAs decide who wins elections in this state, there's 3.7 million of them," Pizzo said.
So, where do things stand now that Pizzo is in the race?
On the Republican side, Florida Congressman Byron Donalds announced his bid in late February. Rep. Donalds has also been endorsed by President Donald Trump, making him a likely favorite in the race.
First Lady Casey DeSantis is rumored as another candidate, but no official announcement has been made. A DeSantis run could set up an interesting chess match between her husband, Ron DeSantis, and the Trump-backed Donalds.
With Pizzo out as a Democrat, the party's gubernatorial favorite is a bit more murky.
David Jolly, a former Republican, has hinted at a run. Jolly, who represented Florida's 13th Congressional District as a Republican from 2014 until 2017, became a registered Democrat just recently.
