U.S. Rep. Carlos Gimenez (R-FL) is considering leaving his seat in Congress to run for the upcoming November 2025 City of Miami Mayoral election, sources told Conservative journalist Laura Loomer, who first reported the news. Rep. Gimenez is reportedly "pissed off" about losing his recent bid to become chair of the House Homeland Security Committee.
Per Loomer's post, Gimenez launched a bid for chair of the committee, which handles oversight of U.S. security, in July 2025 after the resignation of Tennessee Congressman Mark Green. Later on, Gimenez was passed over in favor of New York Congressman Andrew Garbarino, leaving Gimenez reportedly very angry.
But angry enough to leave Congress and run for mayor? I mean, it wouldn't be the first time a politician has felt slighted or looked for political payback.
"Not at this time," Gimenez told The Floridian in response to the rumor of him leaving the House of Representatives to run for the mayoral job.
But "not at this time" doesn't mean no, leaving the possibility that Gimenez could be returning to familiar territory. Gimenez, 71, served as mayor of Miami-Dade County from 2011 to 2020 and on the Miami-Dade City Commission from 2005 to 2011.
Gimenez's deliberation comes after the City of Miami attempted to cancel its upcoming mayoral election in a series of litigations.
The lawsuit, fueled by mayoral candidate Emilio T. Gonzalez, essentially pitted Miami from writing its own election rules against Gonzalez and other mayoral candidates looking to keep the election in place for this fall.
Gonzalez's team won that legal battle, for now, but the war might not be over. The city, headed by Mayor Francis Saurez, is vowing to keep the legal wheel turning, possibly to the U.S. Supreme Court.
Saurez, a Republican, has been Miami's mayor since 2017.
"We are exploring further appellate options. We believe the court's expedited review may have led to an oversight of binding Supreme Court precedent that is central to the outcome of this dispute," Miami Mayor Francis Suarez told Local 10 news.
As that continues to play itself out, Gimenez's next move on the chessboard could have major complications. Congressional Republicans only have a slim majority, leaving an exit by Gimenez potentially damaging.
