Matt Gaetz Declines Attorney General Role. Is a Return to the Hill Next?
The Florida Republican stepped down from Congress just last week.
TroibNews 
Matt Gaetz is no longer in the running for attorney general and has resigned from his position on Capitol Hill. The focus now in both Washington and Tallahassee is whether he could make a return to the House in January.
The Florida Republican stepped down from his current term and preemptively from the term in the next Congress, which he recently secured following the November election. In a letter to Speaker Mike Johnson, which was also sent to Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, he stated, “I do not intend to take the oath of office for the same office in the 119th Congress.”
It is clear that he will not return for this Congress; however, if Gaetz wishes to serve in the seat his Florida constituents elected him to in November, the decision now seems to rest with DeSantis and Florida’s Secretary of State, Cord Byrd. A congressional aide noted that Gaetz’s membership status for the 119th Congress hinges on his home state, explaining to PMG: “The official roll for the 119th Congress will be prepared with the Certificates of Election received from the States.”
The aide added that the names submitted by Florida of candidates who were “regularly elected” to the House, in accordance with state and federal laws, will be eligible for their seats in January.
As of now, Gaetz has not publicly stated his intentions and did not respond to PMG's inquiries regarding his future. If he aims to return to the Hill, he might argue that his earlier statement about not taking the oath could be conditional. He emphasized he wouldn’t serve “to pursue the position of Attorney General in the Trump Administration,” which is no longer a possibility.
This situation puts pressure on DeSantis and his appointee Byrd about how to proceed. It's worth noting that a special election has not yet been scheduled to fill Gaetz’s seat. Previously, Gaetz was close to DeSantis, playing a significant role in his 2018 transition team, but his continued loyalty to Trump during DeSantis’ presidential campaign has altered their relationship.
It is feasible for Gaetz to reclaim his seat as if his resignation had never occurred, or there may still be a special election. However, nothing would prevent him from running in that election should he choose to return to Washington.
There’s also the chance that Gaetz’s political aspirations lie outside the House. With Trump designating Senator Marco Rubio as Secretary of State, DeSantis will have the privilege of appointing someone to that significant position for the next two years, leading up to the 2026 elections. DeSantis has indicated he plans to name a successor by early January.
While Gaetz is not viewed as a strong candidate for the open Senate seat, some allies have proposed him. Additionally, Gaetz has long been rumored to be eyeing a gubernatorial run in 2026, considering that DeSantis will be term-limited by then.
When contacted, Florida state senator Don Gaetz, who is Matt Gaetz’s father, mentioned he had not had a “substantive conversation” with his son since he dropped his bid for attorney general and was unsure if his son was contemplating a return to Congress. However, he expressed, “I love my son and I’m proud of him.”
Several candidates have already declared their intention to run in the safe Republican 1st District, but they might show Gaetz some deference. Republican state Rep. Michelle Salzman, who has announced her candidacy, told PMG that she reached out to Gaetz to express she would “fully support whatever he wants” and would “absolutely” withdraw from the race if he aimed to return to Congress.
Other Republicans in the running or expressing plans to enter the race include state Rep. Joel Rudman and Bernadette Pittman, the CEO of Boots on the Ground Bikers for Trump. Florida Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis had also contemplated a run, which would necessitate DeSantis appointing his successor.
Max Fischer for TROIB News
The Florida Republican stepped down from his current term and preemptively from the term in the next Congress, which he recently secured following the November election. In a letter to Speaker Mike Johnson, which was also sent to Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, he stated, “I do not intend to take the oath of office for the same office in the 119th Congress.”
It is clear that he will not return for this Congress; however, if Gaetz wishes to serve in the seat his Florida constituents elected him to in November, the decision now seems to rest with DeSantis and Florida’s Secretary of State, Cord Byrd. A congressional aide noted that Gaetz’s membership status for the 119th Congress hinges on his home state, explaining to PMG: “The official roll for the 119th Congress will be prepared with the Certificates of Election received from the States.”
The aide added that the names submitted by Florida of candidates who were “regularly elected” to the House, in accordance with state and federal laws, will be eligible for their seats in January.
As of now, Gaetz has not publicly stated his intentions and did not respond to PMG's inquiries regarding his future. If he aims to return to the Hill, he might argue that his earlier statement about not taking the oath could be conditional. He emphasized he wouldn’t serve “to pursue the position of Attorney General in the Trump Administration,” which is no longer a possibility.
This situation puts pressure on DeSantis and his appointee Byrd about how to proceed. It's worth noting that a special election has not yet been scheduled to fill Gaetz’s seat. Previously, Gaetz was close to DeSantis, playing a significant role in his 2018 transition team, but his continued loyalty to Trump during DeSantis’ presidential campaign has altered their relationship.
It is feasible for Gaetz to reclaim his seat as if his resignation had never occurred, or there may still be a special election. However, nothing would prevent him from running in that election should he choose to return to Washington.
There’s also the chance that Gaetz’s political aspirations lie outside the House. With Trump designating Senator Marco Rubio as Secretary of State, DeSantis will have the privilege of appointing someone to that significant position for the next two years, leading up to the 2026 elections. DeSantis has indicated he plans to name a successor by early January.
While Gaetz is not viewed as a strong candidate for the open Senate seat, some allies have proposed him. Additionally, Gaetz has long been rumored to be eyeing a gubernatorial run in 2026, considering that DeSantis will be term-limited by then.
When contacted, Florida state senator Don Gaetz, who is Matt Gaetz’s father, mentioned he had not had a “substantive conversation” with his son since he dropped his bid for attorney general and was unsure if his son was contemplating a return to Congress. However, he expressed, “I love my son and I’m proud of him.”
Several candidates have already declared their intention to run in the safe Republican 1st District, but they might show Gaetz some deference. Republican state Rep. Michelle Salzman, who has announced her candidacy, told PMG that she reached out to Gaetz to express she would “fully support whatever he wants” and would “absolutely” withdraw from the race if he aimed to return to Congress.
Other Republicans in the running or expressing plans to enter the race include state Rep. Joel Rudman and Bernadette Pittman, the CEO of Boots on the Ground Bikers for Trump. Florida Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis had also contemplated a run, which would necessitate DeSantis appointing his successor.
Max Fischer for TROIB News
