Former Speaker of the House Paul Renner has just filed to run for governor in the 2026 Republican gubernatorial primary election.
Speaker Renner, who championed Governor Ron DeSantis’ entire 'Florida First' legislative agenda during his term as speaker, says that the reason he is running is for his children and to continue the work that Gov. DeSantis began during his two terms in office.
Renner exclusively spoke to The Floridian before filing the necessary paperwork with the Florida Department of State, saying that he was “ the guy that can deliver results” if elected governor of Florida.
“When Gov DeSantis leaves, who will step in, fight, and deliver results as he’s done very well in his tenure?” questioned Renner. “I believe that I’m the guy who can deliver results, simply because I’ve done that over and over again throughout my life.”
Renner’s entrance into the race comes as Lt. Gov. Jay Collins continues to shape his own potential gubernatorial candidacy and could very well make that announcement for statewide office in the coming weeks.
In politics, money usually decides elections. But while Rep. Byron Donalds, who has been endorsed by President Donald Trump, has already raised over $20 million since announcing his gubernatorial candidacy, Renner believes that "the person who raises the most money is not the winner necessarily," adding that he "will raise enough to compete aggressively."
When asked about a side-by-side comparison between himself and Lt. Gov. Collins, and one between himself and Rep. Byron Donalds, Renner all but said his leadership bona fides were stronger and longer-standing than those of Donalds and Collins.
The former speaker says that he has a “Good relationship” with both Rep. Donalds And Collins even though he believes his is a better choice for governor.
Like Collins, who lost a leg after being injured during a combat operation, Renner is also a decorated military veteran who deployed to two theaters—Operation Desert Storm and Afghanistan.
"Someone said to me today, well you know what do isn't it true that we're kind of a safe republican state now and to me those are the most dangerous words that can be uttered because once you become complacent that is the the opening chapter of your destruction"—Speaker Paul Renner
“Yeah, I was in a combat zone, Operation Desert Storm on active duty in 1991,” said Renner when asked if he was a combat veteran. “At age twenty-three I was navigating in mine-infested waters in the northern Persian Gulf.”
From helping DeSantis defeat the Amendment 3 & 4 during the 2024 presidential election, championing tort reform and universal school choice, and defeating “taxpayer-funded abortions,” Renner could make a strong case for his candidacy.
The Trump Effect
President Donald Trump’s endorsement of Rep. Donalds could eventually be what pushes him over the line in Florida’s GOP gubernatorial sweepstakes as both Collins and Renner backed DeSantis during the 2024 presidential primary contest.
Is endorsing DeSantis over President Trump as being a political kiss of death?
Even though Renner backed DeSantis over Trump for president, the former speaker still believes that Trump is "the greatest president in my lifetime."
If elected, Renner added that he be "a great partner to President Trump" on the issue of immigration enforcement and help him continue to "make America great."
The DeSantis Factor
During his time as Speaker of the Florida House of Representatives, Renner and DeSantis were politically and legislatively tied at the hip. The two men were responsible for ushering in groundbreaking "conservative victories" like passing the toughest immigration law in the country and pushing back on "woke" initiatives like DEI.
"If you had governor DeSantis for another eight years what would he do? asked Renner."I mean you know I think he feels like he has done a lot of the things that he came to do and I would agree with that I mean he's been extremely consequential and I was obviously a part of that ,but he's been an extremely consequential governor."
When asked what more he could do as govenor that DeSantis hasn't already done, Renner stated,"There's not as many things left on the list, but that doesn't mean there's nothing left on the list."
With Renner now in the race, and with Collins's gubernatorial run appearing to be imminent, could a contentious Republican gubernatorial contest with Donalds hurt the Republican advantages throughout the state of Florida?
