Former Florida Senate President Pro Tempore Dennis Baxley has endorsed gubernatorial candidate Paul Renner (R) for Florida governor, according to a post by The Renner War Room account on social media.
"From leading in both chambers of the Florida Legislature to championing Stand Your Ground, Dennis Baxley has never wavered in defending our freedoms," Renner War Room wrote. "He knows what leadership looks like, and he’s backing Paul Renner."
Baxley served as pro tempore from 2022 to 2024. He had been serving in the Florida Senate since 2016.
He also served as speaker pro tempore of the Florida House of Representatives from 2006 to 2007. Baxley began serving in the House in 2000 and continued mostly until his election to the Senate.
Notably, Baxley is attributed as the father of Florida's "Stand Your Ground Law," which he helped push as a representative in 2005. NRA (National Rifle Association) lobbyist Marion Hammer and then State Sen. Durrell Peaded also pushed for the law.
Florida's Stand Your Ground law allows a person to use force, including deadly force, without a duty to retreat if they reasonably believe they could be in danger to prevent imminent death or bodily harm in the commission of a possible felony.
Former Republican Gov. Jeb Bush signed the law in 2005. Baxley earned the NRA's National Defender of Freedom award as an advocate for the Second Amendment (2A) a year before.
Will Baxley's endorsement and championing of 2A in Florida provide a boost to Renner's campaign?
Renner is in a Republican primary with U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds, Lt. Gov. Jay Collins, and Businessman James Fishback for the nomination.
According to most polling, Rep. Donalds is the frontrunner for the nomination, with Renner, the former Florida House Speaker, and the rest of the field far behind.
The GOP gubernatorial primary is Aug. 18.
Renner outlined some of his plans for governor in an interview with The Floridian last month.
